Greater London Training Awards 2003
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Norman Mark wins the Greater London Training Award 2003!
Press release
(The National Training Awards):
The security of vulnerable adults in a charity's 120 care
homes has been enhanced following the introduction of a major training
programme.
A training need was identified within Leonard Cheshire, the UK's leading
voluntary sector provider of support services for disabled people, in 2000
following publication by the Department of Health of "No Secrets."
The report set out guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures for protecting vulnerable adults from abuse, including training for all staff, volunteers and managers.
Early in 2001, Leonard Cheshire introduced its own policy "Protection of Vulnerable Adults," and the two developments provided the context and the challenge of training 8,000 staff and 5,000 volunteers at over 120 sites throughout the UK.
"We had a uncoordinated approach to preventing, identifying or responding to potential or alleged abuse," said Director of Human Resources Clare Smith. "There was no requirement for staff training in this area, and little evidence that such training was taking place."
Responding to this need, the expertise of Norman Mark Training was called upon to design and deliver the programme. In September 2001, an internal recruitment process began within Leonard Cheshire, identifying 40 members of staff who were to take on the responsibility for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) training. Norman Mark Training then set about implementing the programme, including training trainers, undertaking all assessment, and getting the programme through accreditation.
Participants attended a two-day training programme, then for an average of one day a week worked in other Leonard Cheshire services training other staff and volunteers.
A total of 85 learners have since completed the programme, and they now have the skills to deliver a one-day course aimed at providing an understanding of what abuse means and how it manifests itself, the personal responsibility of everyone in protecting vulnerable adults and essential elements of the law and Leonard Cheshire procedures.
"The training programme has enabled Leonard Cheshire to meet its obligations as set out in 'No Secrets' in a consistent and coordinated way," said Clare Smith.
"Learners completing the programme have trained over 6,500 staff and volunteers in POVA, leading to an increased awareness of what constitutes abuse and identifying, preventing and responding to abuse".
"All senior management teams in
the regions have now been through the programme, and this has helped to enable a
reflection on practices and, where necessary, a change in that practice."