Training

Alderwood provides training on a variety of topics within the Professional Development Centre as well as off-site training as part of the Alderwood consultancy services.

Alderwood’s on-site training venue is situated on South Lodge Farm, Northampton. It is set among open farm land overlooking the Nene valley, seven miles east of Northampton town centre. It is easily accessed from the M1 (Junction 15) and the A45. Click contact details for directions.

Alderwood Training Courses

The Professional Development Centre on South Lodge Farm provides excellent training facilities for all of our staff. We offer such wide range of courses in order to equip our staff with specialist knowledge to work with our residents, the PDC is a fantastic venue for the development of its carers.

Headed by Anita Smart, and coordinated by Mike Kalogerou, we place an enormous emphasis on staff development, therefore training is an ongoing process and as a result we have been accredited with Investors in People since 2004.

PROACT-SCIPr-UK®

Compulsory for all staff working with the children and young people within Alderwood. This course is typically run over 2 days whereby participants undergo written and practical assessment, demonstrating both knowledge and implementation of holistic, proactive techniques in managing challenging behaviours. All staff are re assessed on an annual basis to maintain the highest possible standards. Staff are fully licensed in PROACT-SCIPr-UK® and Alderwood boasts 3 fully qualified PROACT-SCIPr-UK® trainers.

How we Implement Structure at Alderwood

Because the TEACCH philosophy plays such an integral part of the Alderwood ethos, our Implementation of Structure programme is one which has been developed to an advanced level for all its carers. Delivered by Linda Bland under the guidance of Jackie Wadlow, Managing Director and Anita Smart, Strategic Director and Head of Residential Services, all staff are expected to complete this course to an introductory level and then to an advanced level with ongoing coaching throughout the whole of their career with Alderwood.

Induction

We see induction as an ideal opportunity to gradually grow our workforce from day one. Our extensive main induction programme equips our carers with all the knowledge they need for working with our children and young adults. Spread over a number of sessions, staff gain specialist insight into Autism, Behaviour, Teamwork, Care Principles, Health and Safety and Understanding the Role of the Worker. In brief all of our staff receive full training on the common induction care standards for both adults and children’s services.

Safeguarding and Protecting Vulnerable Children and Adults

Our 2 day course on safeguarding our vulnerable residents is an area we feel that is an integral part of staff development. Delivered by two qualified trainers Linda Bland and Caroline Williams, this course aims to educate staff on the different types of abuse that can happen within care and how to identify and respond in cases of negligence and abuse.

Other Training

A brief list of our training courses can be found below

Continual professional development is vital for maintaining the knowledge of its staff and helping to improve practices throughout each staff member careers. We offer the following training as an enhancement to the basic courses named previously. These courses are dependant on the staff member’s job role and subject to successful completion of a 6 month probationary period.

NVQ’s

All staff that choose to work at Alderwood will be expected to undertake a relevant NVQ within their field of work. We offer a wide range of vocational training courses to suit the needs of the organisation and the individual.

We work very closely with our training providers to ensure the NVQ is specific to the needs of the worker.

The qualifications we provide are:

  • NVQ Level 2 in Health & Social Care (Irchester & Rushden staff)
  • NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care, Adults (shift leaders in Rushden and Irchester units)
  • NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care, Children and Young People, (all Chestnuts staff)
  • Level 4 Leadership and Management
  • NVQ level 4 health and Social Care, Adults
  • NVQ Level 4 in Health & Social Care Children and Young People
  • NVQ Level 2 & 3 Business and Administration

With tough targets for minimum expected staff qualification levels, NVQ’s form an integral part of staff development and much time and effort is spent in helping our workforce to achieve these