Hear from our Head of Learning and Development, Natasha Furness, about how our Training Champions helps to build a learning culture and drive compliance, as well as provider development opportunities for colleagues.
Our roots began as a training provider, and we’re proud to have continued our passion for learning and development through our network of Training Champions.
Our champions help build a learning culture across our care homes and central services.
Introduced in 2020, they ensure compliance with mandatory and statutory training (MAST) and job essential training, and promote continuing professional development through apprenticeships, diplomas and in-house training programmes.
What do our Training Champions do?
Our Training Champions play a key role in our learning and development ambitions.
They’re passionate about learning and development and use this enthusiasm to explain the benefits of learning to promote a learning culture in their home.
Through our champion training, they become ‘super users’ and act as a local point of contact for our eLearning platform, Exemplar Learning Management System (ELMS).
This enables colleagues to get advice or support quickly in their home, so they can complete training online and maintain compliance at ease.
Our champions are knowledgeable about the learning and development opportunities we offer, and offer support and guidance regarding training enquiries.
As a Training Champion, I sit down with colleagues and talk them through the eLearning system and what they need to do. I enjoy it because I like knowing that my help can make someone feel more confident to complete their training. My biggest achievement is supporting most of my colleagues to get to 100% compliance.
Why did we introduce the Training Champion role?
Having a confident and competent workforce is vital to delivering the highest standard of care. That's why we invest in our colleagues.
With such a diverse workforce, one of our biggest challenges is making sure that everyone knows about all of the fantastic opportunities available.
We introduced the Training Champion role in 2020 to bridge this gap.
We’ve found that colleagues respond better when they can ask or hear about things from their peers.
We wanted to bring together a community of colleagues who are passionate about learning and development, to help us to promote a learning culture in our homes.
I became a Training Champion to instil relevant up-to-date practice in our homes and ensure the correct support, skillset and training is in place for our colleagues. In turn, this ensures that our residents are well cared for. I enjoy being able to spend time with colleagues to support them to feel confident in their role. I’ve done training myself and am able to train my peers, so that our homes stays compliant with training targets.
What are the benefits for our Training Champions?
Being a Training Champion is a great development opportunity for colleagues.
Our champion development and ongoing training gives them the chance to learn new skills such as digital, communication and mentoring skills.
They network with other champions to share best practice and learn new techniques to motivate their colleagues.
Doing the Training Champion role is also very rewarding. Champions get recognition from their Home Manager, care colleagues and support functions, which is very motivating.
Knowing that they’re an integral part of their home achieving 100% compliance provides great job satisfaction.
Champions also get a £25 voucher when their home meets their targets, which is an extra added benefit!
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