"The training helps to improve the quality of the service and also improves the trainees’ sense of worth, they feel part of the organisation."

“I'm the manager responsible for training and development of staff. During recruitment we assess their skills and competencies, particularly transferable skills, the areas we will need and the level of their educational qualifications, identifying which areas they will need to develop and explore the training available.

We have a good partnership with the College, very good rapport with their Health and Social Care team. I have trained there as an assessor myself. We have regular contact and they support our staff, give them insights and on the job training. I liaise with the assessors, monitoring the development of our staff, discuss their progress. And they set up management meetings, give us feedback and offer further support.

We asked for more literacy support for our trainees. I’ve just come back from a meeting at the College where we raised the issue. Now a specific course is in the pipeline.

The training helps to improve the quality of the service and also improves the trainees’ sense of worth, they feel part of the organisation. We have also taken on work placements and some have become support workers with us.”