2 Day RPII Operational Training Course

What is the RPII qualification?

The RPII examines, accredits and certificates individual play area inspectors. These certifications are a demonstration of competence and are considered a measure of best practice as a way of meeting the site owner's duty of care as required by industry standards and guidelines.

About the course

The course is designed for inspectors or staff who carry out operational inspections — usually monthly or quarterly — of children's playgrounds. It is also valuable for anyone who wants to gain a greater knowledge of the relevant European standards (EN1176 and EN1777) and legislation relating to playgrounds, which is the cornerstone of the PSSLive app.

The course covers the legislation and standards fundamental to inspection requirements and methodology. It covers risk methods, expected hazards and most importantly provides peace of mind to owners that if the worst should happen and an accident occurs, the courts can be satisfied that all appropriate measures to avoid such a scenario have been undertaken as practicably as possible and recorded as such.

The course also conveys an understanding of play and why it is so important for children's learning and development. Given the wide and diverse range of play equipment and surfacing types, knowing how to properly conduct an inspection, assess and manage risk and understand the standards to apply all form a core part of the course.

About the trainer

As an RPII Annual Inspector, Trainer and Examiner, Louisa Hill of PSS Ltd is able to run courses and examinations for the RPII to assist inspectors in gaining the required skills at the appropriate inspection level. Louisa joined PSS after gaining a working knowledge of play inspections and management with Cardiff Council, and regularly inspects play areas to maintain her skill sets. Louisa offers a knowledgeable, relaxed style of training that suits her audience. Full course notes are provided to take away for future reference.

What I learned

Hannah Morgan of PSS Ltd attended the 2 Day RPII Operational Training Course at Worcester City Council to find out just what the course entailed.

As a relatively new employee with PSS, my role is to support our customers in their use of PSSLive software via the desktop and mobile apps. Gaining a firm grounding in the actual inspections process — both in theory and practice — was a vital part of my induction training.

Louisa explained the components of a proper inspection, how it should be recorded and what elements to include. Recording can be done by pen and paper, however as Worcester City Council are already customers of PSSLive, we covered the recording process via the PSSLive+ app — which highlights all required fields for a proper inspection as contained within the app.

PSSLive makes recording inspections quick, easy and accurate as the system already has the information that needs to be included for the type of inspection. The inspector then just needs to fill it in, meaning they are unlikely to forget to record important information.

Why it matters for your team

If your staff carry out operational inspections, the RPII course would be valuable for them to attend.

“Very knowledgeable and friendly instructor.” “Great course, really enjoyed it.” “Best course I've attended!” — Worcester City Council attendees