Project development

City & Guilds 7300-Introduction to Trainer Skills (Train the Trainer)

There is an increasing realisation within the social care sector of the importance of confidence, skills and competency when delivering training or learning activities. The aim of this course is to help delegates gain an understanding of the principles and methods of adult learning, and to apply these principles and methods in their work. It is suitable for people who are new to this field or who have had no formal training.

The course is based on the ‘Training Cycle’ and includes:

• Identifying needs and session planning
• Setting ground rules
• Use of icebreakers
• The learning environment
• Training resources
• Motivation
• Delivery and Assessment
• Evaluation

                                               Accreditation Requirements

The knowledge and practical skills gained on the course will be assessed by tutor observation of a 10-15 minute ‘micro teach’ by each participant on day two, and a multiple choice quiz.

Promoting and Developing Practical Client Participation

This one day course is grounded in the practicalities of meaningfully involving your clients.  The course aims to ensure that participants understand the context of participation and are familiar with the latest best practice.

It will enable participants to initiate, develop and maintain a programme of client participation and empowerment that meets the needs of clients, the organisation, regulators and funders.

Course Content

• Regulatory requirements and expectations in social care and housing
• The advantages and reasons for promoting participation
• The characteristics of successful and unsuccessful participation
• Barriers to participation and how to overcome them.
• How to hold successful meetings with clients
• The importance of agreeing a planned approach
• Options to involve clients at an organisational and strategic level

Essential Skills For Group Work

Group work is increasingly becoming a popular way of working with service users on a wide range of issues. It can be an interesting and efficient way of delivering a range of activities to clients and others. However, it is important to be aware of principles of good practice when working with groups of people. A greater understanding of the dynamics that emerge can help workers to plan, deliver and evaluate their ideas effectively. This practical one day course is aimed at workers in a range of settings where group work could be an opportunity.

Course Content: 

• The benefits and rationale for group work
• Planning Group work.
• The different types of groups and the basic theory that underpins the work
• How to work positively with disruptive behaviours and group dynamics
• How to build boundaries and contracts into the design and content of the work
• Setting aims and objectives and the importance of evaluating group work
• How to stay positive and enthusiastic as a group facilitator
• Understanding the importance of managing the ending of group work

Best Practice in Community Engagement

All publicly funded agencies are now expected to engage with service users, residents and other local communities, to gather their views and encourage them to get involved in the design and delivery of local services. As resources become increasingly scarce it makes sense to involve those who are directly affected in decisions about the best use of those resources, making sure that they are directed effectively and meet real needs. The result should mean: better quality services, innovative and creative ideas about meeting needs, a sense of ownership and increased accountability.

Effective community engagement will clearly make a positive difference, if not well designed, it can lead to people feeling increasingly disillusioned about engaging with service providers. This course will equip delegates with a systematic way of planning community engagement and is suitable for all who have a role in designing, delivering and evaluating community engagement activities.

Course content:

• The benefits of and barriers to community engagement
• Methods of engagement
• The complexities, contradictions and tensions in carrying out community engagement
• Working in inclusive ways
• The value of systematic ways of planning community engagement activities
• Understanding the results
• Presenting feedback