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36 hours (5 days)
2:7
3 years
Outreach Rescue Certificate of Achievement for Asset Commander, Mod 3 recertification and Water Rescue Supervisor
Outreach Rescue, Tan-y-Bwlch Centre, Llanllechid, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales LL57 3HY
To develop experienced water rescue technicians into competent Water Rescue Supervisors capable of leading, coordinating and overseeing water and flood rescue operations, integrating technical understanding with robust non-technical skills, risk management and decision-making under pressure.
Personnel who hold an in-date DEFRA Mod 3 (Water Rescue Technician) or recognised equivalent award and who are expected to supervise, coordinate or manage water rescue teams at the operational level.
Triple certified - Mod 3 recertification, DEFRA Asset Commander (ex Team Commander) and Water Rescue Supervisor which is a sector competent IC award for Water Rescue Operations
A robust solution to ensure Water Rescue Asset Commanders are practically trained to a level to make operational decisions and safely manage their team in the operational environment.
Tailored to those who who lead water rescue teams and make decisions at the operational level at large scale flooding incidents or for local/cross border water rescue incidents.
DEFRA FRCO 2025 Water Rescue Technician Mod 3 Recertification (for both 2 or 3 day recertification requirements)
DEFRA FRCO 2025 Asset Commander Initial training (2 days)
In-date DEFRA Mod 3 compliant award, First Aid Award (FREC 3 or equivalent with Oxygen use), operational experience as a Water Rescue Technician, working knowledge of DEFRA Flood Rescue Concept of Operations 2025, Working knowledge of your services Incident Command structures (preferably IC Level 1+ or equivalent) and JESIP working knowledge.
Age 18+. Delegates must be fit for this physically demanding course requiring the ability to demonstrate all Water Rescue Technician (Mod 3) skillsets with a high degree of competence.
Recertification is recommended every 2 years by means of attending the 3 day Water Rescue Supervisor Recertification. The recertification covers recertification of the Mod 3 Water Rescue Technician, Asset Commander and Water Rescue Supervisor awards.
- Flood Rescue Concept of Operations – roles and responsibilities, interoperability
- Legislation and guidance relating to Water Rescue Incidents
- Health, safety and welfare – deployment limits, rest and rotation, decontamination, welfare and supervisor responsibilities.
- Non-technical skills – leadership, assertiveness , communication, briefings, handovers, debriefing, decision making
- Situational awareness, risk management and human factors – Swiss Cheese model, heuristic traps, bias recognition, dynamic risk assessment, risk benefit and shared mental models.
- Resources and credentialling – team typing, capability, CPD, NCAF credentialling, PPE and specialist equipment characteristics.
- Search theory – PLS/LKP, systematic high/low assurance searches, subsurface rescue and ROLE/DVI considerations.
- Record-keeping, documentation and evidence – notes, diagrams, photos, video, radio logs and written products (M/ETHANE, credentialling forms, reflections and progression plans).
- Theoretical content on Vehicles in Water, Locks and Sluices, Unstable surfaces, Animals in floods, Helicopter considerations
- Delegates produce written M/ETHANE reports and complete a FRCO Credentialling form for an incident they command.
- A course manual is issued for Mod 3 skills, and slide printouts of presented material given,
- A short written paper confirms learning
- Practical sessions involve putting the theoretical knowledge into practice.
- Supervisor-level scenario training across a variety of rivers, quarries and flood environments, all with diverse and demanding variables.
- Integration of multi-agency injects (Police, HART, helicopter, utilities/dam operators) and environmental injects (rising or falling levels, darkness, deteriorating visibility) to test leadership and decision-making.
- Management of non-compliant, distressed and vulnerable casualties, including paediatric and body recovery contexts.
- Application of search methods (bank, shallow water, sled-based, parallel and pendulum patterns, bathyscope work) in supervised search teams.
- Supervision of rescue techniques including wading systems, craft use under paddle or with lines, tethered swimming and rope-supported water systems (e.g. tensioned diagonals, simple reeves, V-lowers).
- Specialist equipment is provided.
- Continuous holistic assessment of cognitive, interpersonal, behavioural and function skills takes place throughout the week both as delegates are IC and working as technicians.
This 4-day course trains emergency service personnel and organizations involved in water rescue response to helm powered rescue craft. Delegates learn to identify the rescue limitations and effectively use powered boats and associated equipment in inland waters and flooding, by day or night, in various water conditions.
This comprehensive 5-day course trains emergency services personnel and organizations involved in water rescue responses at the Water and Flood Rescue Technician (DEFRA Mod 3) level. Delegates learn to identify limitations and effectively use water rescue equipment and techniques while operating near, on, and in moving water.
This 4-day course is designed for personnel who are required to advise or command at water and flood incidents at a tactical or operational level. It trains incident commanders to identify, select, develop, and manage appropriate tactical and operational plans in water and flood environments.
This 2-day course trains emergency service personnel and organizations involved in water rescue responses at the Water First Responder (DEFRA Module 2) level. Delegates learn to identify rescue limitations, safely use water rescue equipment, and operate near or in moving water in a non-buoyant capacity.
This 3-day recertification course ensures existing water rescue technicians with requisite peer led CPD maintain the necessary skills for safe and effective water rescue operations, following DEFRA Mod 3 and NFCC standards.
This 5-day course combines Mod 3 water rescue techniques with rope rescue techniques to enable operators to conduct safe rescues in complex and difficult access water environments where rope-over-water rescue techniques are required.
A 2-day course designed for emergency services personnel to develop paddle manoeuvring skills for water rescue operations beyond basic techniques covered in DEFRA MOD 3 Water Rescue Technician training.
This 2-day course is designed for personnel holding Mod 2, Mod 3, or Mod 4 awards who are required to command an asset in the operational area. The course teaches delegates to command a specialist rescue asset at the operational level.
This 5-day course is designed for experienced and proficient Mod 3 award holders who wish to train personnel in the skillsets of the Water Rescue Technician (Mod 3). It provides the framework of instructional skills and associated knowledge and understanding to instruct others to this level.