Trust trains staff for better future

Pennine Care staff members celebrate their training successes at the awards ceremony

A local NHS trust is helping its staff to develop their skills and better their career prospects by sponsoring them to gain a range of  national training awards.

The training and development initiatives, which are being encouraged by the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, range from a medical equivalent of a Level 2 City and Guilds Award, the AMSPAR, to Train the Trainer certification and Apprenticeships.

Some 20 employees, ranging from ward clerks and medical secretaries to health and social care personnel were successful in gaining the AMSPR certification, which expands their current knowledge and skills, mainly from online study and mentor support.

A further 12 completed the City and Guilds Train the Trainer award, which equips staff with the skills, knowledge and understanding to plan, deliver and evaluate effective training courses and apply learning style theory themselves.

And some 14 staff members have expanded their knowledge through Apprenticeships, which involve on the job study across a number of business areas, ranging from Business Administration and Customer Service to Management and Health and Social Care.

Commenting on the ongoing training initiatives’ success, Fiona Ibberson, Organisation Development Consultant at Pennine Care, said: “Pennine Care is passionate about investing in its people and these training initiatives are proving a popular way for staff to gain further skills and knowledge to enhance their careers and improve the service to the people we serve.”

Staff celebrated their achievements when they accepted their awards from Bev Worthington, Pennine Care’s Director of Organisational Learning and Development, at a special ceremony run by Pennine Care on 22 January.