Learning and Development Department
Suzanna Powlson
Staff Learning & Development
Caring Homes has a dedicated, professional Learning and Development Department. The department is responsible for ensuring that the company fulfils it’s statutory and mandatory training requirements, to ensure a safe and competent workforce.
In addition to ensuring that all statutory and mandatory training requirements are fulfilled, Caring Homes are committed to ensuring quality care is provided to all whom we are privileged to support, and has invested heavily into ensuring a culture of Learning and Development with a focus on ensuring excellence.
Our training manager, Suzanne Powlson, a registered nurse with considerable experience in caring for elderly people, operated an independent specialist healthcare training company prior to joining Caring Homes. Her motivation and drive in this was born from a keen desire to support care homes in delivering quality care to their residents.
Paul Jeffery the CEO of Caring Homes admired her approach and commitment in this, and 2 years ago, agreed to purchase the company, retaining Suzanne and her team to facilitate to Caring Homes, this motivation, drive and culture of excellence.
The Learning & Development Department within Caring Homes is externally accredited to facilitate a wide range of learning and development programmes to each of the homes within the group:
We are approved with City & Guilds to deliver the following:
- S/NVQ's in Health & Social Care Level 2, 3 and 4
- Technical Certificate Levels 2 and 3
- Key Skills Application of Number and Communication Levels 1, 2, 3
- Learning Disabilities Qualification Levels 2 and 3
- Higher Diploma in Learning Disabilities
- A1 Vocational Assessor Award
- V1 Internal Verifier Award
We are approved with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) to deliver:
- Level 2 Food Safety
- Level 3 Food Safety for Supervisors
- Level 2 Health Safety
- Level 3 Health & Safety
- Professional Trainer Certificate
We are approved with the NCFE to deliver:
- Level 2 certificate in Dementia Awareness
- Level 2 certificate in Safe Handling of Medicines
- Level 2 certificate in Provision of activities in a care setting
- Level 2 certificate in Infection control
- Level 2 certificate in safer moving and handling including people
- Level 3 certificate in Palliative Care
We are only as good as our staff
As a quality care home operator, Caring Homes fully recognises that we are only as good as our staff – this is unquestionable and the reason for our committed approach
With this in mind, Staff Learning and Development is pivotal to our success
- Ensures safe working practice and care
- Assures that our staff have the required competencies to fulfil their roles
- Ensures that staff practice is up to date and relevant
- Ensures that staff practice is in line with best practice guidelines
- Supports our ability to be able to retain our valued staff
- Provides motivated staff with a platform from which to evolve their career
- Gives staff the confidence in performing their roles in an appropriate manner
- Creates a culture of continual improvement
- Promotes excellence amongst our workforce
- Provides opportunities within the organisation
The Learning and Development Team are responsible for the following functions:
- Staff Training
- Development Pathways
- Development Opportunities
