Latest News from Workforce Development
**New Date**
Experts in Practice Briefing - Autism in Older Adults
Aims & Objectives/Learning Outcomes
- The topic of neurodiverse conditions such as autism has been highly discussed & debated over recent years. However the majority of the literature is concentrated around children, adolescents & young adults. This taster session is to look at the literature available discussing autism in older people. We have seen older people who have required assessment & support planning due to acute health admissions or eligible social needs. How we tailor our sessions with those adults can reflect the quality of the interventions they potentially achieve. This briefing will:
- discuss the availability of evidence
- discuss practitioners experiences and opinions of assessing older adults who potentially could have autism.
- look at available training
- take away the knowledge to improve future assessments and support planning
Target Audience
DBC practitioners who complete assessments & support planning for older adults with or without a diagnosis of autism and/or practitioners with an interest of autism in older adults
Dates, Times & Venues
- Monday 31 March 2025 from 1.30-2.30pm in Room 406, Town Hall
**New Course**
Moving Social Work
Aims & Objectives/Learning Outcomes
Moving Social Work is an education programme designed to encourage social workers to speak about physical activity with Disabled people & other groups within care planning. It is evidence-based & was co-produced with multiple partners, including social workers, Disabled people, carers, social work lecturers, leaders in county councils & the NHS. Moving Social Work is embedded in the Government Disability Strategy (2021). It is also advocated by the Department of Health & Social Care as part of the new Government Strategy for Physical Activity (2023-2027) and is a new opportunity to tackle health inequalities.
The aim of the training is for social workers to gain the knowledge & confidence to consider & implement physical activity for Disabled people when completing Care Act assessments.
Target Audience
DBC ONLY - Adult Social Workers who complete Care Act assessments
Dates, Times & Venues
- Thursday 13 March 2025 from 2.00-4.30pm in Room A, The Education Centre, Stockton Sixth Form College, Bishopton Road West, Stockton on Tees, TS19 0QD
- Friday 14 March 2025 from 10.00-12.30pm in Room A, The Education Centre, Stockton Sixth Form College, Bishopton Road West, Stockton on Tees, TS19 0QD
Please note this is a Tees Valley wide course so we only have 5 places available on each session. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
⭐New Podcast Episode ⭐
- Buzzsprout [external website]
- Spotify [external website]
Free RNIB courses on NHS Learning Hub
For more information please click on the following link: Newsletter [pdf document]
Learning & Skills
Courses for the Family - Still spaces available!
Family First Aid – Wednesdays from 9.15-11.15am at Rydal Community Hub
This course is for adults who would like to improve their first aid skills and create a safe environment in the home. It will focus on first aid procedures, ways to create a safe home, resuscitation skills, how to handle an emergency situation and more.
New Year, New Crafts – Fridays from 11.00-1.00pm at Physique Fitness
Design and create fun crafts that you can showcase to your family and friends and display around the home!
Cooking on a Budget – Tuesdays from 12.30-2.30pm at The Edge (Baptist Church) / Tuesdays from 10.00-12.00pm at McNay Street Children’s Centre
This course is for anybody aged 19+ who wants to learn how to create simple and affordable meals. The course will cover food costing comparisons, supermarket tricks and plenty of recipes, like homemade pizzas, quiche, and soup. This course is taught in-person so you can get hands on with the cooking for the most effective learning.
Fancy a Career Change?
Do you struggle with interviews? Interested in a new career? Our Employment Academy is perfect for you! Learn how to bring the best you to interviews, raise your confidence, discover more about the workplace you will be applying for and end the week with a guaranteed interview!
- Care Home – 10 February 2025 – Monday to Friday from 10.00-3.00pm at Coleridge Centre (DL1 5AJ)
- Hospitality (Blackwell Grange) – 17 February 2025 - Monday to Friday from 10.00-3.00pm at Blackwell Grange (DL3 8QH)
Darlington Safeguarding Partnership
Please click on the following link to view the latest newsletter from DSP: January 2025 [pdf document]
EXIP Briefing - Self Medication/Substance Misuse
- Thursday 13 February 2025 from 1.30-2.30pm in Room 406, Town Hall
- Click on link for more information: Training Directory
Young Onset Dementia
- Thursday 20 February 2025 from 10.00-11.30am via MS Teams
- Click on link for more information: Training Directory
Moving Forward Virtual Check in
- Friday 6 March 2026 from 10.00-12.00pm via MS Teams
- Click on link for more information: Training Directory
Complaint Handling (Children)
- Tuesday 11 March 2025 from 1.00-3.00pm in the Stephenson Suite, Dolphin Centre
- Click on link for more information: Training Directory
Professor Thorpe 'Power of Conversation'
- Thursday 13 March 2025 from 10.00-11.30am via MS Teams
- Click on link for more information: Training Directory
Team Teach
- Thursday 20 March 2025 & Friday 21 March 2025 from 9.30-4.30pm at Tandem
- Click on link for more information: Training Directory
Infection Prevention & Control
- Thursday 20 March 2025 from 10.00-12.30pm in the Stephenson Suite, Dolphin Centre
- Click on link for more information: Training Directory
Complaint Handling (Children)
- Tuesday 25 March 2025 from 1.00-3.00pm in Room 406, Town Hall
- 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’.
Creative Life Story Work
New courses are available:
- The Impact of Domestic Abuse - Thursday 6 March 2025
- Attachment - Thursday 10 April 2025
- Communicating with Traumatised Children - Thursday 8 May 2025
- Trauma - Thursday 15 May 2025
- Recover - Monday 23 June 2025
- All About Me Direct Work - Monday 7 July 2025
Courses are free to those who have an account. For more information click on the following link: Creative Life Story Work [external website]
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.
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
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] |
|
|
Northumberland |
Thursday 26 March 2025 |
Being Culturally Competent - click on the following link for more info: Being Culturally Competent flyer [pdf document] |
|
|
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] |
|
|
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]
Safer Prescribing Survey
NHS North East & Cumbria are looking at the issue of the safer prescribing of valproate & topiramate. These medicines can help with Epilepsy, Bipolar Disorder & Migraines (topiramate only) but there are some risks and they would like to hear from patients, carers & organisations about what would help them make the decision about taking the medicine & how they manage the risk. The survey will help them understand people's experiences of decision making around taking these medicines. Closing date for the survey is 28 February 2025. You can access the survey via the following links:
Full Survey(not easy read)
Easy Read Survey (for people who find reading harder)
If you have any questions about filling in the survey or need information in a different format please contact Jo Whaley on 0191 2172806 or email: [email protected]
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
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.