We offer a huge range of development opportunities for staff -
from our wide-ranging Trust short course programme which covers
mandatory training, induction, management development programmes
and professional and personal skills development, to mentoring
and clinical supervision schemes, support through Practice Development
teams and access to University programmes. Many of our staff
training programmes are delivered from our new training centre
at the re-furbished GLI building at Waterloo.
As an early implementer site for Agenda for Change (the new NHS
pay and conditions scheme), the Trust is also introducing the Knowledge
and Skills Framework (KSF). The KSF recognises that you need training
and development to be fully developed in your post and to progress
in your career. Each member of staff will have a KSF outline for
their post, which establishes the knowledge and skills needed to
do your job.
For more information about the Knowledge and Skills Framework,
visit the Department of Health website at http://www.doh.gov.uk/thenhsksf/.
A learning representatives project started in 2001/02, which plays
a vital part in identifying skills and learning needs across the
Trust. Sixteen support staff now act as Union Learning Representatives
and advise colleagues on the educational and developmental opportunities
which are available, as well as feeding back on the learning needs
of staff.
The feedback from Union Learning Representatives has helped to
inform how training funds are spent within the Trust. This has included
the introduction of Career Development and Introduction to IT courses.
The Trust is an accredited centre for the delivery of NVQs in:
- Customer Service
- Pharmacy Support
- Oral Health
Staff can also access NVQs for Operating Department Practitioners
via Southbank University and Modern Apprenticeships. We are aiming
to be an accredited Centre for NVQs in Care and Pathology Support
by Autumn 2003 and Administration by 2004.
April 2001 saw the creation of new organisations called Workforce
Development Confederations, which bring together local NHS organisations
to ensure the NHS is able to recruit and retain staff it needs and
that the training needs of staff are properly met.
The Trust is part of the South
East London Workforce Development Confederation and a key priority
for both organisations was to increase the number of training places
that are available, in line with the NHS Plan targets. As a result,
the Trust successfully increased the number of clinical placements
that it offers to student nurses, midwives and therapists by over
20 per cent.
The Confederation supports staff training by allocating us a budget
for post-graduate training for nurses, allied health professionals
and health care assistants, a budget for developing support staff
and funds to develop our infrastructure for Continuing Professional
Development. |
