Learning and development for external care providers
Adults' and Community Services Learning and Development are responsible for providing learning and development opportunities to equip staff within the local social care workforce with the necessary knowledge and skills to continuously improve care practices.
To meet the challenges to social care in the 21st century, Adults' and Community Services aims to strengthen partnerships with local care providers and encourage a flexible and highly skilled social care workforce by providing a comprehensive offering of learning and development opportunities to equip staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the demands of the work they do, as well as developing their work experience and ongoing professional development.
General care training
These courses range from half-day courses to two-day courses. They cover statutory areas such as Food Hygiene and Health and Safety alongside other areas such as Safeguarding, Dementia and The Mental Capacity Act. For more information on the current range of courses available please see our training calendar for care providers or contact us on 020 7926 4452 or 020 7926 0774.
The Mental Capacity Act (2005)
Free online training module covering important legislative changes brought about by the Mental Capacity act (2005) for access by Lambeth health and social care service providers, unpaid carers and other Lambeth based health and social care professionals.
Accredited adult social care training
Lambeth Adults' and Community Services has partnered with South Thames College and Eltonbury Training and Consultancy to deliver the CIS, LDQ and NVQ 2, 3 and 4 programmes to our external care providers and partners in the voluntary, private and independent sectors. In 2008 we are running three cohorts of the CIS, LDQ and NVQ 2 and 3 programmes. The first cohort have commenced their training and we are currently accepting applications for the remaining courses.
Please contact Jennifer Orgill on 0207 926 4864 or jorgill@lambeth.gov.uk for more information.
For further details on the NVQ Level 4 award, please contact Judy Clark on 0207 926 0774 or jaclark@lambeth.gov.uk.
CIS are designed for people entering social care, and those changing roles or employers within adult social care. The standards provide a structured start for new workers and are intended to build confidence by developing competency, and supporting continuing professional development and are designed to be met within a 12 week period.
The LDQ is a new award which covers the Common Induction Standards in the context of supporting people with a learning disability. This course was specifically created to meet the needs of the learning disability sector and replaces the Learning Disability Award Framework (LDAF). On completion workers will be able to demonstrate that they have met the requirements of the CIS in a learning disability context.
Registration at levels 2 and 3 is required for those who work in residential homes, day centres or domiciliary care.
The Registered Managers Award is now a requirement for all registered managers in the adult sector, and this will be extended to include day care, home care and possibly other services.
Trainee Social Worker Scheme
Lambeth Adults' and Community Services offers the opportunity to obtain a social work degree whilst obtaining relevant work experience. This demonstrates Lambeth’s commitment to staff training and development, whilst addressing the recruitment and retention of social workers and ensuring a stable and growing workforce.
Various models have been used before, including
- The Graduate Trainee Social Worker Scheme (for external applicants)
- The Employment Based Route (for existing social care staff)
- Sponsorship of graduate students
Adults' and Community Services will be running another social work scheme in 2008 and the details will be finalised soon. Look out for future announcements.
Investors in People (IiP) is a national quality standard which sets best practice for improving an organisation’s performance through its people. Lambeth achieved corporate IiP recognition in December 2004. Few other councils have achieved corporate recognition.