Latest News from Workforce Development
Skills for Care Online Practice Sessions
During January & February 2025, Skills for Care are hosting a series of online community of practice sessions to increase digital confidence & technology skills for Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, & Principal Occupational Therapists & Principal Social Workers who work in Adult Social Care.
The topics that will be covered are:
What does Artificial Intelligence (AI) mean to me?
We’ll explore what artificial intelligence (AI) is, the opportunities which it offers & the ethical considerations around its use. We’ll share real life case studies where AI is already in use in social care.
Digital Leadership
Find out what we mean by 'digital leadership' and why it’s important. We’ll discuss the role of digital champions in the workplace & the role of dedicated TEC teams, as well as continuous professional development & workplace wellbeing.
The Internet of Things
From smart fridges to smart phones, radar sensors to robot vacuum cleaners, our houses are filled with technologies called the internet of things (IoT). The applications for IoT in social care are numerous. In this practical session we’ll look at case studies of how this technology is being used & how to have conversations with the people you support about whether this technology is right for them.
For more information & dates please click on the following link: Skills for Care [external website]
DBC Staff - please inform Workforce Development if you book a place.
**Last Chance to Book**
EXIP Briefing - Preparing for Adulthood
- Monday 16 December 2024 from 1.30-2.30pm in Room 406, Town Hall
- Click on link for more information: Training Directory
EXIP Briefing - Autism in Older Adults
- Tuesday 14 January 2025 from 1.30-2.30pm in Room 406, Town Hall
- Click on link for more information: Training Directory
*Limited Places*
Understanding the EHCP Process, the Role of Professionals & the Graduated Response
- Thursday 16 January 2025 from 9.30-11.30am via MS Teams
- Click on link for more information: Training Directory
Moving Forward - Post Training Impact Analysis & Virtual Check in
- Tuesday 21 January 2025 from 10.00-12.00pm via MS Teams
- Click on link for more information: Training Directory
Experts in Practice
Experts in Practice is an innovative and unique programme that supports the development and progression of staff. It enables us to create bespoke, research driven and needs led training and development programmes and resources for Darlington.
In partnership with the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) and Sunderland University, Darlington People Group train and support staff to become Social Care Research Ambassadors (SCRA), or as we call them here in Darlington, ‘Experts in Practice’. Our programme is different to any other SCRA programme in the country and has been cited as national good practice, with the NIHR promoting our ‘Experts in Practice’ approach to other Local Authorities across the country.
- What is ‘Experts in Practice’? – in Darlington we recognise that we have some extremely skilled and capable staff members who with guidance and support, help us to create and deliver their expert knowledge and skills to others. Many of these staff members have particular areas of practice interest, that with a little training, fine tuning and quality assuring are turned into an amazing and informative training programmes for others. ‘Experts in Practice’ is about recognising, enhancing and delivering that expertise to others through the development of internal training resources.
- Why ‘Experts in Practice’? – whilst providing bespoke, research led programmes of training and resources, Experts in Practice supports a number of key identified areas of need, including; recruitment and retention of staff, progression, staff feeling supported and valued, job satisfaction and ownership (including a sense of responsibility) and budget savings.
- What do Experts in Practice produce? – our Experts in Practice develop research led training programmes and resources for the workforce, e.g. Experts In Practice - Self Neglect [external website]
- Who can be an ‘Expert in Practice’? – a real positive in terms of who can be an ‘Expert in Practice’ is that, essentially any member of staff could potentially take up the role. Interest, expertise, and knowledge in a particular area of need, along with the support of internal leadership and management regarding the development and delivery of that specific area are key to staff becoming an ‘Expert in Practice’.
Community Care Inform
Community Care Inform is a fantastic resource available to DBC staff working with adults and children & families in Darlington. It provides a wealth of online resources created by sector experts enabling professionals to make robust, evidence based decisions and to keep on top of their CPD. It includes:
- learning tools - podcasts, videos, webinars, group learning tools and case studies to support different learning styles
- practice guidance - in-depth guides on a huge range and variety of topics as well as at a glance summaries and top tips
- legal - summaries of the most significant cases with key points for practice plus comprehensive and accessible legislative guidance
- research - the latest and most relevant social care research summarised, with key practice points highlighted.
You can also log each learning event you complete on the website in your own CPD log. You can also record training accessed via other sources & you can easily download all of the information so you have an easily accessible record of your CPD.
- Community Care Inform Adults [external link]
- Community Care Inform Children [external link]
Suicide Prevention Training
Funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Suicide Prevention Grant Fund has been awarded to PAPYRUS which has enabled them to provide fully funded Suicide Prevention training in the North East until March 2025.
There are four courses available which can be booked through the following link: Papyrus UK [external website]:
- SPARK – Suicide Prevention Awareness, Resource, Knowledge - an introduction to PAPYRUS & suicide prevention - 30 minute presentation
- SPOT – Suicide Prevention Overview Tutorial - what EVERYONE needs to know - 90 minute training
- SPEAK – Suicide Prevention Explore, Ask, Keep-Safe - an introduction to suicide prevention skills - half day training
- ASIST – Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training - a skills building workshop that prepares caregivers to provide suicide first aid interventions - 2 day training
Creative Life Story Work
New courses are available:
- Behind the All About Me Scenes - Tuesday 21 January 2025
- The Impact of Parental Separation - Thursday 23 January 2025
- Taking a Strengths-Based Approach - Thursday 6 February 2025
Courses are free to those who have an account. For more information click on the following link: Creative Life Story Work Flyer [pdf document]
Lunchtime Learning
The North East Children & Families Principal Social Worker Network have continued to plan & deliver a series of bespoke Lunchtime Learning Sessions which are open to all Children’s Services practitioners across the region. Below you will find an overview of the sessions. All sessions are held between 12pm-1pm on the identified dates and you can attend as many as you like! Please add the Teams Link to your calendar to join.
| Authority | Date | Session | Link |
|
Gateshead |
Thursday 20 February 2025 |
Narrative Practice Writing with & for the Child - click on the following link for more info: Narrative Practice Writing flyer [pdf document] |
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Northumberland |
Thursday 26 March 2025 |
Being Culturally Competent - click on the following link for more info: Being Culturally Competent flyer [pdf document] |
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South Tyneside |
Thursday 10 April 2025 |
Sharing Sensitive Information as part of Life Story Work - click on the following link for more info: Sharing Sensitive Information flyer [pdf document] |
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Redcar & Cleveland |
Thursday 17 July 2025 |
The Power of Language - click on the following link for more info: Power of language flyer [pdf document] |
DBC Staff - Please inform Workforce Development if you attend so we can keep your training record up to date.
Boost
The North East & Cumbria Learning & Improvement Community for Health & Social Care
The Boost learning academy offers flexible training & development. It offers a wide range of courses, seminars and events all designed to help deliver the best possible care. The learning academy is open to everyone working or volunteering in the North East & North Cumbria health & care system including all of social care.
It offers a wide range of learning opportunities from leadership & improvement courses to prevention & addressing inequalities programmes using a making every contact count approach. Learning opportunities cover a variety of topics relating to population health including alcohol, tobacco, mental health, poverty, inequalities & more. Plus, there's the opportunity to connect & learn together with like-minded people from across the region
People can join the learning academy & get on track to growing their skills & knowledge by clicking on the following link: Boost [external link]
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Training
CAMHS run a rolling programme of training including the following awareness raising sessions:
- 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
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability & Autism
The training is named after Oliver McGowan. Oliver was a young man whose death shone a light on the need for health & social care staff to have better skills, knowledge & understanding of the needs for autistic people and people with a learning disability. For more information please click on the following link: Oliver McGowan Training [external website]
Darlington XTRA
- Subscribe to Darlington Xtra Spotify: Click on the following link: Subscribe to our Spotify [external website]
- Subscribe to Darlington Xtra YouTube: Click on the following link: Subscribe to our YouTube [external website]
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
For more information, please click on the following link: Learning & Skills Darlington
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
Safeguarding Adults & Children
For details of Safeguarding Adults & Safeguarding Children training, visit the Darlington Safeguarding Partnership Website[external link]
Training Materials & Resources
The Workforce Development Intranet pages contain a range of useful information, training materials & resources available to Darlington Borough Council staff. Search for Workforce Development.