Showing posts tagged with: training

Routes Healthcare North Ltd achieves Qualsafe Awards for high standards of training

We are delighted to announce that Routes Training have now successfully obtained our training centre approval with Qualsafe Awards. 

We have met the very high standards required to be a Qualsafe Awards recognised centre, this will enable Routes Training to offer Offqual regulated qualifications. Qualsafe Awards is an Ofqual recognised Awarding Organisation, established by experts in the first aid training industry.

Being recognised by Qualsafe is evidence that we provide our staff with the highest standard of training to ensure our clients receive the highest standard of care.

Listed below are the First Aid courses Routes Training now provide:

• Level 2 Award in Emergency First Aid At Work (QCF)
• Level 2 Award in Paediatric Emergency First Aid (QCF)
• Level 2 Award in Paediatric First Aid (QCF)
• Level 2 First Aid at Work Annual Refresher
• Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work (QCF)

To read more about Qualsafe Awards please click here.

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Training - Why Bother?

Attending training courses can often seem like a chore and not the best way of utilising your free time and sometimes even your day off!

However if you want to deliver the highest standard of care possible, it’s vital to have up to date training and you never know, you might just enjoy it!

Recently training has been identified as a key factor towards improving the Care Industry and fighting issues such as Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults. 

Paul Burstow MP has introduced a new bill to include a new offence of corporate neglect in the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

 In this he stated:

‘We need a complete shift in the way care workers are viewed by society by recognising them as professionals. They should be paid and trained as such.’

‘Jobs are usually underpaid and under trained, which means there is a serious lack of skills.’

The Prime Minister has announced the Care Quality Commission will do a ‘root and branch review’ of induction training for care staff. The review is to ensure that nobody can provide unsupervised help without an appropriate level of training. New minimum training standards for care staff will be published within weeks.

At Routes we already recognise the importance of training for all our staff working with Vulnerable Adults.

All our staff attend Mandatory Training on induction and Annual Training to keep up to date with changes in policies, procedures and legislation. There are also a number of courses staff can attend for on-going development.

I think that it’s a really positive step to see new minimum training standards being introduced and this will help to achieve the outcome we all want – To Provide an Excellent Standard of Care!

For further information:

http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/friends-and-family-test-nhs/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/social-care-network/2013/jan/22/change-law-protect-vulnerable-people

Initial feedback from the CQC inspection

Please find extracts from the report following CQC's unannounced visit:

As part of our inspection we spoke with the relatives of people who use the service and with healthcare teams who commission services from the agency.

People told us; "It's an excellent service", "We couldn't have coped without them", "They listen to me", "The manager is prompt in responding to any issues or questions" and "Absolutely wonderful".

Comments received from healthcare teams were also very complimentary about the service provided. These included; "The majority of the patients we commission care for are approaching the end of their life and they [the agency] respond quickly, efficiently and flexibly to our patients needs", "The manager is highly professional in her approach" and "They are always able to provide skilled competent carers".

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During our visit we saw that policies and procedures were in place to promote the safety and protection of people. These included information about safeguarding adults and children, whistle blowing and confidentiality.

We looked at a sample of staff files to see what training had been offered to staff in relation to the protection of vulnerable adults and children. We saw that safeguarding adults training was included in the induction training completed by all staff. We were also told that training in child protection procedures had been undertaken several days prior to our visit.

As part of this inspection we spoke with staff. We asked them to tell us what they would do if an allegation of abuse was made to them, or if they suspected that abuse had occurred. What they told us confirmed that they had an understanding of what action should to be taken to ensure people's safety.

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The manager showed us a complaints log where issues had been brought to her attention. Information showed that these had been investigated and the complainant had received a response detailing the findings. We were not aware of any issues or concerns about the service.

We were also shown 'thank you' cards, which had been received by the agency from people complimenting them about the service provided. Some of the comments included; "Wonderful job and incredible kindness", "They [the staff] treated my relative with the respect they deserved" and "They [the staff] gave me peace of mind".

People spoken with as part of our inspection knew who to speak with if they had any issues or concerns and felt confident any issues would be addressed promptly.

A healthcare professional also said; "Any isolated incidence of concern are dealt with promptly ensuring any quality issues are addressed immediately" and "I have no concerns about using this company".

Routes Healthcare supports local apprenticeship scheme

Routes Healthcare recently appeared in the Blackpool Gazette in support of the National Apprenticeship Scheme.  We have a proven track record in training, developing and recruiting employees subsidised by the apprenticeship grant. 

Sam  Banfield, 21, started as an apprentice last year working for Routes Healthcare on Preston New Road, Marton.

She said: “I had always said I would never work in an office, but it is the best thing I have ever done.

“I originally came here on work experience but I started the apprenticeship and it is really great.

“The beauty is you learn as you work unlike going to college, and of course you get paid.

“One of my colleagues, Chris Thornley, started here as an apprentice and he won apprentice of the year.

“I would like to follow along that path.”

Routes Healthcare Blackpool is committed to the modern apprenticeship scheme

Based in Blackpool we supply Health and Social Care Professionals throughout Lancashire, there are currently several members of the field team who are studying for their NVQ/QCF Level 2 or Level 3 apprenticeship in health and social care; additionally we also have 3 of the office based team completing a NVQ/QCF Level 3’s in business administration.

Offering jobs and employment to Healthcare Assistants and Support Workers within the homecare, domiciliary care, residential and nursing care sector it is imperative that high quality training underpins the delivery of an excellent service.

As a registered nurse and registered CQC manager I think that good quality appropriate training is therefore invaluable; and working as an apprentice on a work-based training programme designed around the needs of the employer which  leads to a nationally recognised qualification.

Here at Routes we are very proud of the career pathway that we can offer to those with a genuine desire to work in healthcare.

With little or no experience in the Health or Social Care sector you can start with our “Route into Care Course”.  The course provides individuals with the opportunity to study the theoretical side of Health and social care whilst gaining some practical supervised placements and working within a team of like minded individuals.

Upon completion of this you will have attained the following:

• 9 core units of the level 2 diploma in Health and Social care
• Employability and personal development certificate level 2
• Functional math’s and English at level 1 and you will also complete
• Technical certificates in Health and social care.

WOW and that’s all in 8 weeks!

For further information, advice and guidance please contact Simon Hamer at GP Skills Training Academy, our training partners, who provide the intro to care course and NVQ/QCF diplomas on (07891)886 529.

On completion of the course you will then be invited to complete our in house ‘OfQual’ registered training in manual handling First Aid, medication, health and safety, food hygiene, fire safety and  safeguarding training courses to mention just a few; you will also be formally signed up to complete the rest of the level 2 diploma. 

One of our field based carers Emma is a great example of  how successful you can be.  Emma began her career with Routes in August 2011 and signed up for her diploma level 2;  she recently applied to uni to study social work and we are delighted to say she has been unconditionally offered a place to start in September.

We also are able to offer many courses that are one day and or distance learning that provide you the carer or support worker with an NCFE qualification including subjects such as: safe handling of medicines, team leadership, end of life care and dementia care.

So if you are passionate about gaining employment in healthcare and want to make it a career choice please give me and my team a call, just click here to access our details.