Spotlight on Training

We put a huge emphasis on the importance of training here at Wilnash Care. Not only is good training a crucial factor in enabling our carers to provide a high quality person-centred service to clients. But it also encourages our staff to engage with personal and professional development and consider how they would like their careers to progress.

All new staff are obliged to complete mandatory in-house training when they begin their careers with us. We also encourage them to attend additional courses provided by Hertfordshire County Council and the Hertfordshire Care Providers Association. But our aim is for all of our carers to have undertaken a Health and Social Care Apprenticeship.

What are apprenticeships?

Health and Social Care Apprenticeships provide learners with the knowledge and skills needed to work in a variety of health and social care settings. Learners usually start with Level 2 but can go on to higher Levels. The scheme provides a clear pathway for career development. Level 4, for instance, can be used as an access path in to nursing. Level 5 is often a prerequisite for working as a manager.

 Many of our staff already have an apprenticeship qualification, and we currently have four carers who are engaged on Level 2. They are working with the very supportive Val. She is guiding them through the course and assessing their progress.

Val trained as a nurse in 1978 and worked in a variety of roles before switching to care in 2004. She eventually found herself delivering training and told me that she “loves passing on her knowledge and experience to the next generation of carers”. Val is an excellent trainer who is patient, encouraging and extremely supportive. Both Val and I believe that with the right attitude, good support, and a willingness to learn, anyone can achieve an apprenticeship qualification and take their career to the next level.

At Wilnash Care we not only partly fund apprenticeship training, but we also pay the carers for the time they spend in the office working towards their qualification. We know that some people are apprehensive about undertaking further training. But we will give you all the support you need, and Val will guide you through the process with gentle encouragement and infinite patience.