This Level 4 Award in Managing Food Safety in the Workplace is externally certificated by OCN. This award will enable the holder to demonstrate to the regulators that they have been properly trained in accordance with the national occupational standards and legal requirements.

The Level 4 Award in Food Safety course content is available online, learners are supplied with a unique username and password to access the course. Learners work through the learning material at their own pace and speed, completing the online activities, discussions, chats and assignments.

Yes, by law anyone handling food needs to receive training in food hygiene which enables them to handle food in the safest way appropriate to the area they work in.  The level required depends on the job role and responsibilities;

1. Level 1 in Food Safety – provides the basic understanding required by any food handlers to meet legal requirements for food safety. Suitable for anyone working in a food production or retail business.
2. Level 2 in Food Safety – provides an understanding of the importance of food safety and the knowledge of safe practices and procedures. Suitable for anyone working in a catering, manufacturing or retail setting.
3. Level 3 in Food Safety – builds on the basic knowledge of food safety best practice to provide an in-depth understanding. Suitable for supervisors and managers
4. Level 4 in Food Safety – comprehensive understanding of the management of food safety. Suitable for quality assurance managers, food production managers, owners of food businesses and food hygiene auditors.

There is no legal requirement to renew training at a specified time. However, there is a requirement for staff to have up to date food safety knowledge in line with their work activities.

As best practice for renewing a premises food hygiene certificate is 3 years, and this involves an environmental health inspector checking that staff are appropriately trained, it has become industry practice to renew training every 3 years. However, if an employees responsibilities for handling food change or the organisation adopts a new procedure then training should be delivered at that time.

The level required depends on your job role and responsibilities;

1. Level 1 in Food Safety – provides the basic understanding required by any food handlers to meet legal requirements for food safety. Suitable for anyone working in a food production or retail business.
2. Level 2 in Food Safety – provides an understanding of the importance of food safety and the knowledge of safe practices and procedures. Suitable for anyone working in a catering, manufacturing or retail setting.
3. Level 3 in Food Safety – builds on the basic knowledge of food safety best practice to provide an in-depth understanding. Suitable for supervisors and managers
4. Level 4 in Food Safety – comprehensive understanding of the management of food safety. Suitable for quality assurance managers, food production managers, owners of food businesses and food hygiene auditors.

The course is externally certificated by OCN and they are internationally recognised.  The course covers the management of food safety and is relevant internationally.

OCN Credit4Learning (OCNOTC) is a nationally recognised external awarding body and charity and is an Access Validating Agency (AVA) licensed by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) for Higher Education. OCN Credit4Learning is regulated by the Qualification and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and credits awarded by them are accepted as a means of entry to further education and university education.

On successful completion of the course your certificcate will be applied for from OCN, the accredited awarding organisation.  The certificate will be delivered to you by post and the timescale for this can be between 2 and 4 weeks.