Latest News from Workforce Development
Cancellation Notifications
We are currently having some difficulties with our current booking system in that it is occasionally sending out meeting cancellation notifications to delegates who have booked a place on one our courses. Please note that if we do cancel a course, you will first receive an email explaining the reason for the cancellation followed by a meeting cancellation. If you receive a random cancellation with no explanation then please email Workforce Development
*New Date*
Neglect – NSPCC Graded Care Profile 2
Aims & Objectives/Learning Outcomes
The NSPCC Graded Care Profile (GCP) is designed to help practitioners spot when a child is at risk of neglect & get the right help to families earlier. The GCP2 is a practical tool which supports practitioners in measuring the quality of care delivered to an individual child from an individual carer or carers over a short window of time, & is designed to give a representative overview of the current level of care. The grades are based on observations & good quality evidence gathered during this window. All practitioners using the GCP2 will attend & pass a licensed training programme.
Target Audience
Any practitioner working with children & families in Darlington
Dates, Times & Venues
- Tuesday 4 June 2024 from 9.30-3.30pm in the Seminar Room, Dolphin Centre
*New Course*
Social Communication & Behaviour Characteristics in the Early Years
Aims & Objectives/Learning Outcomes
- The training aims to examine behaviour in this age range that could be indicative of further issues in development.
- It will cover the features of Autism, FASD, as well as an exploration of how environmental factors could influence the development of age-appropriate behaviours.
- The focus will be on understanding individual behaviours and supporting children to develop the skills they need to learn and thrive separate to whether a diagnostic process is being followed or not.
Target Audience
Any professionals working with children in the 0-5 age range in Darlington
Dates, Times & Venues
- Friday 5 July 2024 from 9.30-11.30am via MS Teams
- Tuesday 1 October 2024 from 9.30-11.30am in the Pease Suite, Dolphin Centre
- Thursday 30 January 2025 from 1.30-3.30pm via MS Teams
Public Health Foundation Programme
The Foundation Programme in Public Health is designed to support the development of social care & the wider public health workforce in their knowledge and understanding of health inequalities & population health. For further details including registration, please click on one of the following links:
Beat Eating Disorders - Beyond the Symptoms Programme
To support the wider system in understanding eating disorders and difficulties, the County Durham & Tees Valley Mental Health, Learning Disabilities & Autism Partnership have commissioned Beat, an eating disorders organisation, to provide training as an early intervention and prevention initiative. Beyond the Symptoms is a training programme for health & social care professionals who work within Children & Young People's services across County Durham, Darlington & Tees.
The training is free to access but places are limited, therefore please book on as soon as possible. Each session needs a minimum of 8 people to be booked on in order for the training to go ahead. Sessions are as follows:
- Tuesday 7 May 2024 & Tuesday 14 May 2024 from 9.30-1.30pm
- Friday 17 May 2024 from 9.30-4.30pm
- Thursday 23 May 2024 & Thursday 30 May 2024 from 9.30-1.30pm
- Tuesday 11 June 2024 from 9.30-4.30pm
- Tuesday 21 June 2024 & Tuesday 28 June 2024 from 9.30-1.30pm
Please click on the following link to book a place: Beat Eating Disorders [external website]
Please click on the following link for more information about the programme: Leaflet [pdf document]
Moving Forward - Understanding Domestic Abuse
- Wednesday 22 May 2024 & Wednesday 12 June 2024 from 9.30-4.30pm at Tandem
- For more information & alternative dates click on the following link: Training Directory
Care Act Legal Update
- Monday 3 June 2024 from 9.30-4.00pm at Tandem
- For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
Workforce Development Training Directory
- To view a copy of the WFD Training Directory, please click on the following link: Training Directory
- To book email the Workforce Development Team clearly stating the name of the course and the date & time.
Training for Foster Carers 
To be confirmed.
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Training
CAMHS run a rolling programme of training including the following awareness raising sessions:
- Adolescent Sexual Development & Sexual Risk
- Anxiety, Worries, Fears & Phobias
- Anxious About School
- Attachment Difficulties
- Attentional Difficulties
- Childhood Trauma & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)
- Deliberate Self Harm
- Eating Difficulties
- Emotional Wellbeing & Communication
- Low Mood & Depression
- Social & Communication Difficulties
For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
Darlington XTRA
Learning & Skills Darlington
Welcome to Learning & Skills Darlington. They are a local training provider offering a wide range of learning opportunities for all ages. They offer a wide range of learning & training opportunities for all ages, including:
- Adult & Community Learning
- Functional Skills
- English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
- Distance Learning (DL) & Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Family Learning
- Intensive Support
- Higher & Further Education
- Apprenticeships
- Study Programmes & Pre-Apprenticeship Programmes
Visit the Learning & Skills Darlington website
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability & Autism - Tier 1
The training is named after Oliver McGowan. Oliver was a young man whose death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better skills, knowledge and understanding of the needs for autistic people and people with a learning disability.
For details of the training, please click on the following link: Eventbrite [external website]
Skills for Care Tools, Resources & E-Learning Modules
Skills for Care offer a range of tools, resources & e-learning modules on various care topics including:
- Oral Health
- Equality & Diversity
- Person Centred Approaches in Health & Care
- Modern Slavery
- Infection Prevention & Control
- Culturally Appropriate Care
- Mental Health
- End of Life Care
- Medication
- Pressure Ulcers
- Dementia
- Learning Disability
- Mental Capacity Act
- Supporting People with Challenging or Distressed Behaviour
- Learning Disability & Autism
- Autism
For more information click on the following link: Skills for Care Website [external website]
E Learning Modules Available:
Zero Suicide Alliance on-line training
- For further information click on the following link: Training Directory
Council for Disabled Children - SEND Basic Awareness
- For further information click on the following link: Training Directory
SCIE Mental Capacity Act E Learning Course
- For further information click on the following link: Training Directory
The MS Society - MS Awareness Course
- For further information click on the following link: Training Directory
Community Care Inform
Just a reminder for DBC staff who have access to Community Care Inform that there are lots of useful articles etc. available online:
- Community Care Inform Adults [external link]
- Community Care Inform Children [external link]
Safeguarding Adults & Children
For details of Safeguarding Adults & Safeguarding Children training, visit the Darlington Safeguarding Partnership Website[external link]
Training Materials
The Workforce Development intranet pages contain some useful information, training materials & resources available to Darlington Borough Council staff.
Livingwell Darlington
You can also find us on Livingwell Darlington