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*
Care Act 2014 Legal Update
Aims & Objectives/Learning Outcomes
This one day course provides participants with a legal update on the Care Act 2014 & considers implications for practice. The course will examine up-to-date Local Government Social Care Ombudsman investigations & Judicial Reviews considered from 2020 & how to apply learning in practice. By the end of the course participants will:
- describe key duties underpinning the Care Act 2014
- examine how to apply the Care & Support journey in practice & ensure compliance with the law
- evaluate learning of investigations by the Local Government (and Social Care) Ombudsman & judgments via judicial review
- be more confident in applying the Care Act in practice.
Target Audience
DBC Staff - Adult Social Care
Dates, Times & Venues
- Monday 3 June 2024 from 9.30-4.00pm at Tandem
*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 - venue to be confirmed
- Thursday 30 January 2025 from 1.30-3.30pm via MS Teams
*New Podcast*
Darlington Xtra Staff Conference - Part 1 – Making Time for Life Story Work
We were very lucky to have The Creative Life Story Work Podcast join the Darlington Xtra Staff Conference to record an episode with us. During this episode they spoke to Charlotte, Phil & Joseph about making time for creative life story work in Darlington.
Please click on one of the following links to listen:
Buzzsprout [external website]
Spotify [external website]
Darlington Safeguarding Partnership
Please click on the following link to view a copy of the DSP's latest newsletter: DSP April 2024 [pdf document]
Kooth Newsletter
Please click on the following link to view a copy of Kooth's latest newsletter: Kooth April 2024 [pdf document]
Creative Life Story Work
Please click on the following link to view an upcoming course available through Blue Cabin: Complex Cases - Creative Life Story Work [external website]
Barnardo's Therapeutic Services
Please click on the following link to view a short information video about Barnardo's therapeutic interventions: Video [MP4]
Blue Cabin 'This is the Place Project'
Blue Cabin are looking to recruit 2 volunteers for their 'This is the Place Project'. Please click on the following link for more information: This is The Place Volunteer - Blue Cabin [external website]
Darlington Youth Participation Newsletter
Please click on the following link to view the latest edition of the newsletter: April 2024 [pdf document]
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]
Moving Forward - Understanding Domestic Violence
- Monday 29 April 2024 & Monday 13 May 2024 from 9.30-4.30pm at Tandem or
- Tuesday 30 April 2024 & Tuesday 14 May 2024 from 9.30-4.30pm at Tandem
- For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
Reducing Parental Conflict Pathway
- Wednesday 8 May 2024 from 9.30-2.30pm at Tandem
- For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
Family Group Conference Service Briefing
- Thursday 2 May 2024 via MS Teams
- For more information click on the following link: Training Directory
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
Workforce Development Training Directory
To view a copy of the WFD Training Directory, please click on the following link: Training Directory
To Book
Please email the Workforce Development Team clearly stating the name of the course and the date & time.
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
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