Training Matters

The importance of continuous training and development should never be underestimated when caring for the lives of others. As part of our ongoing investment in our care team, we have our own training company, Training Matters, a vital part of the Helping Hands Homecare group.

Training Matters is a training partnership that provides access to National Vocational Qualifications and Specialist Training Qualifications for individuals in the domiciliary and Live-in Care sector. Based in Alcester, Warwickshire and comprising of experienced Carers, trainers and assessors, Training Matters is a service led team that offers Carers:

• Live-in Care Induction Training.
• Specific Condition Training (Dementia, Parkinson’s, Stroke awareness, Alzheimer’s etc).
• A programme of demand led, workplace based, assessments.

To prepare them for Live-in Care assignments, our care staff must first take a detailed four day training course at our Alcester Head Office; they then spend time shadowing an experienced Live-in Carer in a customer's home. Their training prepares them in areas such as Manual Handling, Food Hygiene and First Aid.

Having our own training resource enables us to tailor programmes to the needs of specific customers. We are currently developing three levels of specialist training, depending on the complexity of condition and level of care involved.

We constantly strive to explore specialist training needs; we have some staff members who have completed the Learning Disability qualification (LDAF) and when necessary we invite Specialists in to train our staff (for example, the MS Society). All of this work meets and in some cases exceeds, the requirements set out in the Minimum Care Standards.