ST JOHN Ambulance will train hundreds of care home staff in life saving skills, across Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, as part of a major new contract.

The charity’s Commercial Training Division has signed a deal to provide all employees of the Orders of St John Care Homes Trust with a number of essential workplace courses, including its popular three-day first aid qualification.

And the contract covers all 78 of the trust’s care homes, including 14 in Gloucestershire, and 16 in Wiltshire.

“Our two organisations are quite separate but have a shared heritage and we are pleased to be working together,” said Paul Simons, OSJCT head of training and development.

“OSJCT are extremely committed to training in general and life-saving skills in particular.

“What was most important to us was that we had the highest quality training for our teams at a competitive price.

“St John Ambulance can deliver on both points.”

John Cavanagh, regional director for St John Ambulance CTD, said: “This will involve training for a lot of people and we’re delighted to be continuing our partnership with the care homes.”

The training will be including putting all the care home staff though a three-hour Emergency Life Support course, plus a number of other training programmes.