New employees can expect to undertake a period of induction in their allocated workplace. The aim of this is to ensure that as the new employee you are comfortable with the service users you are working with. We also aim to enable you to get to know your work colleagues and support you to understand the requirements of your role.
You will be working with the service users, meeting their individual needs but with support from colleagues with greater understanding and experience of the individuals concerned.
There is an induction pack, which you will complete, which includes information on health and safety, moving and handling,, medication awareness, payroll and timesheets etc. This induction pack is designed to give every employee a basic understanding of their role.
To complement induction training, employees also attend more detailed training on health and safety, infection control, moving and handling and food safety. These sessions are designed to add to the basic understanding gained through the induction process.
Staff attending these sessions do so as part of their contractual hours, therefore employees are paid to attend the training.
In some services depending on the particular needs of the service users, additional specialist training maybe appropriate. Some service users may require support staff to assist with specific health care needs such as bowel care, epilepsy and diabetes. Staff may therefore require training in administering suppositories, rectal diazepam and diabetes management. Some service users also have visual impairments, staff are required to attend an externally accredited course designed to teach the skills and understanding to support people with visual impairments.
All support staff are expected to undertake NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care (HSC). The Trust pays all registration and assessment fees so there is no cost to the employee.
If support workers choose to progress their career further with the Trust, maybe to a management post - there will be a requirement for higher levels of NVQ awards.
Assistant managers are expected to complete their L3 HSC and house managers are required to undertake formal management training.