Sector News

1. Sage and Thyme training

   Sage and Thyme – Introductory Communication Skills Trainers

   Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Services Network are looking for suitable people to join their team of trainers to deliver Sage and Thyme© communication skills workshops. Sage and Thyme© is an introductory level communication skills workshop designed to help all grades of staff to listen and respond to concerns, emotions and fears of patients and carers. It also allows the individual to explore their own support and solutions. Trainers will be required to attend the Sage and Thyme© workshop, the three day Advanced Communication Skills workshops and a full day facilitator training event planned for the 14h October 2010. The cost of the training will be met by Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Services Network.
   Click here for trainers flyer, training requirements or application

2. Qualifications Credit Framework (QCF)

   Revised Implementation Date The Skills Funding Agency have announced they will extend the period of time that funding will continue to be available for new learners registering on NVQ Level 2 and 3 Social Care qualifications. Therefore, the LWDP will continue to fund courses until 31st December 2010, when the new QCF takes effect. For more details click here.

3. Self Evaluation Forms

   In July, the revised Self Evaluation Form will be issued to Training Providers. If your organisation took part in the pilot scheme, you will not need to complete it again at this time. The feedback will be reviewed and if key areas for development are identified, LWDP will offer workshops and support to address the key areas identified.

4. Awarding Bodies

   As previously communicated, until QCF is operational for the short courses named below LWDP will only fund nationally recognised accredited training. LWDP have added new awarding bodies and course titles for the following awards:

   • Health & Safety in Health & Social Care
   • Principles of Risk Assessment
   • First Aid at Work 3 day
   • Emergency First Aid at work
   • Food Safety

   
   If you are a training provider, who offers any of these accredited training please can you advertise your new course titles as listed in the table below on LancashirePlan following the instructions below.

   • Click on My Company.
   • Click on Course Selector.
   • Click on only show funded courses.
   • Select only the courses which you are delivering.

   If you have not submitted proof of accreditation for the courses you wish to offer to the LWDP you must submit the information before selecting the award.

   See below for a full list of Awarding Bodies and Course Titles:

   Awarding Body	Course Title
   OCN	OCN Basic First Aid for the home OCN Health & Safety in the home OCN Food Preparation
   NCFE	NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Food Hygiene and Safety NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Health & Safety at work NVFE Level 2 certificate in fire risk assessment
   EDI	EDI Level 2 award in Food safety in catering. EDI Level 2 award in Health & Safety in the workplace Level 2 award in Emergency First aid at work Risk Management Level 2
   City & Guilds	City & Guilds Level 2 award in Food Safety City & Guilds Level 2 award in Health & Safety in the workplace
   RSPH	RIPH Level 2 award in Food Safety in catering RIPH Level 2 award in Health & Safety in the work place
   NEBOSH	NEBOSH National general certificate in occupational safety in health ( includes risk assessment elements)
   ASCENTIS	ASCENTIS Level 2 Certificate in Health & Safety
   HABC	HABC Level 2 Awards in Food Safety HABC Level 2 Award in Health and Safety in the Workplace HABC Level 2 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work HABC 3-Day First Aid at Work

   • Excellence Award Recognition

     It was announced at the recent National Skills Academy for Social Care Excellence Awards Regional Roadshow at St Helens College that Training Providers can gain Stage 1 Recognition free of charge until January 31st 2011. To learn more about the endorsement framework please go to: www.nsasocialcare.co.uk or email: maggie.challis@nsasocialcare.co.uk

   • Social Impact of Training

     Do You Measure the Social Impact Your Training Has on Service Users? A key focus for us in 2010 is finding ways to demonstrate the social value of the training we fund. LWDP are keen to increase the volume of feedback we receive from Service Users and their Carers. Has your organisation started to measure the impact of training on service users? If the answer is yes, please share examples of how you do this with us. Please contact jackmoorehead@lwdp.org.uk or call 01772 761855.

   • LancashirePlan advertised course costs

     If there is a potential variation in the costs you charge per course or qualification, please ensure you advertise the maximum cost in LancashirePlan and then make the reduction for the organisation/employee in LancashirePlan once the discount has been confirmed. It is important that you explain that reductions in advertised costs may be applicable and detail the circumstances where this would apply within your terms and conditions in LancashirePlan. This can be added in the ‘My Company’ menu. ‘Company Maintenance’ sub menu, ‘text’ tab. Please contact the LWDP if you need support with this function.

   • Course evaluation tool

     Since the completion of the pilot last year, less than 2% of employers have submitted course evaluation feedback in LancashirePlan. Please encourage Employers to do this for the training they complete with you. This tool will help your organisation stand out from the crowd when managers are checking out who has delivered the course they are looking to book on.

     The LWDP are developing our monitoring systems so that we can more accurately prompt Employers, but your support in this matter would make a tremendous difference.

   • Care Plan Training

     We are currently seeking Training Providers who offer Care Planning Training. This is an opportunity to tap into a potentially lucrative market, by offering relevant training on the Care Plan which is a mandatory requirement of Care Standards. If you offer this relevant training, we suggest you advertise the course on LancashirePlan

   • Training Provider files

     Over 99% of Training Provider files were updated during the last file review. LWDP would like to thank you for your cooperation with this mammoth task. Please remember that you must submit evidence to support all potentially funded training that you offer through LancashirePlan and ensure you submit your supporting evidencebefore you add the course titles to your advertised courses

   • Education Training Evaluation

     An automated process for Training Provider course evaluations is available on LancashirePlan. This enables Care Providers to evaluate all  funded training delivered. The process is as follows - once a training provider marks a course as complete, a system generated email (including hyperlink) prompts the care provider to complete an evaluation in LancashirePlan (L-Plan).  A care provider can complete training provider evaluations for all courses booked and completed in L-Plan. If possible individuals receiving training should complete the evaluation alternatively their line manager or admin support person should complete the evaluation after discussing the training with the participant. Where groups have attended a summary for the group can be completed.

     Click here for further information

     For more information contact Jack Moorehead on 01772 761855.

   • Trainer Evaluations

     Training Providers delivering “in house” training are not eligible to complete evaluations. This includes training delivered to other companies under umbrella ownership.

   • SAR Download Page

     Please Note: Not all training providers listed in this directory are registered with the LWDP for an up-to-date listing of LWDP training providers login to LancashirePlan

     Download the Self Assesment Report (SAR)

     Download the Training Provider Guide to LWDP Funding Management on LancashirePlan

     Skills for Care North West Training Provider Directory can be accessed via www.nwtpdatabase.org.uk.

   • Overseas Recruitment and Funding

     If you are working with organisations who have undertaken overseas recruitment and you are training these staff with funds from the LWDP you must ensure that the employing organisation has complied with the codes as detailed below.

     There is a code of practice available at http://www.sccir.org.uk/ for social care.

     There is a similar code for nurses and there is reported to be some issues with overseas Government. http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4097734.pdf

   • Train to Gain

     A document outlining additional flexibilities for 2008/09. This document is intended to give colleges and training providers details of the changes to Train to Gain following the agreement with Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) to a wide range of additional flexibilities. The guide also details the additions made to Train to Gain eligibility and emerging strategy. It does not replace the LSC Funding Guidance 2008/09 – Funding Principles and Regulations.

     Data about Train to Gain Engagements and Learners Social Care from 01-Apr-07 to 20-Jul-08

     Both documents will be available on the Skills for Care website shortly.

   • Important news for care providers

     Fair Price’ work and the new Dignity in Care Charter bring a substantial increase in fees in the Lancashire County Council area for older people’s services. This substantially improved package results from the work of UKHCA, LCA and the Social Care Partnership. Back in November, Lancashire County Council were proposing £1.2m cuts for the older people’s sector and uplifts of 3.5%, for domiciliary care. Representatives from the UKHCA and LCA made strong representations through December including a presentation to the Leader of the Council Hazel Harding and colleagues to try to ensure that social care was given its due weight in the various pressures on council spending and due recognition was given to the Fair Price model we were using within Lancashire to track cost pressures on providers. This work was done with and through the Social Care Partnership. Last week it was announced that the £1.2 million cuts announced back in November will now not take place and the £1.2 million will be reinstituted in full, that the average uplift figures for older people’s care were to be 6% (domiciliary) and 5.55% (care homes) and that the threshold for access to domiciliary care was not to be raised, after much lobbying on the issue of eligibility criteria and a better than expected settlement. A new Dignity in Care Charter has helped to pull in funds that otherwise would not have been available and the Social Care Partnership are working with the council on the exact detail of that charter.

   • Important Domiciliary Training Courses

     The UKHCA Lancashire forum has learned from the LWDP that during the next financial year (April to March) it is their intention that care workers could be awarded funding for a maximum of three courses plus one NVQ award subject to terms and conditions and available funds.

     In order that the training courses listed by the LWDP meets the needs of care providers the LWDP has asked the UKHCA Lancashire Forum’s members for their views on what training is of most importance to domiciliary provider organisations.

     Therefore we are writing to you to give you the opportunity to provide us with a list of courses most useful to domiciliary care providers.

     The LWDP aregiving all care providers the chance to influence next years training budget - don't leave it to chance make your views known

     Email : care@prioryhomecare.co.uk

     Post : UKHCA Lancashire Forum, c/o Priory Homecare, Hill View, Station Lane, Scorton, Preston, PR3 1AP.

     Fax: 01524 793495

   • Nurses Information

     Nurses interested in the future shape of health and social care can click here

   • NHS from Good to Great

     To download the from good to great bulletin click here

     To download the from good to great feedback form click here