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Induction Checklist for AHP Support Workers

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Induction Checklist for AHP Support Workers

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This AHP Support Worker specific checklist has been created as an addition to your organisational induction. The items below will support you from the very beginning of your new role to develop using the national NHS England framework and will support both you and your line manager to ensure you have the right knowledge and skills, are supported by training and education, and have access to opportunities for career progression. This will ensure that patients, service users and their families and carers have access to a skilled and well-trained workforce.

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AHP SW Induction Checklist Updated June 24

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Access to training and education, and clear career pathways, for this crucial workforce is essential to meeting the needs of patients, populations, and future healthcare. This summary resource supports Chief AHPs, AHP faculties, workforce leads and others. It includes: • Examples of support roles working with the allied health professions. • Training and education to support high quality care and service delivery. • Career progression via apprenticeships.

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This template combines appraisal, career conversation, a review of health and well-being and personal development planning into a joined-up conversation and provides a structure for individuals and managers to explore talent management fundamentals. More guidance around career conversations can be found here Review and career conversations – Leadership Academy

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Devon ICS used a co-production approach to develop the AHP Support Worker Career Portfolio, which is an interactive word document that implements the AHP Support Worker Competency, Education, and Career Development Framework into quality career conversations and appraisals.

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Supports development of the knowledge, skills and confidence to help patients get more involved in decisions about their care

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Personalised care gives patients more control and choice when it comes to the way their care is planned and delivered, taking into account individual needs, preferences and circumstances. Learn more about personalised care here.

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Personalised care gives patients more control and choice when it comes to the way their care is planned and delivered, taking into account individual needs, preferences and circumstances. Learn more about personalised care here.

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This elearning programme aims to help health and care professionals who support people with mental health needs by improving their communication skills to de-escalate difficult situations.
Communications skills for mental health

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Simple guide to what is what in the world of qualifications!

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A qualification shows employers, teachers and learners what you have learnt and what you can do as a result of that learning. There is a large variety of qualifications available so they are grouped together into levels to show how they compare and what other qualifications they can lead to.

Qualification frameworks

In the UK, most qualifications taken through work, school, college or university, fit into one of nine levels (12 in Scotland). The higher the level, the harder the qualification. The levels are based on the standards of knowledge, skill and competence needed for each qualification. Qualifications at the same level can be very different in terms of content and the length of time they take to complete.

Knowing about the different levels means that you can compare qualifications and identify what you need for your chosen career.

Four qualifications frameworks are in use within the UK:

Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) for England and Northern Ireland

Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW)

Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)

Framework for Higher Education Qualifications for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ)

Qualification levels

The table below shows some examples of qualifications at each level under the various frameworks. The list is not exhaustive.

More information on the frameworks and associated levels, including comparisons with other countries can be found on the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessments (CCEA) website.

If you are resident in Northern Ireland and need to check your qualifications against UK equivalents, you can access a free Qualification Equivalence Service by contacting your nearest Careers Office.

If you are a non-UK National from a member state within the EU, EEA or Switzerland with professional qualifications and wish to work in Northern Ireland you may be eligible, under the EU Directive on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications for automatic or general recognition of your qualifications depending on your profession.

The UK Centre for Professional Qualifications (UK CPQ) is the National Contact Point (NCP) for Professional Qualifications in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for guiding professionals through the process of obtaining recognition for their professional qualifications in the UK and has a dedicated website which provides comprehensive advice and guidance for both individuals and employers.

More information can be found at the UK CPQ website:

Comparing qualification levels from outside Northern Ireland

There are 12 qualification levels in Scotland. These are set out in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework

Irish qualifications are set out in the Irish National Framework of Qualifications

You can compare European qualification levels and also get information on specific qualifications that occupy those levels in national frameworks.

You can also contact the UK National Recognition Information Centre to compare a UK qualification with any non-UK qualification. There may be a fee for this.

Useful links

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Qualifications: what the different levels mean

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A qualification shows employers, teachers and learners what you have learnt and what you can do as a result of that learning. There is a large variety of qualifications available so they are grouped together into levels to show how they compare and what other qualifications they can lead to.

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Healthcare support worker learning and development roadmap

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Healthcare support worker learning and development roadmap

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Healthcare support worker learning and development roadmap

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The roadmap is also designed to support educators and managers to have learning, development, and career conversations with their HCSW workforce. It contains tools to support these conversations and information about the training and professional development opportunities available for HCSWs. The ro…

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This framework lays out career framework and development plans, and how to get started!

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1. Introduction

This Career Development Plan (CDP) will help you be planned and deliberate about your development in your current and future role. It will help you work towards your personal goals and aspirations by helping you identify these, set out your learning objectives, and help you track your progress throughout your learning and development journey. In this document, you can detail your learning experiences by writing brief reflections on what you have done, helping you monitor your continual growth and development.

We suggest you also include in your CDP the five days of learning and development every year that the Civil Service asks all employees to complete.

You should follow your department/business policy and guidance and use tools you may have already been provided to capture your learning. Using this CDP is entirely optional and is here for your personal benefit.

2. Using the Career Development Plan

This CDP has spaces for you to map your career pathway, write down your goals for the year and advice on mapping out your specific strengths and areas for improvement. Plan your learning quarter by quarter, and tailor each quarter's learning objectives to the opportunities that are available to you during that period.

Whether you're learning on the job, in an event, or in your own time, set some time aside to reflect on what you've learned. Use the space provided in the progress tracker to note down your thoughts on your learning as you go.

This CDP will not be assessed and is solely for your benefit. However, if you share this with your line manager, coach or mentor, it will be a useful means of providing feedback for them, so they can continue to help you to learn in ways that suit you.

See Appendix A and Appendix B if you need help figuring out which behaviours and professional areas you need to focus on. Consult the HR Success Profiles Matrices and the CIPD Profession Map to self-assess and see how well you measure up against these. They detail the skills, behaviours and experience needed for anyone in the HR profession and what behavioural indicators HR professionals should be demonstrating.

If you have any questions about the learning opportunities available to you, talk to your line-manager - find out what's on offer in your department. Also discuss your learning with your coach or mentor.

3. HR Career Development Offer

Whether you want to become an expert in what you know or learn something new, the HR Career Development Offer (CDO) is all about you.

Use your CDP to track your learning and development using the opportunities that the CDO gives you.

To find out more about the offer, refer to the HR Career Framework.

4. Mapping your career pathway

It's the next step that matters:

4.1 Focus on current role first

What do I want from the role?

What do I want my legacy to be?

4.2 What am I really good at? What are my strengths? How do I know?

4.3 What sort of work do I want to do next?

4.4 How will I get there?

Career/Talent conversation

What's on offer?

CDP

Career pathway isn't necessarily about promotion, it's about taking a deliberate and planned approach to what you do and how you do it.

5. Starting off

Before you start writing your learning and development plan, it's important to reflect on the skills and behaviours you have and think about where you want to improve. Use this space to jot down how you feel about your current skillset.

These are the topics, skills and behaviours in which I want to improve in the near future.

These are the topics, skills and behaviours in which I want to improve in the long term.

These are the areas and skills in which I am expert and confident.

6. My learning goals

Write down your overall goals for your next year of career development.

Try asking yourself the following: Where do you see yourself in a year's time? Which areas do you most want to learn about? In which skills and behaviours would you like to progress? Jot them down below.

7. Progress tracker

Use this space to make notes on how your learning and development is going over the year. It is recommended that you keep a detailed set of notes on what you have learned for future reference.

Quarter 1 (April - June)

Quarter 2 (July - September)

Quarter 3 (October - December)

Quarter 4 (January - March)

8. Mid-year reflection

Focus your reflection in this space on the most memorable and effective learning you have done in the last six months. What made it so effective? How do you learn best? Think back to when you filled in your Starting Off table. How has your skillset changed in the last six months? What are your current learning and developmental priorities?Feed back your thoughts on this to your Job Family Lead.

9. End of year reflection

For this reflection, consider the following questions:

1. What skills have you learned in the last year and what behaviours did you improve upon?

2. What ways of learning have been most useful for you?

3. How much time have you put into your L&D, and if you break down those hours further, on what did you spend the most and least time?

10. Appendix A: Behaviours for HR

The HR Success Profiles are a powerful tool when considering your career path. They are a great way to help you assess your strengths and behaviours, and draw out your experiences and skills. Understanding these can help you shape your career path and keep your skills relevant for current and future roles.

HR Success Profiles Matrices sets out the technical skills, behaviours and experience required in HR. Download the Matrices to see how well you measure up against these.

11. Appendix B: The CIPD Profession Map

CIPD's Profession Map defines the building blocks of effective people management practice across ten professional specialisms and describes eight fundamental behaviours that underpin good practice regardless of specialism. It's also flexible, so you can choose what to focus on depending on your area of work, the level of accountability you have in your role, and your career development ambitions.

The CIPD Profession Map is an interactive tool. Why not give it a try!

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This Career Development Plan (CDP) will help you be planned and deliberate about your development in your current and future role. It will help you work towards your personal goals and aspirations by helping you identify these, set out your learning objectives, and help you track your progress throughout your learning and development journey.

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e-LfH has an extensive library of online courses to develop your personal and professional development- relevant to a range of roles

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e-Learning for Health login-free online courses

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e-Learning for Health login-free online courses

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- e-Learning for Healthcare Authentication

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Healthcare eLearning Courses from Skills for Health

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Helping you to get your functional skills and develop your educational needs

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HASO: Skills for health, skills for life

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Introduces the behaviours, knowledge and skills for person-centred approaches, including the values, core communication and relationship building skills, engaging people and enabling and supporting people.

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This programme is in partnership with...

About the Person-Centred Approaches programme

This elearning supports the Person-Centred Approaches Framework, which was developed by Skills for Health, Skills for Care and NHS Health Education England. Both the Framework and this eLearning were created with input from people with experience of using health and social care services.

The scope of this eLearning is to introduce the behaviours, knowledge and skills for person-centred approaches, including the values, core communication and relationship building skills, engaging people and enabling and supporting people.

You will cover the core transferable behaviours, knowledge and skills for person-centred approaches, and see the application of these through the five stories

Course information

This elearning package comprises the following 11 sessions and will take around 5 hours to complete:

1. Welcome to this eLearning

2. Introduction to Person-Centred Approaches

3. Values - The Building Blocks

4. Core Communications and Relationship Building Skills

5. Introducing the Stories

6. Tom and Sarah's Story

7. Anam's Story

8. Daves's Story

9. Sam's Story

10. Alex's Story

11. Next Steps

The course includes a Learning Journal for you to document your thoughts and reflections on the person-centred approaches covered in the course. It can also be used to plan how you take your learning forward and put it into practice in your role.

This eLearning is aimed at people working with people, families or communities in different services in the public, private and not for profit sectors.

How to access

In order to access the Person-Centred Approaches programme, you will need an elfh account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.
Register >
To view the Person-Centred Approaches programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with elfh, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.
View >
NHS healthcare staff in England

The Person-Centred Approaches programme is also available to NHS healthcare staff via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Accessing this elearning via ESR means that your completions will transfer with you throughout your NHS career.

Further details are available here.

Not an NHS organisation?

If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access elfh Hub, you may be able to access the service by creating an OpenAthens account.

To check whether or not you qualify for free access via OpenAthens, you can view the eligibility criteria and register on the ' OpenAthens ' portal.

Registering large numbers of users

If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the Person-Centred Approachesprogramme, please contact elfh directly.

Organisations wishing to use their own LMS

For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.

More information

Please select the following link for more information on how to use the elfh Hub.

elfh is a Health Education England programme in partnership with the NHS and professional bodies

© elearning for healthcare 2023

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Person-Centred Approaches - elearning for healthcare

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This programme is in partnership with... This elearning supports the Person-Centred Approaches Framework, which was developed by Skills for Health, Skills for Care and NHS Health Education England. Both the Framework and this eLearning were created with input from people with experience of using health and social care services.

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The Care Certificate is a set of standards developed for the health and care support workforce, to support their induction and development. The Care Certificate provides a framework to ensure that all support workers have the same introductory skills, knowledge and behaviours to provide compassionate, safe and high-quality care, in their workplace settings.
Care Certificate - elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk)

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The Edward Jenner programme is your first port of call if you’re looking to build a strong foundation of leadership skills that can help enhance your confidence and competence in your role. The programme has been designed to offer flexibility as a suite of online short courses.

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The Edward Jenner programme is your first port of call if you're looking to build a strong foundation of leadership skills that can help enhance your confidence and competence in your role. The programme has been designed to offer flexibility as a suite of online short courses.
What's covered?
The programme will support you as you develop essential leadership skills. The programme is a suite of short courses and begins with an introduction course, and then is structured in two levels:
Course 0: An introduction to personal development Level 1 Level 2

Course 3: Leading in and beyond my team

Course 4: The leader as manager

Who is it for?
This programme is designed for anyone aspiring to their first leadership or management role within the health and care sector within the next 1-2 years.

If you desire to do any of the following, this programme is also for you;

Begin your journey of personal development

Improve your experience of work, work relationships or your teamwork and communication skills

Understand what leaders do and how they do it

Make a difference in the way your team works or the services you provide

Manage and lead your team through change

Prepare to lead in the future

You will ideally have a role, be on a work placement or volunteer in a health and care setting to participate in the activities on this programme. There is no prior experience or knowledge required.

If you want to feel more able to deal with the daily challenges of working in healthcare, better equipped to care for patients, lead services and provide leadership for those around you - supporting them to do their job better - the Edward Jenner programme is for you.
Why should I join the programme?
The programme has been designed with health and care staff, for everyone working in a health and care context. Highly practical and patient-focused, it's a great way to understand the purpose, challenges and culture of the NHS.

It's flexible and enlightening, helping you get a fresh perspective on the impact you have on the patient experience - either directly or indirectly. It's also a valuable refresher at any level, as well as an important first step towards further leadership development.
How can I join the programme as part of an apprenticeship?
You can also join the programme as part of an apprenticeship offered by one of NHS Leadership Academy's partner providers.

Apprenticeships are available in a range of disciplines including Leadership and Management, Digital, Project Management, Sustainability and many more.

They incorporate the Edward Jenner programme as part of the apprenticeship or offer it as an optional extra. This offers learners the opportunity to gain a recognised qualification from the apprenticeship and NHS Leadership Academy's leadership development programme in one course. Find out more about these apprenticeships and how they work.

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The Edward Jenner programme is your first port of call if you're looking to build a strong foundation of leadership skills that can help enhance your confidence and competence in your role. The programme has been designed to offer flexibility as a suite of online short courses. What's covered?

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All NHS staff will need to undergo level one, and role dependent level two to ensure we have the knowledge and skills to keep our patients and each other safe 

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Contains a solid base of knowledge you'll need to support and develop evidence in this field- safety is the responsibility of us all.

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This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to our use of cookies.

Creating a new NHS England: Health Education England, NHS Digital and NHS England have merged. Learn more

You are here

Patient safety is the guiding principle of all who serve in the NHS - the first and most important lesson staff should learn is how to act safely. Our work on education and training for patient safety looks at how Health Education England can best support individuals and the system as a whole to deliver this.

The Commission on Education and Training for Patient Safety published its report Improving Safety Through Education and Training in 2016. Since then Health Education England (HEE) has been delivering against the recommendations within the report nationally, regionally and in collaboration with partners. This has set a firm grounding for the next phase of educational development required to deliver the NHS Patient Safety Strategy (NPSS).

Patient Safety Training Levels 1 & 2

Patient safety training materials have been published by Health Education England, NHS England and NHS Improvement, The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and elearning for healthcare, elements of which are expected to be completed by all NHS employees, even those in roles which are not patient facing. Completion of the training will help to ensure health and care services are as safe as possible for patients and service users.

The training materials can be found on the elearning for healthcare hub. The training has five levels, which build on each other, the first two levels Essentials for patient safety and Access to practice being made available today. The first level, Essentials for patient safety, is the starting point and all NHS staff are encouraged to complete it. Level one also provides an additional session for senior leaders: Essentials of patient safety for boards and senior leadership teams.Level two, Access to practice is intended for those who have an interest in understanding more about patient safety and those who want to go on to access the higher levels of training.

The training has been devised following the publication of the NHS Patient Safety Strategy which contains a patient safety syllabus. The syllabus sets out a new approach to patient safety emphasising a proactive approach to identifying risks to safe care while also including systems thinking and human factors, all of which has been incorporated into the training.

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The Commission on Education and Training for Patient Safety published its report Improving Safety Through Education and Training in 2016. Since then Health Education England (HEE) has been delivering against the recommendations within the report nationally, regionally and in collaboration with partners.

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Increasingly, patients want to be involved in making decisions about their own healthcare, and research has shown that, when they do so, they select less hospital care and report better hospital experiences. Some of the benefits of Shared Decision Making are:

Increased patient involvement and engagement

Improved communication

Reduction in complaints and litigation

Ethical demand management

Enhanced recovery

Unwarranted variation

Shared Decision Making - elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk)

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Qualifications, subjects, and exam grades – usually A levels, Advanced Highers or equivalent-level qualifications, are sometimes converted into UCAS Tariff points. Most courses will also expect you to have some pre-16 qualifications, such as GCSE English and maths, or their equivalents.

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If you want to live out your dreams and enter into the career you've always wanted, you need to go to the right university.

Understanding the UCAS (The University and Colleges Admissions Service) system and understanding how to get UCAS points will ensure that you earn the correct number of points for the degree and uni of your choice.

UCAS points are assigned to different grades earned in post-16 qualifications, such as A-levels and AS-levels, and Scottish Highers[i]. They are also allocated to a variety of certificates, diplomas, and awards.

Do you have enough UCAS points to get into uni? Read ahead to find out more about how the points system works, and how you can get UCAS points for your application.

How do UCAS points work?

Each different qualification awarded in the UK (A-levels and Scottish Highers, for example) are granted a size band value that ranges from 1 to 4 based on how many learning hours the course takes. They are also assigned a grade band point, from 3 to 14[ii].

To find out how many UCAS points you will be awarded for your qualification, multiply the two together. Size band value x Grande band point = tariff points.

It's important to note that the tariff points have changed since 2017, and they are now much lower. An A-level grade A* was once worth 140 points but is now worth 56 points. Universities value your A-level studies just as much as they did in the past, but their entry requirements are now scaled down to use lower numbers.

This table will help you understand the points awarded for A-level qualifications. Head to the UCAS website for a complete list of the tariffs.
Source: UCAS Tariff Calculator
T-Levels were introduced recently as an alternative to A Level and BTEC courses for school leavers. They combine classroom and practical knowledge with on-the-job learning, and resulting grades are equivalent to 3 A Levels[iii]. The following table illustrates what different T-Level grades equate to in UCAS Tarriff Points.

Source: gov.uk

How many UCAS points do I need?

Simply put, the number of UCAS points you need depends on the specific university, subject, and course in which you want to enrol. Every different course has different requirements that usually include exam grades, subjects taken, and qualifications earned[iv]. Entry requirements usually include the following:

Post-16 Qualifications - A-levels, AS-levels, Advanced Highers, Certificates, Diplomas and Awards are all converted into UCAS points.

Pre-16 Qualifications - Most courses also require that you have certain pre-16 qualifications, including GCSE Maths and English.

Your subjects - Uni courses often have pre-requisite subjects that you needed to have taken in your A-levels.

Exam Results - Your offer will usually be conditional on your grades.

An admissions test - In rare cases, some courses require you to sit an entrance test, sometimes a year in advance.

An interview - Some courses want to interview students to ensure that they are a good fit for the programme.

Additional checks - Some courses require financial and health checks, or Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) checks.

In some cases, universities and colleges will try to make the admissions process fairer by offering contextual admissions. In these cases, they will consider the hurdles and challenges that you might face and give you additional consideration.

If you have been away from education for more than a few years, you may receive accreditation for life or work experience through the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) programme[v]. You'll receive credit for your training, work, and/or self-directed study.

What if I don't have enough UCAS points?

Every student's nightmare - you didn't accumulate the minimum UCAS points included on your offer. What should you do?

Ring your university ASAP

Depending on your grades, you may not reach your conditional offer. However, if the UCAS website is still showing it as active, you should get on the phone immediately. Ring your university and ask to speak to someone in charge of your programme. If you missed your grades by a narrow margin, your university may still be willing to honour the offer. This grace varies from university to university, so get in touch as soon as possible.

Choose your insurance offer

You are permitted to have a second offer on the UCAS system if your first offer is a conditional one. This is termed your 'Insurance' offer[vi]. If you don't reach the number of UCAS points and/or grades required for your offer, you can confirm your insurance offer on the UCAS system.

Assess your options through Clearing

Clearing is a system that matches applicants with no offers to universities that have extra spaces[vii]. If you miss your firm offer, you can go through Clearing to collect offers. Remember to ring them regularly, as Clearing spaces go back into the pool when another student rejects it. Even if you don't see any spaces at the beginning of the day, within an hour they could have spaces. It can be an exhausting process, but getting a space at a good university is well worth your time.

You might have to make a snap decision

When you're calling around to universities, you might be offered a space right there and then. You'll only have a few minutes to make up your mind, so make sure you only call around to universities that you really want to attend.

Find out when you can re-sit your exams

Most universities will allow you to defer your offer for a year while you re-sit your exams and hopefully achieve a higher grade. While you used to have to wait a full year to re-sit the exams, now you can take them in the summer while the information is still fresh in your head[viii]. You might feel disappointed that you have to wait a year to join your friends at uni, but it can be a true learning experience

Take a gap year while you gain more UCAS points

Taking a gap year allows you to earn money, travel, and assess your life goals. Most importantly, it gives you the time to earn more UCAS points by earning a certification, diploma, or award. With a big boost in UCAS points, you might even get an offer from a better university than you originally hoped to attend.

How to get UCAS points

Fortunately, how to to get UCAS points is a relatively easy question to answer! There are plenty of different ways that you can get UCAS points, and nearly all of them involve taking on extra academic work[ix]. While these academic credentials boost your profile with the Uni Admissions Department, especially if you choose from the list of facilitating subjects.

That said, you can also have a lot of fun earning valuable vocational qualifications- they'll benefit your career and earn you additional points. In addition to helping you gain entry to your uni of choice, they'll help boost your CV and prepare you for your career.

You can also transform your hobbies into extra UCAS points - you'll need to have them assessed by a tutor or body, but this is a good way to gain points without taking too much time away from your academic work.

The most obvious place to get UCAS points is from A-levels, AS-levels, and T-levels. Many students consider taking more than the standard three AS/A-Levels, or they will take an A Level course on top of their core T-Level. It's not uncommon for the most promising students to take four or even five A-levels, with an extra AS-level on top.

That said, don't feel too intimidated if you are only taking three A-levels - most offers are based on this amount (with the top universities sometimes giving an offer that includes four A-levels providing the student is enrolled in four).

An extra A-level will give you a leg up, as it adds 56 points to your UCAS tally if you earn an A* grade. Speak with your teachers to find out what they recommend, and to get their advice for planning your timetable so that you can make your extra studies fit into your schedule.

Try getting an online qualification in your spare time. If you can handle the extra work on top of your A-level studies, it can really pay off.

In addition to helping you gain UCAS points for your University application, a Level 3 Diploma, Certificate or Award can get you started with your career. It can equip you with valuable skills and experience in accounting, photography, and even "Personal Effectiveness" (a certificate in which will earn you 16 points). We're the first to admit that doing an entire Diploma (which gives you at least 30 points) might be too much to handle, a certificate could be doable. The NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Photography is worth 24 points.

If both of these options sound like too much additional work, you could try for an Award[x]. They provide you with 8 points in recognition of your accomplishments in different areas, projects and leadership roles. Imagine earning points for your blog or YouTube channel! It's possible. A Trinity College Gold Arts Award offers 16 points, so it is worth finding out if you are eligible[xi].

You might not be taking an A-level in Mathematics, but you can still show your potential uni that you are proficient in the subject matter by taking a Free-standing Mathematics Qualification. The qualification difficulty is between a GCSE and AS-level Maths exam, and if you reach the Advanced Level, it shows that you have the equivalent of an A-level. This is ideal if you are doing all humanities A-levels and want to demonstrate your maths skills. Choose between Using and Applying Statistics, Additional Maths, Working with Algebraic and Graphical Techniques, and Modelling with Calculus, for which you'll gain 20 points for an A grade.

Cambridge International Examinations offers their unique Cambridge Pre-U programme that allows you to replace your A-levels with a diploma. You can also take a shorter course across the span of a year (which you take alongside your A-level studies) - choose from Classical Heritage, Comparative Government and Politics, and Economics. You can also take one of the Modern Languages short courses - choose from French, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and German. Admissions departments now acknowledge these courses as the invaluable resources they are, and even Ivy League Universities in America will recognise them. You'll receive up to 56 UCAS points for the full courses in the 'Principal Subjects,' and up to 22 points for the short courses.

You can gain points by demonstrating your prowess in speech and drama, from Grade 6 and up. You'll earn up to 30 points for a distinction at a Grade 8 level. If you want to really push yourself, you can enrol in the LAMDA Level 3 Certificate in Speech & Drama: Performance Studies. In this programme, you'll hone your dramatic acting skills and work on oration, which will help you in many different careers. You don't have to be an aspiring actor - you can simply be someone who enjoys getting up on the stage. If you successfully complete the PCertLAM, you'll gain 24 points.

If you think you have an extremely high level of English language knowledge, the Certificate of Proficiency in English will earn you 32 UCAS points. The test will assess your reading, writing, listening and speaking abilities. In addition to gaining extra tariff points, preparing for the test will equip you with vital skills that will improve your performance at uni, and help with your oral presentations and essay writing through to the PhD level. You can also take the Certificate in Advanced English, which will give you 42 points if you earn an A-grade.

How to get extra UCAS points quickly

Are you looking to quickly earn some additional UCAS points to bolster your chances of getting into the uni of your choice? Try the following strategies.

Online qualifications

These days, there are tons of online courses that can help you boost your knowledge and achieve better marks on your A-levels. To be able to complete your course, all you need is a computer and access to the internet. The qualification is the same - the only difference is the format of study.

Take a community-based course and get points for volunteer work

Educational charity ASDAN has a few different community-based courses on offer that can help you gain extra UCAS points for volunteer work[xii]. Look into the CoPE (Certificate of Personal Effectiveness), which allows you to record and develop a number of personal attributes. Completing this course will give you 16 UCAS points over the course of 150 hours (compared to 360 hours for an A-Level). You can also gain a total of 18 points (6 points each) from their three different Wider Skills courses - Improving Your Own Learning and Performance, Working with Others, and Problem Solving.

Have your musical talents assessed

While you might not be able to learn a musical instrument from scratch in a few months, you can get graded on your existing talents! If you have yet to be examined and are above a grade 6, you could earn precious UCAS points that will improve your university chances. It's a lot to arrange on short notice, but private music tutors can grade you within just a few weeks.

Gain equestrian credit

If you are an avid horseback rider, you can gain credits by taking qualifications offered by the British Horse Society. While they initially designed these qualifications for people who plan on a career in the equestrian world, they are an excellent way for horse lovers to earn extra UCAS points. The BHS offers 32 points for the EQL Level 3 Diploma in BHS Riding Horses, 24 points for the EQL Level 3 Diploma in BHS Horse Knowledge and Care, and 16 points for EQL Level 3 Certificate in BHS Preliminary Teaching of Horse Riding. You can also earn 8 points each for Horse Knowledge and Care, Horse Knowledge, Care and Riding, and BHS Level 3 Preliminary Teacher's Certificate (Equine Coach).

Earn extra points by dancing!

Did you know that being 'light on your toes' can actually help you to earn some extra UCAS points? It's true - several accredited organisations, including the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, the British Ballet Organisation, the British Theatre Dance Association, and the Royal Academy of Dance, all offer graded dance qualifications. You can earn up to a maximum a total of 20 points for a Distinction at the Grade 8 level.

A few things to consider when it comes to UCAS points:

Just because a qualification doesn't gain you any UCAS tariff points that doesn't mean a university won't look favourably upon it and still consider it a vital part of your application.

While your desired uni or course may not use tariff points to determine its offers (using grades instead), they do keep a tally of the numbers and report them for government data and league table purposes.

You can't combine the points gained from an AS score and A2 score in the same subject. You'll only gain the points from the highest level of qualification.

If you don't understand the entry requirements for the course and uni you want to attend, get in touch with the registrar's office as soon as possible.

FAQs

How Much Is UCAS?

UCAS is a charity, so in order to apply, you have to pay a small fee. Currently, the application fee for a single choice is £20. However, for more than one choice, you can expect to pay £26.

How Many UCAS Points Is An Access Course?

An access course, or an Access to Higher Education Diploma, is a qualification students generally undertake to prepare them for university if they don't have traditional qualifications. An access course helps you to earn UCAS points in the same way as a BTEC or A Level course does: the higher your grade, the more points you'll get. On an access course, the most UCAS points you can earn is 144, which is equivalent to achieving 3 A's at A Level. To discover how many UCAS points you have earnt, use the UCAS Point Calculator.

Do GCSEs Give UCAS Points?

GCSEs are Level 2 qualifications, which means they do not give UCAS points. Only level 3 qualifications, such as A Levels and BTECs, give UCAS points.

Does DofE Give UCAS Points?

Duke of Edinburgh doesn't give UCAS points. However, completing the award does give you excellent content for your personal statement, which can play a large part in your uni application.

UCAS points in Conclusion

Now that you understand how UCAS points work, it's time to start thinking about how you can ensure that you earn enough of them to meet your offer condition. Remember, if your preferred offer is conditional, you should seek to add an insurance offer to your UCAS profile.

It's also important to note that the UCAS point system was fully restructured in 2017. That means that a lot of the information out there is outdated and includes the older point tariffs. Make sure you're looking at the right point tariffs before you start planning your strategy to earn the total that you need.

It's always a good idea to plan to earn more UCAS points than you think you will need. That way, if you do not achieve the grades you are hoping for, you will still have enough tariff points to accept any conditional offers.

Good luck, and happy studying!

Extended reading resources

Reference list

Arts Award (2022a). Gold Arts Award - Arts Award. [online] www.artsaward.org.uk. Available at: https://www.artsaward.org.uk/site/?id=67#:~:text=Gold%20Arts%20Award%20is%20a [Accessed 23 Aug. 2022].

Arts Award (2022b). Gold Arts Award UCAS FAQ - Arts Award. [online] www.artsaward.org.uk. Available at: https://www.artsaward.org.uk/site/?id=2129 [Accessed 23 Aug. 2022]

BBC Bitesize (2022). What is Clearing? [online] BBC Bitesize. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z4rncqt#:~:text=Clearing%20is%20a%20system%20that [Accessed 23 Aug. 2022].

McLennan, T. (2022). Ucas Tariff: everything you need to know about Ucas points - The Uni Guide. [online] www.theuniguide.co.uk. Available at: https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/new-ucas-tariff-everything-you-need-to-know [Accessed 23 Aug. 2022].

Oliver, C. (2021). UCAS points. [online] www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk. Available at: https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/student-advice/applying-to-uni/ucas-points [Accessed 23 Aug. 2022].

Maples, B. (2022). Retaking A Levels. [online] Universitycompare.com. Available at: https://universitycompare.com/advice/a-levels/retaking-a-levels/ [Accessed 23 Aug. 2022].

UCAS (2022). Latest from the blogs. [online] UCAS. Available at: https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/replying-offers-%E2%80%93-your-questions-answered [Accessed 23 Aug. 2022].

Success at School (2020). How to get extra UCAS points through volunteering. [online] successatschool.org. Available at: https://successatschool.org/advicedetails/153/How-to-get-extra-UCAS-points-through-volunteering [Accessed 23 Aug. 2022].

UCAS (2022). UCAS Undergraduate entry requirements. [online] UCAS. Available at: https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/ucas-undergraduate-entry-requirements [Accessed 23 Aug. 2022].

Sources

[i] https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/new-ucas-tariff-everything-you-need-to-know

[ii] https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/student-advice/applying-to-uni/ucas-points

[iii] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introduction-of-t-levels/introduction-of-t-levels

[iv] https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/what-and-where-study/ucas-undergraduate-entry-requirements

[v] https://www.glos.ac.uk/docs/download/Apply/how-to-apply-for-apl.pdf

[vi] https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/replying-offers-%E2%80%93-your-questions-answered

[vii] https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z4rncqt

[viii] https://universitycompare.com/advice/a-levels/retaking-a-levels/

[ix] https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/10-ways-more-ucas-points/#aId=8d0c3a3f-960e-44dc-b49c-06178eada86b

[x] https://www.artsaward.org.uk/site/?id=67#:~:text=Gold%20Arts%20Award%20is%20a,points%20on%20the%20UCAS%20tariff.

[xi] https://www.artsaward.org.uk/site/?id=2129

[xii] https://successatschool.org/advicedetails/153/How-to-get-extra-UCAS-points-through-volunteering

Nick Cooper

Nick is NCC's resident blog author and covers a range of subjects, including teaching and health & social care. NCC is an international learning provider with over 20 years' experience offering learning solutions. To date, NCC has engaged with over 20,000 employers, and delivered quality training to over half a million learners.

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How to get UCAS points - UCAS points explained

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If you want to live out your dreams and enter into the career you've always wanted, you need to go to the right university. Understanding the UCAS (The University and Colleges Admissions Service) system and understanding how to get UCAS points will ensure that you earn the correct number of points for the degree and uni of your choice.

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Enables non-registered AHP assistants and support staff to develop their understanding of student education and to develop their skills in supporting students and educators within their teams.

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This programme is in partnership with...

About the Supporting AHP Students programme

Practice Based Learning (PBL) is a key component of health and care training and so it is essential that PPE provides a supportive and safe learning environment for all students. In addition to clinical educators, non-registered AHP staff can play a significant role in students' education, teaching them clinical aspects of the role and also for pastoral support.

The aim of this course is to provide non-registered AHP assistants and support staff with training to develop their understanding of student education and to develop their skills in supporting students and educators within their teams. During this course, users will learn about the student journey, from the beginning of their studies to qualification and how practice placements form part of their learning. The resource will also offer an understanding of what is expected from students during placement, how to give feedback to students and educators and how to recognise and support a student who may be struggling. By developing these skills, non-registered staff will be able to contribute to the delivery of Practice Based Learning, improving the quality and capacity of placements.

More information

Available modules:

Acknowledgements

Thank you to the staff at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust and higher education institutions for working with us to produce the Supporting AHP Students course which has led to the development of this elearning programme.

Suzanne Stainer - former Senior Occupational Therapist, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Louisa Appleyard - Advanced Clinical Practitioner, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Lucy Hamilton - Senior Occupational Therapist - University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Sam Walker - Senior Organisational Development Practitioner - University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Rebecca McEvoy - Therapy Inpatient Lead- University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Amanda Parker - Head of Learning - University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Jayne Dickinson-Darcy - former Deputy Director For Education and Organisational Development - University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Claire Kinnell - Practice Learning Support Manager - University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Sue Dale - Senior Lecturer and Physiotherapy Placement Lead - Sheffield Hallam University

Aimee France - Senior Physiotherapy Lecturer - Sheffield Hallam University

Theresa Baxter - former Principal Lecturer in Occupational Therapy - Sheffield Hallam University

Laura Loeber - former Physiotherapy Lecturer - University of Nottingham

Jodie Bryant - Course Leader and Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy - Birmingham City University

Andrew Gully - Deputy Head of Operating Department Practice Education - University of Leicester

Karen Newberry - Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy - University of Derby

Emma Orde-Powlett - former Practice Educator in Diagnostic Imaging - University of Derby

Steve Martin - former Occupational Therapy student, University of Derby

Claire Fordham - Professional Advisor - Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Emma Busby - Physiotherapy Assistant Practitioner - Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Nadia Butt - Project and Events Officer, Council of Deans of Health

Barbara Day - Head of Professional and Practice Development, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton.

Rachel White - AHP Practice Learning Facilitator, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Ali Naylor - AHP Preceptorship Lead, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Carolyn Hay - Pre-registration Education Manager, Royal College of Occupational Therapists

Claire Duckett - Superintendent Radiographer, Education and Professional Development, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

How to access

In order to access the Supporting AHP Students programme, you will need an elfh account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.
Register >
To view the Supporting AHP Students programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with elfh, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.
View >
In order to access any elfh programme, you will need an elfh account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.

Not an NHS organisation?

If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access elfhHub, you may be able to access the service by creating an OpenAthens account.

To check whether or not you qualify for free access via OpenAthens, you can view the eligibility criteria and register on the ' OpenAthens ' portal.

Registering large numbers of users

If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the Supporting AHP Students programme, please contact elfh directly.

Organisations wishing to use their own LMS

For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.

More information

Please select the following link for more information on how to use the elfh Hub

elfh is a NHS England programme in partnership with the NHS and professional bodies

© elearning for healthcare 2023

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Supporting AHP Students - elearning for healthcare

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This programme is in partnership with... Practice Based Learning (PBL) is a key component of health and care training and so it is essential that PPE provides a supportive and safe learning environment for all students. In addition to clinical educators, non-registered AHP staff can play a significant role in students' education, teaching them clinical aspects of the role and also for pastoral support.

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Range of courses available to develop your leadership and management skills

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Welcome to the home of health and care leadership development. Our curriculum of programmes, resources and activities bring world-class learning and development to NHS people and partners

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Ras Kahai, Disability and Wellness Network Co-Chair at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, explains how increasing visibility of disabled leaders is key to shifting mindsets.
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Our senior leader offers include access to rest and restore spaces, mental wellbeing support, executive coaching and support for new CEOs Find out more about our support offers
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Explore our range of flexible offers to support integrated care system (ICS) leadership development and resources for newly appointed integrated care board leaders including podcasts, articles and much more Find out more about support available
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Our Leadership Way sets out the compassionate and inclusive behaviours we want our leaders at every level to show towards colleagues and individuals Find out more about Our Leadership Way

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Leadership Academy - Better Leaders, Better Care, Brighter Future

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Welcome to the home of health and care leadership development. Our curriculum of programmes, resources and activities bring world-class learning and development to NHS people and partners Ras Kahai, Disability and Wellness Network Co-Chair at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, explains how increasing visibility of disabled leaders is key to shifting mindsets.

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Discusses attitudes and behaviours you see from leaders and demonstrates how you can develop as a leader – even if you’re not in a formal leadership role.

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Healthcare Leadership Model: The nine dimensions of leadership behaviour

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Healthcare Leadership Model: The nine dimensions of leadership behaviour

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Healthcare Leadership model

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Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Learning How to Be More Aware

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Emotional Intelligence in Leadership: Learning How to Be More Aware

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The more that you, as a leader, manage each of these areas, the higher your emotional intelligence. So, let's look at each element in more detail and examine how you can grow as a leader.

Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

1. Self-awareness

If you're self-aware, you always know how you feel, and you know how your emotions and your actions can affect the people around you. Being self-aware when you're in a leadership position also means having a clear picture of your strengths and weaknesses, and it means behaving with humility.

So, what can you do to improve your self-awareness?

Keep a journal. Journals help you improve your self-awareness. If you spend just a few minutes each day writing down your thoughts, this can move you to a higher degree of self-awareness.

2. Self-regulation

Leaders who regulate themselves effectively rarely verbally attack others, make rushed or emotional decisions, stereotype people, or compromise their values. Self-regulation is all about staying in control.

This element of emotional intelligence, according to Goleman, also covers a leader's flexibility and commitment to personal accountability.

So, how can you improve your ability to self-regulate?

Hold yourself accountable. If you tend to blame others when something goes wrong, stop. Make a commitment to admit to your mistakes and to face the consequences, whatever they are. You'll probably sleep better at night, and you'll quickly earn the respect of those around you.

Practice being calm. The next time you're in a challenging situation, be very aware of how you act. Do you relieve your stress by shouting at someone else? Practice deep-breathing exercises to calm yourself. Also, try to write down all of the negative things you want to say, and then rip it up and throw it away. Expressing these emotions on paper (and not showing them to anyone!) is better than speaking them aloud to your team. What's more, this helps you challenge your reactions to ensure that they're fair!

3. Motivation

Self-motivated leaders work consistently toward their goals, and they have extremely high standards for the quality of their work.

How can you improve your motivation?

Re-examine why you're doing your job. It's easy to forget what you really love about your career. So, take some time to remember why you wanted this job. If you're unhappy in your role and you're struggling to remember why you wanted it, try the Five Whys technique to find the root of the problem. Starting at the root often helps you look at your situation in a new way. And make sure that your goal statements are fresh and energizing. For more on this, see our article on Goal Setting.

4. Empathy

For leaders, having empathy is critical to managing a successful team or organization. Leaders with empathy have the ability to put themselves in someone else's situation. They help develop the people on their team, challenge others who are acting unfairly, give constructive feedback, and listen to those who need it.

If you want to earn the respect and loyalty of your team, then show them you care by being empathic.

How can you improve your empathy?

Respond to feelings. You ask your assistant to work late - again. And although he agrees, you can hear the disappointment in his voice. So, respond by addressing his feelings. Tell him you appreciate how willing he is to work extra hours, and that you're just as frustrated about working late. If possible, figure out a way for future late nights to be less of an issue (for example, give him Monday mornings off).

5. Social Skills

Leaders who do well in the social skills element of emotional intelligence are great communicators. They're just as open to hearing bad news as good news, and they're experts at getting their team to support them and be excited about a new mission or project.

Leaders who have good social skills are also good at managing change and resolving conflicts diplomatically. They're rarely satisfied with leaving things as they are, but they don't sit back and make everyone else do the work: they set an example with their own behavior.

So, how can you build social skills?

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Emotional Intelligence in Leadership - Learning How to Be More Aware

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Relating to others is vital in today's workplace. Learn how to build your emotional intelligence (EI) with this article.

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The MECC elearning programme is designed to support learners in developing an understanding of public health and the factors that impact on a person’s health and wellbeing. It focuses on how asking questions and listening effectively to people is a vital role for us all.
Making Every Contact Count - elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk)

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bksb has partnered with Health Education England to give access to bksb for free. This is available to all NHS trusts, community, primary and social care employers to:

Help prepare employees who would like to take a functional skills qualification e.g. for an apprenticeship. This platform will not provide the examination or qualification itself, but the examination can be taken at a local college or FE provider.

General upskilling and gaining confidence around learning.

It can also be used by employers to do a skills analysis of a group to inform workforce planning.

Individuals can study at their own pace and access the system at any time

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bksb for NHS and Social Care workers Assess and develop students' skills in English and maths Support functional skills requirements for learners undertaking an apprenticeship Help meet ESFA funding rules by thorough assessment for apprentices How to access bksb for your trust Email

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HIOW faculty produced a helpful toolkit containing all the information you need to access a coach/mentor

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For any queries or to recommend courses to be added:

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For any queries or to recommend courses to be added:

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Please contact us by email:

hiowicb-hsi.hiow.ahp.faculty@nhs.net

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University access courses- distance learning

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University access courses- distance learning

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Online distance learning college for access to UK universities (courses have a fee). Multiple courses available including access to: Radiography, Paramedicine, Physiotherapy, Nursing and Midwifery

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Online Courses to suit your lifestyle

Excellent reputation and experience

The original distance learning college specialising in Access to HE Diplomas. Established 1993. 40% of students are recommended by friends, family, colleagues & employers. Regarded as best provider by many universities.
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We help you succeed

94% of our students rated their studies with us a very good or excellent. .

The learning materials were excellent and they exceeded my expectations. I would like to thank my family and the tutors for their amazing support.

I am happy to say to have secured a place to study a Nursing Degree this September. I cannot recommend them enough. Yannick

Support of tutors, & the wider student community were fundamental in enabling me to overcome adversity. The peer support of fellow students proved a wonderful resource. People of all ages & backgrounds united in their desire to study & self-develop, quick to offer help & encouragement. So I became active in supporting others through the Facebook Group. Richard

I have dyslexia. They suited all my needs. It was flexible, affordable, and the modules offered would provide me with the fundamental basics to study a Law degree.

They did more than help me get into my dream Russell Group university studying Law. The whole experience finally made me feel academically worthy. Sam
Tutors and staff have been fantastic in helping me achieve the grades I need, as well as any other situations I needed support with.
I applied to 2 universities and have received conditional offers from both.

I have achieved more credits than the offer requires, it wouldn't have been possible without them. Aaliya
I loved the flexibility that comes with the course and the outstanding tutors.
I have since been offered a place from two universities to study a BSc in Adult Nursing.

It is in this regard that I strongly recommend them without hesitation for any person who would like to reboot their career. Mehluli

I was very nervous about beginning my studies as I thought that Access to HE Diplomas were aimed at mature students, being 17 at the time of beginning my studies. But I was so wrong!

The Diploma is for anyone wanting to enter higher education. The staff, and my tutors especially, couldn't have been more accommodating and supportive. Beth

The materials were easy to follow. I received advice from others via the Facebook page & from my personal tutor, who was always so quick to answer any questions. During the modules, I developed my research methods & even my English improved. I am far more confident in finding the pros & cons of every theory. I now feel I am in a far better position & I am currently enrolled on an LLB Qualifying Law degree. Sean

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The Leading Online College for access to UK Universities

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Online Courses to suit your lifestyle The original distance learning college specialising in Access to HE Diplomas. Established 1993. 40% of students are recommended by friends, family, colleagues & employers. Regarded as best provider by many universities. Find out more 94% of our students rated their studies with us a very good or excellent.

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We know how important it is for clinicians and leaders at all levels to keep their skills updated to inspire and lead their teams.

Equally, we understand how crucial it is for you to personally improve your skills and effectiveness.

Truly authentic leadership is a journey and these online modules that we have created will enable you to support that journey to truly realise your potential.

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ELearning modules complemented by training events and workshops to help you lead your team
We know how important it is for clinicians and leaders at all levels to keep their skills updated to inspire and lead their teams.
Equally, we understand how crucial it is for you to personally improve your skills and effectiveness.

Truly authentic leadership is a journey and these online modules that we have created will enable you to support that journey to truly realise your potential.

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NHS South East Leadership Academy | Supporting you to reach your leadership potential

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We know how important it is for clinicians and leaders at all levels to keep their skills updated to inspire and lead their teams. Equally, we understand how crucial it is for you to personally improve your skills and effectiveness.

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Detailed information including the 8 domains and links to key websites and resources

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HIOW AHP Support Worker Development Strategy

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HIOW AHP Support Worker Development Strategy

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See what the ICS is committing to locally for the development of our AHP Support Workforce

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CS53975 HIOW AHP Support Worker Strategy.v4

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Established by HEE to provide national leadership and support on recognising, developing, and expanding the non-registered AHP workforce

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Introducing HEE's AHP Support Workforce Programme

The Allied Health Professions Support Workforce plays an important role in delivering safe and effective care for service users across health and care. We have spoken to members of the AHP workforce, and they have shared their thoughts and concerns with us.

We need to ensure that our AHP support workforce have the right knowledge and skills, are supported by training and education, and have access to opportunities for career progression. This will ensure that patients, service users and their families and carers have access to a skilled and well-trained workforce.

We are working collaboratively with employers, NHS England, royal colleges, professional bodies, Trade unions and stakeholders to achieve our programme aims.

The national AHP Support Workforce have developed this short animation, which provides further information:

Support workers, senior support workers, assistants and assistant practitioners work in, with and alongside the allied health professions (AHPs), providing high quality, life changing care across a range of acute and community services.

However, from our work with support workers and services across the country we know there is wide variation in their education and training, and how they are deployed.

You can join in on the conversation on social media, by using the hashtag #AHPsupportworkers

AHP Support Worker Career Portfolio

Document is intended to aid AHP Support Workers throughout their career pathway and also act as a formal record of achievement. It will help clarify role boundaries and allow space for recording formal and informal learning.

Catalogue (learninghub.nhs.uk) - in the Support worker section

AHP support workforce programme

The national AHP support workforce programme held a celebration webinar in December 2022 which these visual minutes capture. AHP support worker voices were at the heart of this event demonstrating their leadership, collaboration, diversity, career progression thirst and patient centred care. There were 7 AHP support worker presenters alongside arm's length body national & regional colleagues. These visual minutes encapsulate the essence of the AHP support workforce showcasing their brilliance and shining a spotlight on their roles and crucial value in our NHS. The first national AHP support worker awards were held within this event with over 460 nominations from across England for our 4 award categories - outstanding leadership, supporting our people, reaching your potential and positive, compassionate & inclusive award. We had 56 shortlisted nominees and 9 winners from across all our AHPs, clinical pathways and geography.

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Developing the role of AHP Support Workers

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Introducing HEE's AHP Support Workforce Programme The Allied Health Professions Support Workforce plays an important role in delivering safe and effective care for service users across health and care. We have spoken to members of the AHP workforce, and they have shared their thoughts and concerns with us.

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Training and resources for improvement initiatives within the NHS and developing yourself and service

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Welcome to the Improvement Academy We are a team of improvement scientists, patient safety experts and clinicians who are committed to working with frontline services, patients and the public to deliver real and lasting change. We adopt a theory-based approach to improvement that's practical, tried and tested.

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What is an Allied Health Professions Faculty?

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The AHP Faculty works collaboratively to ensure the pipeline of AHP professionals continues to thrive and grow. These pages show you how we do this by focusing on our AHP workforce through partnerships and projects.

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The AHP Faculty works collaboratively to ensure the pipeline of AHP professionals continues to thrive and grow. We do this by focusing on our AHP workforce through partnerships and projects.

To find out more about AHP Faculty, watch this short animation:

Our AHP Faculty workstreams are summarised in the chart below:
HIOW AHP Faculty March 2023
Support Workers

Your AHP Support Workforce Lead for HIOW: Suzanni Strickland

My Role has been created to:

Implement the HIOW AHP support worker strategy

Establish a community of practice across the system that represents AHP support workers

Ensure that the work of AHP support workers is recognised and celebrated

As a support worker myself, I am really keen to understand the challenges that support workers across the system are facing and be a voice in order to address these themes. I also want to utilise the existing skills and passion of support workers keen to be part of AHP support worker development - please get in touch at suzanni.strickland1@nhs.net

Please visit the Health Education England website for information on Developing the Role of AHP Support Workers

You can also read our AHPs Support Worker Development Strategy here.

FInd out more about AHP Support Worker resources here and check out AHP Support Worker: Training Resources HIOW.

For information on apprenticeships please visit AHP Apprenticeships - HIOW.

Placements across 4 Pillars of Practice

Practice Based Learning involves a range of learning opportunities to support the student's development where students apply and consolidate their learning. Such opportunities bring together academic theory, workplace practices and knowledge around culture of an organisation that accelerates their skills and development towards competences required for professional registration (HEE 2020).
HIoW AHP Faculty - Supporting learners in practice - LibGuides at Health Education England-South
Click on the link to see a summary infographic of our Clinical Placement Expansion Programme.

Click on the link to read our SOP on Placement Capacity Calculation.

Preceptorship

Preceptorship is a period of structured transition for the newly registered practitioner during which he or she will be supported by a preceptor, to develop their confidence as an autonomous professional, refine skills, values and behaviours and to continue on their lifelong learning.

Evidence has shown that a period of preceptorship is a positive experience for practitioners facilitating socialisation, confidence and competence of newly registered healthcare staff as well as having a positive impact on the patient experience and patient outcomes as well as on staff retention.

In January 2022, Hart Ridge Consulting Limited (HRCL) were commissioned to undertake an independent evaluation to establish the current offer and experience of Allied Health Professionals (AHP) across Hampshire and Isle of Wight (HIOW), identify what good looks like, and make recommendations to develop the programme further to ensure all newly qualified AHPs have a supported integration into the workplace. Please find the Evaluation Report here.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight AHP Community is committed to promote the importance and relevance of effective and inclusive preceptorship to all newly registered AHP across our system. To this end we have published our Preceptorship Charter.

We invite our newly registered staff to join us for PPI training, please see our PPI Training poster for more information.

Multi-professional preceptor training launches - The first sessions of a pioneering e-Compendium are now available to support preceptors across nursing, midwifery and the allied health professions (AHP). You can find more information here.

NHS England have a selection of Preparing for your future guides for Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Diagnostic Radioagrapher and Midwife.

Return to Practice

Thinking of coming back to your profession? If you have taken a career break from the NHS, social care, education, independent or charity sector, returning to practice is easier than you think. Across Hampshire and Isle of Wight (HIOW), our partners are committed to providing a personalised approach to support you to return to the HCPC register; and hopefully go on to find a local job that is right for you.

Please see our front page for more information where you can request a call back for an informal chat or email us.

The Health Education England website has a wealth of information about the return to practice scheme.

International Recruitment

We are excited to welcome 112 AHPs from abroad since July last year, with some still arriving. This is the result of a massive effort from all our organisations working in collaboration.

These fantastic staff are making a great contribution to filling our vacancies where we are unable to recruit locally, despite increasing our supply routes. We admire the courage of our internationally educated staff to leave behind what they know to come to work and live in a new country. We call on all our staff to be allies, to reach out and support your colleagues in this transition so that they can be the best they can be.

We are developing resources to give people easy access to information and resources to help them settle into new roles. Please get in touch through the faculty email hiowicb-hsi.hiow.ahp.faculty@nhs.net if you would like to contribute.

Please see our AHP International Recruitment Collaborative infographic for a great summary of our activity.
Resources:
Profession Specific Focus
Radiography
Please click on the link to view the Radiography Workforce Project Closure Report

Careers

AHP Career Ambassadors

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight AHP Faculty works in collaboration with 350+ NHS Careers, an education outreach programme across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight aimed at students aged 5-18 years. The programme gives young people the opportunity to gain insight to the wealth of opportunities that a career in our NHS can offer.
Children's perceptions about career journeys are created and influenced at a much younger age then previous thought.
We aim to raise awareness of the AHP professions as a career, to increase applicants entering the AHP community.

25 People have already signed up through 350+ to suppot this work as careers ambassadors, including: Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech & Language Therapists, Orthoptist, Operating Department Practitioners and Radiographers.
We want to expand this to include all our AHP professions.

AHP Career Ambassadors can be anyone in an AHP role (registered or unregistered) who choose to volunteer and engage in career promotion activities at a local, regional and/or national level.
We understand you are busy! Working with 350+ ensures a co-ordinated approach and minimise the time needed for preparation with a range of resources available for you to use.
Please complete our AHP Career Ambassador Registration to join the rest of our career ambassadors.

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AHP Faculty :: Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICS

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The AHP Faculty works collaboratively to ensure the pipeline of AHP professionals continues to thrive and grow. We do this by focusing on our AHP workforce through partnerships and projects.

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Find out more about what is happening for the AHP support workforce in the South East Region here AHP Support Workforce - Working across Wessex (hee.nhs.uk)

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NHS HEE South East Allied Health Professional Faculty

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The FutureNHS Collaboration Platform is the only virtual collaboration platform from the NHS that supports people working in health and social care to make change, improve and transform across organisations, places and professions.

FutureNHS is safe, easy to use and supports a growing network of people who want to connect with others to accelerate their work. Members of the platform can join or create workspaces and communities to connect with others, learn and share.

See the HIOW AHP workspace here Hampshire & Isle of Wight (HIOW) AHP Faculty - FutureNHS Collaboration Platform

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We are a collaboration platform empowering everyone working in health and social care to safely connect, share and learn across boundaries. Be part of a FutureNHS.

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Communicating the correct information about patients to the correct people is imperative and SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) communication provides a standardized tool to aid this.
SBAR Communication in Care Homes - elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk)

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What everyone should know about health care quality improvement

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Keep QI simple- small changes can make a huge difference

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One stop shop from East London NHS Foundation Trust with great resources- have a look at your employers QI resources and offerings too
QI one stop shop

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Quality, service improvement and redesign (QSIR) tools

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Quality, service improvement and redesign (QSIR) tools

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Online resource with a plethora of resources and links from NHS England

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e-Learning for Health login-free online courses

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e-Learning for Health login-free online courses

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e-LfH has an extensive library of online courses to develop your personal and professional development- relevant to a range of roles

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- e-Learning for Healthcare Authentication

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Supporting the development of the primary and community care workforce

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Welcome to the Thames Valley and Wessex (TVW) Primary Care School webpage.

Whilst this webpage is currently being hosted on the HEE Wessex site, we want to reassure you that the Primary Care School covers both Thames Valley (TV) and Wessex (Wx) regions.

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Thames Valley and Wessex Primary Care School Working across Wessex

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Welcome to the Thames Valley and Wessex (TVW) Primary Care School webpage.

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Range of courses available to develop your leadership and management skills

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Welcome to the home of health and care leadership development. Our curriculum of programmes, resources and activities bring world-class learning and development to NHS people and partners

News and blogs

Ras Kahai, Disability and Wellness Network Co-Chair at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, explains how increasing visibility of disabled leaders is key to shifting mindsets.
Senior leaders

Our senior leader offers include access to rest and restore spaces, mental wellbeing support, executive coaching and support for new CEOs Find out more about our support offers
Programmes and apprenticeships

Our programmes and apprenticeships are designed to help everyone in health and care discover their full leadership potential and achieve the highest standards Find out about programmes and apprenticeships
Support for ICS development

Explore our range of flexible offers to support integrated care system (ICS) leadership development and resources for newly appointed integrated care board leaders including podcasts, articles and much more Find out more about support available
Our Leadership Way

Our Leadership Way sets out the compassionate and inclusive behaviours we want our leaders at every level to show towards colleagues and individuals Find out more about Our Leadership Way

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Leadership Academy - Better Leaders, Better Care, Brighter Future

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Welcome to the home of health and care leadership development. Our curriculum of programmes, resources and activities bring world-class learning and development to NHS people and partners Ras Kahai, Disability and Wellness Network Co-Chair at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, explains how increasing visibility of disabled leaders is key to shifting mindsets.

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We know how important it is for clinicians and leaders at all levels to keep their skills updated to inspire and lead their teams.

Equally, we understand how crucial it is for you to personally improve your skills and effectiveness.

Truly authentic leadership is a journey and these online modules that we have created will enable you to support that journey to truly realise your potential.

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ELearning modules complemented by training events and workshops to help you lead your team
We know how important it is for clinicians and leaders at all levels to keep their skills updated to inspire and lead their teams.
Equally, we understand how crucial it is for you to personally improve your skills and effectiveness.

Truly authentic leadership is a journey and these online modules that we have created will enable you to support that journey to truly realise your potential.

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NHS South East Leadership Academy | Supporting you to reach your leadership potential

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We know how important it is for clinicians and leaders at all levels to keep their skills updated to inspire and lead their teams. Equally, we understand how crucial it is for you to personally improve your skills and effectiveness.

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Training and resources for improvement initiatives within the NHS and developing yourself and service

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Welcome to the Improvement Academy We are a team of improvement scientists, patient safety experts and clinicians who are committed to working with frontline services, patients and the public to deliver real and lasting change. We adopt a theory-based approach to improvement that's practical, tried and tested.

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When patients are harmed, it has an impact on them, their loved ones, our staff, and others who work in the healthcare system. It is crucial that all staff, whatever our roles, see safety not just as our collective responsibility, but as a key priority. We all need to think differently about what patient safety means and how we can make improvements.
NHS Patient Safety Syllabus training - elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk)

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Learn about all the great work going on to support all our AHP colleagues

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Health Education England’s role: Ensure an effective supply of AHPs, ensuring robust deployment and development of staff, place a focus on the retention of staff, across professions and geography. This will ensure the right workforce, with the right skills, is in the right place to deliver high-qual…

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Workforce

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Workforce

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Learn about the steps the NHS is taking to address issues and support our workforce

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Workforce

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Practical introduction to the Health Equalities Framework tool, along with an understanding of the health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities, and the reasons or determinants of those health inequalities.

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This programme is in partnership with...

About the Health Equalities Framework programme

The Health Equalities Framework (HEF) elearning resource is designed to provide practitioners with a practical introduction to the Health Equalities Framework tool, along with an understanding of the health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities, and the reasons or determinants of those health inequalities.

The programme is delivered through a partnership between the Learning Disability Nurse Consultant Group, the National Development Team for Inclusion and Health Education England elearning for healthcare.

How to access

In order to access the Health Equalities Framework programme, you will need an elfh account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.
Register >
To view the Health Equalities Framework programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with elfh, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.
View >
NHS healthcare staff in England

The Health Equalities Framework programme is also available to NHS healthcare staff via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Accessing this elearning via ESR means that your completions will transfer with you throughout your NHS career.

Further details are available here.

Not an NHS organisation?

If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access elfh Hub, you may be able to access the service by creating an OpenAthens account.

To check whether or not you qualify for free access via OpenAthens, you can view the eligibility criteria and register on the ' OpenAthens ' portal.

Registering large numbers of users

If you are a HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the Health Equalities Frameworkprogramme, please contact elfh directly.

Organisations wishing to use their own LMS

For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.

More information

Please select the following link for more information on how to use the elfh Hub.

elfh is a NHS England programme in partnership with the NHS and professional bodies

© elearning for healthcare 2023

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Health Equalities Framework - elearning for healthcare

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This programme is in partnership with... The Health Equalities Framework (HEF) elearning resource is designed to provide practitioners with a practical introduction to the Health Equalities Framework tool, along with an understanding of the health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities, and the reasons or determinants of those health inequalities.

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EDI: Foundations of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

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EDI: Foundations of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

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A solid foundation in EDI- sign up to be alerted when course is available for free

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Equality, diversity and inclusion is an ethos that encompasses respect, understanding, kindness, and acceptance. And taking the time to learn about EDI can be transformative for all of us.

I'm Professor Belinda Colston and I'm the director of the Eleanor Glanville Institute at the University of Lincoln. In our society, everyone has the right to be treated fairly with dignity and respect. These are our human rights. This course will help you to understand why inclusion matters in today's society and encourage you to think critically about culture, disability, homophobia, racism and sexism. The course will explore equality, diversity and inclusion. That's EDI from a range of different perspectives. Learners will explore key concepts, develop and deepen their knowledge, and build their understanding of EDI so that they can improve their own knowledge and practice in their professional life.

If you're looking to develop your knowledge and awareness of EDI, or if you're looking to develop EDI awareness within your organization, then this course is for you. There's no prior knowledge required before joining the course. Just an eagerness to learn and an open mind. Everyone can benefit from developing their awareness of diversity, and we're excited to invite you along on this learning journey.

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

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EDI: Foundations of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion - FutureLearn

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Learn about the role of equality, diversity, and inclusion in contemporary society and organisational practice with this online course from the University of Lincoln.

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Sign up for newsletter and updates for when courses are released- paid and unpaid. They very often provide courses for free for limited time (repeatedly throughout the year)

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Learn with 260+ world-class institutions and educators

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Explore your career options with FutureBot, the AI-powered chatbot that brings you tailor-made course recommendations. Get started and make your next career move.

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FutureLearn: Online Courses and Degrees from Top Universities

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Join millions of people learning on FutureLearn. Find online courses and degrees from leading universities or organisations and start learning online today.

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Coaching and mentoring is an inclusive offering available to all professions within the NHS and social care, irrespective of pay grade, clinical and non-clinical roles.

Whether you are leading an organisation, heading up a service, managing a team or leading yourself and colleagues, coaching or mentoring can support you on your leadership journey.

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Welcome to the NHS Leadership Academy Coaching / Mentoring Hub. Please either register or log in using your existing details.

Coaching and mentoring is an inclusive offering available to all professions within the NHS and social care, irrespective of pay grade, clinical and non-clinical roles.

Whether you are leading an organisation, heading up a service, managing a team or leading yourself and colleagues, coaching or mentoring can support you on your leadership journey.

Local coaching and mentoring offers
You can also find out about local coaching and mentoring offers through your local leadership academy. Please click the links below to reach our local Academy sites and to contact your regional lead for more information:

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Welcome to the NHS Leadership Academy Coaching / Mentoring Hub. Please either register or log in using your existing details. Coaching and mentoring is an inclusive offering available to all professions within the NHS and social care, irrespective of pay grade, clinical and non-clinical roles.

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The Equality and Health Inequalities Hub

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The Equality and Health Inequalities Hub

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Within this hub you will find information about NHS England’s statutory responsibilities around equalities and health inequalities and the national NHS programmes in these areas.

Programmes work across the NHS and with other agencies, people and communities to advance equalities; and achieve equitable access, excellent experience and optimal outcomes for the people we serve and the colleagues we work with.

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Earlier this year, NHS Somerset's Homeless Health Service won the 2023 NHS Parliamentary Health Equality award, which recognises organisations that work collaboratively to "reduce health inequalities and prevent ill health in their community". Laura Devlin, an inclusion and homeless health GP, explains how the service works and how the newly published Inclusion Health Framework can support [...]

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The Equality and Health Inequalities Hub

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Earlier this year, NHS Somerset's Homeless Health Service won the 2023 NHS Parliamentary Health Equality award, which recognises organisations that work collaboratively to "reduce health inequalities and prevent ill health in their community". Laura Devlin, an inclusion and homeless health GP, explains how the service works and how the newly published Inclusion Health Framework can support [...]

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Macmillan's learning and communications hub offers free training and events for health and social care professionals working in cancer care.

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Education and Training | Healthcare professionals

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We offer online courses, conferences and webinars to give health and social care professionals the training they need to support people living with cancer.

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Signposting for a range of transferable skills

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For healthcare support workers (HCSWs), technical skills are likely to be clinical skills that enable you to undertake a broader range of activities linked to patient care, in your day-to-day role. Once you have completed the Care Certificate and your induction, you might want to continue developing your technical skills to gain knowledge, maintain your competency to the highest level possible and stay up to date with current clinical practice.

A range of free elearning modules are available to support you and you can access these in addition to the face-to-face, simulated or work-based training that is often available through your employer.
Resources for developing your technical skills
Care Certificate (HEE, Skills for Health and Skills for Care)

The Care Certificate is an identified set of standards that health and care professionals adhere to in their daily working life. Designed with the non-regulated workforce in mind, the Care Certificate gives everyone the confidence that health and care professionals have the same introductory skills, knowledge and behaviours to provide compassionate, safe and high-quality care and support in their own workplace setting.

The Care Certificate is based on 15 standards, which individuals need to complete in full before they can be awarded their certificate.
elearning for healthcare
Health Education England's elearning for healthcare website provides over 400 elearning programmes for the health and care workforce in collaboration with organisations including Royal Colleges, the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England and NHS Improvement.

Visit the registration page.

HCSWs may find the following elearning for healthcare courses helpful.

Autism Awareness

This course upskills health and care workers on what it's like to experience autism, how to make services accessible for autistic people and how to adapt your behaviour to communicate effectively and respectfully to improve the experience of people who access your services.
Communicating with Empathy
This course has been developed to promote sensitive and effective communication in end-of-life care.

Helping People Living in Cold Homes

This elearning module is suitable for staff who visit patients, service users or customers in their homes.

Continence and Catheter Care

The programme is aimed at nursing staff and healthcare assistants across all settings. It aims to improve knowledge and awareness of all aspects of continence and catheter care and describes the different types of incontinence and the therapies and treatments that can be offered to patients.

COVID-19 Recovery and Rehabilitation

This interactive elearning resource was created to support health and care staff, including allied health professionals, exercise professionals and carers working with people recovering from COVID-19.

This elearning programme in dementia care has been designed to enhance the training and education of the health and social care workforce. It focuses on the essential knowledge and skills needed to support and enable people living with dementia and their family carers to live as well as possible, wherever they live. This training follows the Dementia Training Standards Framework and sessions address tiers 1, 2 and 3 of the Framework.

The Lived Experience of Dementia

This programme is aimed at all staff working in health and social care settings, providing a unique insight into the lived experience of dementia, increasing knowledge and understanding of the condition. It covers some of the learning outcomes from the Dementia Training Standards Framework and can support other learning materials covering tier 2 standards.

This elearning is relevant to health and social care staff, informal carers, and can be helpful to people with dysphagia themselves.

End-of-Life Care for All

This programme includes a specific learning path aimed at support workers to help them provide high-quality end-of-life care.

Essentials in Care

This course consists of three short elearning sessions designed to give frontline staff in domiciliary, community, residential and nursing home settings essential knowledge in providing high-quality care.

Essentials in Wound Care for the Health and Care Workforce

This elearning programme aims to support the health and care workforce in developing the knowledge and skills required to enable appropriate wound care to people in any setting.
Hydration in Older People
This programme has been designed to increase your knowledge and confidence in assessing an older person's hydration needs and minimising their risk of poor hydration in a person-centred way.

Aimed at any person working with older people in the community, including care home staff, home carers, family carers and volunteers, the elearning builds on the information and skills you may have already learnt and implemented from the Care Certificate.

The Hydration at Home programme from Wessex Academic Science Network provides additional learning resources to support you in developing your competencies around hydration at home for older people.
Mental Health Awareness Programme
This short programme aims to raise the awareness of mental health amongst healthcare staff.

This elearning provides an overview of pulse oximetry for carers, including how to take the measurements and how to tell colleagues if they are worried.

Personal Health Budgets

The modules in this programme cover a variety of topics to support the delivery of personal health budgets at a local level.
Other elearning courses
Primary Care Courses (Primary Care Training Centre)

These courses help HCSWs working in a primary care setting to develop the necessary skills to support patients and deliver high-quality care. Courses include asthma and COPD, chaperoning and a certificate for Higher Education in primary care.
Skills Platform
This platform draws together high-quality training and consultancy opportunities. People can search the platform to find the best training to meet their needs and make contact with their chosen provider to discuss their training options. Some providers also offer bespoke training packages. Some of these courses have a cost attached to them, so you might want to discuss how they would help you improve and develop in your role with your manager or employer.

Undertaking these elearning modules might spark your interest in a particular area. If you are interested in developing in a specific area of practice, you can find more information on development roles (also known as 'link' roles) in the Personal skills section of this roadmap.

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For healthcare support workers (HCSWs), technical skills are likely to be clinical skills that enable you to undertake a broader range of activities linked to patient care, in your day-to-day role. Once you have completed the Care Certificate and your induction, you might want to continue developing…

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AHP Apprenticeship padlet

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Best start in speech, language and communication

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Best start in speech, language and communication

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Designed to give health and care staff an overview of speech, language and communication - including key evidence, data and signposting to trusted resources to help prevent illness, protect health and promote wellbeing
Best Start in Speech, Language and Communication - elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk)

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Share this with your line manager to better equip them to support you whilst you study for your functional skills

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Millions of people across the UK experience communication difficulties every day. The Communication Access Symbol and training will support inclusive communication for all.

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Millions of people across the UK experience communication difficulties every day. The Communication Access Symbol and training will support inclusive communication for all.

What is Communication Access?

What is Communication Access?

Communication Access means supporting people with communication difficulties more effectively.

Once an organisation commits to our free training and standards to become Communication Accessible, we will include them in our national directory.

Organisations can then display the Communication Access Symbol.

When people with communication difficulties see your organisation displaying the symbol, they will use your services with greater confidence.

Sign up to Communication Access UK today

Sign up to Communication Access UK today

The process is simple and 100% free

Communication Accessible Organisations

Communication Accessible Organisations

These are some of the organisations accredited as Communication Accessible across the UK:

Why is Communication Access important?

Why is Communication Access important?

Communication is not simply about the ability to speak but also the ability to hear and understand what is said to us.

This lies at the very core of human dignity.

Millions of people across the United Kingdom have communication difficulties, including both adults and children.

Communication difficulties can occur for a range of reasons and leave millions without a voice, denying them equality of access and opportunity.

1 in 5

of all people in the UK will experience a communication difficulty at some point in their lives

Up to 10 %

of all children and young people have some form of long-term communication need

Up to 90 %

of people with a learning disability have a communication need

1 in 3

of stroke survivors will develop a communication difficulty

Stories

Stories

Astra is the receptionist at the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, one of the country's first Communication Accessible organisations.

In this video, she talks about the value of communication access training.

This video was filmed before the COVID-19 pandemic.

See more videos like this in our stories page.

Keep Communication Access UK free

Award Winning

Communication Access UK is a multi-award winning initiative with thousands of people accessing and using our resources.

Please help to keep Communication Access UK free by donating here.

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Communication Access UK - Inclusive communication for all

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Millions of people across the UK experience communication difficulties every day. The Communication Access Symbol and training will support inclusive communication for all. Communication Access means supporting people with communication difficulties more effectively. Once an organisation commits to our free training and standards to become Communication Accessible, we will include them in our national directory.

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AHP Support Worker Community of Practice

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AHP Support Worker Community of Practice

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A great resource to print and put up in staff rooms, wards, anywhere where AHP Support Workers might see it!

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AHP Support Workers - What is their role?

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AHP Support Workers - What is their role?

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When considering a career in healthcare, you may have thought that university study or an apprenticeship was your only option and that you may be restricted to working in registered roles such as a Nurse, Doctor, or one of our Allied Health Professional roles.

In reality, there are a whole range of roles in healthcare which provide essential support and care to patients, and their fellow colleagues.

These roles include support workers, senior support workers, assistants and assistant practitioners who work alongside the allied health professionals (AHPs).

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The Value they bring to the Allied Health Professional Workforce

When considering a career in healthcare, you may have thought that university study or an apprenticeship was your only option and that you may be restricted to working in registered roles such as a Nurse, Doctor, or one of our Allied Health Professional roles.

In reality, there are a whole range of roles in healthcare which provide essential support and care to patients, and their fellow colleagues.

These roles include support workers, senior support workers, assistants and assistant practitioners who work alongside the allied health professionals (AHPs). These staff members play a crucial role in delivering safe and effective care, influencing patient's experiences, across a huge variety of services such as within the NHS including inpatient and community, social care, housing, education and voluntary services. Support staff can also work with individuals at every age, from babies and young children, adults and older age.

The AHP support workforce works with registered allied health professional staff and the wider healthcare team (also known as the multi-disciplinary team).

AHP support workers can be involved in a range of tasks, often dependent on the allied health profession(s) they are working with; this may include tasks such as welcoming and preparing service users for treatment, supporting patients with their clinical care plans, supporting the development of resources and information and running groups.

Take a look at some examples of AHP Support Staff activities in the image below.

Think you might be interested in a career as an AHP Support Staff member?
Fantastic! Being an AHP Support Staff member is a great way of getting a taste for what it is like working in healthcare - it may be the job of your dreams or lead you on a journey you may not be expecting such as an apprenticeship to become a registered allied health professional at a later point in time.

If you do not have prior experience in healthcare, you might be surprised to realise you already have the skills needed. One of the most important elements of working in healthcare is being caring and compassionate, along with good communications skills.

What matters most is that you have a passion for helping others and enjoy working as part of a committed and caring team.
Inspirational stories
You can also take a look at some of our local AHP Support Staff inspirational stories below such as Lucy, Leading support worker for AHP Workforce Supply Project; Naseem, Rehabilitation Support Worker at the Yorkshire Cochlear Implant Service, Helen, Senior Therapy Assistant, Peter, Occupational Therapy Assistant and Toni, Henna and Jo, Dietetic Associate Practitioners.

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AHP Support Workers - The Value they bring to the Allied Health Professional Workforce - Aspiring Allies

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The Value they bring to the Allied Health Professional Workforce When considering a career in healthcare, you may have thought that university study or an apprenticeship was your only option and that you may be restricted to working in registered roles such as a Nurse, Doctor, or one of our Allied Health Professional roles.

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The AIM Group is the home of online qualifications. Whether it's professional or a hobby, the AIM Group will have an online course for it.

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Hear what our learners have to say about us

The AIM Group put our learners at the heart of everything we do, this is why we take great pride in our customer service. Check out our reviews to see what people think?

Not sure where to get started?
Let us help!

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Free Qualification Courses - The AIM Group

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The AIM Group is the home of online qualifications. Whether it's professional or a hobby, the AIM Group will have an online course for it.

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This Padlet is designed to give an overview of AHP Apprenticeships for staff and for managers. Click on the links to find out about the Allied Health Professions, the different levels of Apprenticeships and how to get started. The HASO website has lots of information: https://haso.skillsforhealth.org.uk/faq-category/apprentice/. For further information please contact your Apprenticeship Lead or your provider of choice. Special thanks to Sussex AHP Faculty and Julie Butler.

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We are healthcare professionals aiming to raise awareness of the power of civility in medicine

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We are healthcare professionals aiming to raise awareness of the power of civility in medicine

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Civil work environments matter because they reduce errors, reduce stress and foster excellence.

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Civil work environments matter because they reduce errors, reduce stress and foster excellence.

Almost all excellence in healthcare is dependent on teams, and teams work best when all members feel safe and have a voice.
Civility between team members creates that sense of safety and is a key ingredient of great teams.
Incivility robs teams of their potential.

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Incivility has been shown to reduce team functioning, clinical decision making and patient outcomes.

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Civility in the workplace, including the clinical setting, is important. Civility improves patient outcomes. Civility Saves Lives

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The BDA membership community supports the whole dietetic workforce. Join hundreds of other support staff in being an Associate member of your professional community.

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Access our Dietetic Support Workforce hub, full of information and resources for the Dietetic Support Workforce.

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Our online hub brings together all relevant resources for CSP associate members and support workers in one place.

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The CSP has joined a coalition of 13 other organisations asking policy makers, employers, workforce planners and AHP leaders throughout the UK to value the AHP support workforce.

This includes a call to action to provide consistent and sustainable funding for AHP support workers' education and training.

The coalition has also committed to work together on this agenda in order to strengthen their voices and their influence.

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The CSP has joined a coalition of 13 other organisations asking policy makers, employers, workforce planners and AHP leaders throughout the UK to value the AHP support workforce. This includes a call to action to provide consistent and sustainable funding for AHP support workers' education and training.

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Speech and Language Therapist Assistants Hub

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Speech and Language Therapist Assistants Hub

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This hub is for speech and language therapy support workers and the speech and language therapists (SLTs) who manage them, and includes information about the diverse roles of support workers, training and development within the role, career information, as well as a professional framework and toolkit.

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This hub is for speech and language therapy support workers and the speech and language therapists (SLTs) who manage them, and includes information about the diverse roles of support workers, training and development within the role, career information, as well as a professional framework and toolkit.

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Access to Higher Education (Radiography)

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Access to Higher Education (Radiography)

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Tutor Support Included

Learning remotely doesn't mean you're on your own! You'll be able to message your tutor through our industry-leading learning platform.

Flexible Payment Options

Enrol today for £0 deposit & spread the cost over 24 months

Learn At Your Own Pace

Study wherever and whenever you want. You'll have access to your course for one year so you can fit your learning around your other commitments.

Accreditation by Open College Network West Midlands

600 notional
learning hours

Add GCSE English Language and Maths - save 5% buying as a bundle

Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography)

Your Course at a Glance

About Your Diploma

Radiography is a crucial part of healthcare practices as it is a technique that is used across the board. This form of imaging is used to detect abnormalities or issues relating to the human body, from bones to organs.

To take and diagnose these images, you need to be a trained professional, and if this is something that interests you, then you can begin your career path by studying for an Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography).

You will study core scientific and medical principles essential to working with radiation and hazardous materials safely, as well as how to provide support for the patients in your care.

As part of your studies, you will also explore radiography as a process and the roles and responsibilities of various healthcare professionals.

The course, and the degree you'll be eligible to study after, will provide you with a diverse range of knowledge and skills that will be invaluable wherever your career takes you.

An Access to Higher Education Diploma is the equivalent to 3 A Levels and it is widely accepted as the alternative to A Levels during university applications. Please note, though, that you should check with your chosen university before applying.

The purpose of this course is to not only provide you with foundational knowledge about radiography, but also enhance your study skills to help you navigate through your degree.

Getting Started

The course is developed by subject experts, in conjunction with universities to ensure the material will be of the greatest value to you when you start your degree.

This Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography) is an online course that gives you the freedom to study from the comfort of your own home. You will also be able to begin learning as soon as you enrol as you will be given 24/7 access to all the course materials you need.

As part of your course, you will be provided with an Individual Learning Plan that outlines the submission deadlines for your assignments to help keep you on track throughout your studies. An Access to HE Diploma can be completed within a year although on average, learners take 9 months to achieve their qualification.

learndirect is the UK's leading online course provider, so you can be confident that you will get the support you need to succeed. In addition to our industry-leading learning platform, we'll also provide you with a dedicated team of tutors who will help you throughout your studies. They will answer questions, mark your assignments, and provide detailed feedback. This will allow you to get the best possible grade and meet your learning goals

Access to Higher Education Diplomas (National Average 78.4%)

88%

Modules

Unit 1: Academic Writing Skills

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 2: Preparing a Written Assignment

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 3: Cell Biology

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 4: Electromagnetic Spectrum

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 5: Atomic Structure

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 6: The Human Muscular and Skeletal System

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 7: Trigonometry

On completion of this unit you will:

Be able to use trigonometrical functions

Be able to use trigonometry to solve equations and problems

Be able to use trigonometric functions and identifies in the context of proofs

Be able to produce trigonometric graphs

Unit 8: Medical Physics

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 9: The Roles and Responsibilities of Health Care Professionals

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 10: Human Disease and Prevention

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 11: Periodic Table

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 12: Radioactivity

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 13: Atomic Structure & Bonding

On completion of this unit you will:

Understand the structure of the atom

Understand electronic structures

Understand the formation of ionic bonds

Understand the formation of covalent bonds

Unit 14: Physics

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 15: Chemical Bonding and Structure

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 16: Statistical Research

On completion of this unit you will:

Be able to plan an investigation which allows for the collection of statistical data

Be able to carry out an investigation

Be able to interpret and analyse results

Be able to evaluate an investigation

Unit 17: Optics & Sound

On completion of this unit you will:

Entry Requirements

Anyone wishing to continue their education with an Access to Higher Education Diploma, it is necessary they have a GCSE grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or Functional Skills Level 2) with a desire to continue a related degree at university. If you do not hold these qualifications, then you must be working towards them whilst completing your Access to HE Diploma.

Our Access to Higher Education Diplomas fulfil entry criteria for a broad range of university degrees. Learners must bear in mind each university has its own set of admission criteria and places are subject to demand. Varying admission criteria can include but are not limited to the following:

1. Number of credits to be attained at merit or distinction level

2. Successfully passing a face-to-face interview at the university

3. Passing a university's proprietary literacy and numeracy assessments

4. Completion of specified work placements or work experience

5. GCSE grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills)

Learners must undertake their own research to ensure their diploma gives them the best possible chance of gaining entry to their university of choice. It is not possible for learndirect to accept any liability if any Access to Higher Education Diploma student fails to secure an offer from a higher education institution.

*Please note, this course is eligible for UK residents only

*You will have access to the course for 12 months onl, after which, you can purchase extensions through your learning platform.

A range of units make up this qualification, with an assignment at the end of each. You will submit your work to your tutor for marking and tailored feedback. You must acquire 60 credits in total in order to achieve the Access to HE Diploma (Radiography). Of these credits, 45 will be taken from graded units which focus on the academic subject areas included in the course. The remaining 15 come from ungraded units included to help you to improve your academic writing and study skills.

As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.

Open College Network West Midlands

On successful completion of the Open College Network West Midlands Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography) you will receive a QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma at level 3 (QAA ref:40012360)

Open College Network West Midlands are a national Awarding Organisation, regulated by Ofqual, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Qualifications Wales, to develop and award nationally recognised qualifications.

Open College Network West Midlands work in partnership with employers, training providers, colleges, universities, schools and voluntary and community organisations to offer vocational credit-based qualifications, Access to Higher Education Diplomas and quality assured Customised Accreditation that enables learners gain employment or to progress into further learning and Higher Education. They also Quality Endorse organisations internal training and skills delivery.

Developing Your Career

Given that this Access to Higher Education Diploma specialises in radiography, you will be well placed to pursue a career in this sector. You will gain a solid understanding of this essential process, which will make you a desirable candidate for universities.

Once you have achieved your degree, you will be able to pursue a job position, but it is important to note that to work as a radiographer, you will need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

If you become a radiographer at practitioner level, then you could become a therapeutic radiographer, who focuses on planning and administering radiotherapy treatment. Alternatively, you may want to work as a diagnostic radiographer, who takes images to diagnose illnesses and injuries. If you go down this route, then you will likely work with the following methods:

Further Qualifications and Prospects

To achieve a step up in your radiography career, you could embark on postgraduate study to become an advanced practitioner, making you the expert voice in your industry. From a clinical perspective, you could specialise in the following areas:

You can also undertake postgraduate qualifications and training to become a consultant or an educator in your field.

Add GCSE English Language and Maths - save 5% buying as a bundle

Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography)

Your Course at a Glance

About Your Diploma

Radiography is a crucial part of healthcare practices as it is a technique that is used across the board. This form of imaging is used to detect abnormalities or issues relating to the human body, from bones to organs.

To take and diagnose these images, you need to be a trained professional, and if this is something that interests you, then you can begin your career path by studying for an Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography).

You will study core scientific and medical principles essential to working with radiation and hazardous materials safely, as well as how to provide support for the patients in your care.

As part of your studies, you will also explore radiography as a process and the roles and responsibilities of various healthcare professionals.

The course, and the degree you'll be eligible to study after, will provide you with a diverse range of knowledge and skills that will be invaluable wherever your career takes you.

An Access to Higher Education Diploma is the equivalent to 3 A Levels and it is widely accepted as the alternative to A Levels during university applications. Please note, though, that you should check with your chosen university before applying.

The purpose of this course is to not only provide you with foundational knowledge about radiography, but also enhance your study skills to help you navigate through your degree.

Getting Started

The course is developed by subject experts, in conjunction with universities to ensure the material will be of the greatest value to you when you start your degree.

This Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography) is an online course that gives you the freedom to study from the comfort of your own home. You will also be able to begin learning as soon as you enrol as you will be given 24/7 access to all the course materials you need.

As part of your course, you will be provided with an Individual Learning Plan that outlines the submission deadlines for your assignments to help keep you on track throughout your studies. An Access to HE Diploma can be completed within a year although on average, learners take 9 months to achieve their qualification.

learndirect is the UK's leading online course provider, so you can be confident that you will get the support you need to succeed. In addition to our industry-leading learning platform, we'll also provide you with a dedicated team of tutors who will help you throughout your studies. They will answer questions, mark your assignments, and provide detailed feedback. This will allow you to get the best possible grade and meet your learning goals

Modules

Unit 1: Academic Writing Skills

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 2: Preparing a Written Assignment

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 3: Cell Biology

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 4: Electromagnetic Spectrum

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 5: Atomic Structure

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 6: The Human Muscular and Skeletal System

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 7: Trigonometry

On completion of this unit you will:

Be able to use trigonometrical functions

Be able to use trigonometry to solve equations and problems

Be able to use trigonometric functions and identifies in the context of proofs

Be able to produce trigonometric graphs

Unit 8: Medical Physics

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 9: The Roles and Responsibilities of Health Care Professionals

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 10: Human Disease and Prevention

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 11: Periodic Table

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 12: Radioactivity

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 13: Atomic Structure & Bonding

On completion of this unit you will:

Understand the structure of the atom

Understand electronic structures

Understand the formation of ionic bonds

Understand the formation of covalent bonds

Unit 14: Physics

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 15: Chemical Bonding and Structure

On completion of this unit you will:

Unit 16: Statistical Research

On completion of this unit you will:

Be able to plan an investigation which allows for the collection of statistical data

Be able to carry out an investigation

Be able to interpret and analyse results

Be able to evaluate an investigation

Unit 17: Optics & Sound

On completion of this unit you will:

Entry Requirements

Anyone wishing to continue their education with an Access to Higher Education Diploma, it is necessary they have a GCSE grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or Functional Skills Level 2) with a desire to continue a related degree at university. If you do not hold these qualifications, then you must be working towards them whilst completing your Access to HE Diploma.

Our Access to Higher Education Diplomas fulfil entry criteria for a broad range of university degrees. Learners must bear in mind each university has its own set of admission criteria and places are subject to demand. Varying admission criteria can include but are not limited to the following:

1. Number of credits to be attained at merit or distinction level

2. Successfully passing a face-to-face interview at the university

3. Passing a university's proprietary literacy and numeracy assessments

4. Completion of specified work placements or work experience

5. GCSE grade C/4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent Level 2 such as Functional Skills)

Learners must undertake their own research to ensure their diploma gives them the best possible chance of gaining entry to their university of choice. It is not possible for learndirect to accept any liability if any Access to Higher Education Diploma student fails to secure an offer from a higher education institution.

*Please note, this course is eligible for UK residents only

*You will have access to the course for 12 months onl, after which, you can purchase extensions through your learning platform.

Assessment

A range of units make up this qualification, with an assignment at the end of each. You will submit your work to your tutor for marking and tailored feedback. You must acquire 60 credits in total in order to achieve the Access to HE Diploma (Radiography). Of these credits, 45 will be taken from graded units which focus on the academic subject areas included in the course. The remaining 15 come from ungraded units included to help you to improve your academic writing and study skills.

As part of your programme, you will also receive help as well as guidance on your university application and the research you need to do to get the most out of your diploma.

Qualifications

Open College Network West Midlands

On successful completion of the Open College Network West Midlands Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography) you will receive a QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma at level 3 (QAA ref:40012360)

Open College Network West Midlands are a national Awarding Organisation, regulated by Ofqual, the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Qualifications Wales, to develop and award nationally recognised qualifications.

Open College Network West Midlands work in partnership with employers, training providers, colleges, universities, schools and voluntary and community organisations to offer vocational credit-based qualifications, Access to Higher Education Diplomas and quality assured Customised Accreditation that enables learners gain employment or to progress into further learning and Higher Education. They also Quality Endorse organisations internal training and skills delivery.

Developing Your Career

Given that this Access to Higher Education Diploma specialises in radiography, you will be well placed to pursue a career in this sector. You will gain a solid understanding of this essential process, which will make you a desirable candidate for universities.

Once you have achieved your degree, you will be able to pursue a job position, but it is important to note that to work as a radiographer, you will need to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

If you become a radiographer at practitioner level, then you could become a therapeutic radiographer, who focuses on planning and administering radiotherapy treatment. Alternatively, you may want to work as a diagnostic radiographer, who takes images to diagnose illnesses and injuries. If you go down this route, then you will likely work with the following methods:

Further Qualifications and Prospects

To achieve a step up in your radiography career, you could embark on postgraduate study to become an advanced practitioner, making you the expert voice in your industry. From a clinical perspective, you could specialise in the following areas:

You can also undertake postgraduate qualifications and training to become a consultant or an educator in your field.

Access to Higher Education Diplomas

88%

(National Average 78.4%)

Flexible Payment Options

Enrol today for £0 deposit & spread the cost over 24 months

Available from £0 deposit, £69.00 /mth

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Access to Higher Education Diploma (Radiography)

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Learning remotely doesn't mean you're on your own! You'll be able to message your tutor through our industry-leading learning platform. Enrol today for £0 deposit & spread the cost over 24 months Study wherever and whenever you want. You'll have access to your course for one year so you can fit your learning around your other commitments.

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Growth of Diagnostic Radiography Support Workers

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Growth of Diagnostic Radiography Support Workers

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HEE is working closely with The Society of Radiographers and partners to develop the role of diagnostic support workers in imaging services.

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This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you agree to our use of cookies.

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HEE is working closely with The Society of Radiographers and partners to develop the role of diagnostic support workers in imaging services.

The Supporting Success project is developing guidance on occupation-specific roles and responsibilities for diagnostic radiography support workers employed in the NHS. This will build on the AHP Support Worker Competency, Education and Career Development Framework and include profession-specific competencies and progression routes linked to formal education and pre-registration degrees.

This work has been supported by an expert reference group and guidance and resources from the project will publish by the end of 2021.

This work will support:

growth of the imaging support workforce,

task allocation, including the delegation from registered staff within the scope of practice of support staff,

increased engagement with apprenticeships,

development of supportive learning cultures, and,

engagement with new sources of workforce supply.

Developing pathways for diagnostic imaging support worker roles

Across England, NHS trusts have been offered a one-off support for the first phase of the implementation of the AHP Support Worker Competency, Education and Career Development Framework as part of the national roll out in 2021/22.

Using guidance from HEE, diagnostic radiography services will be supported to review current deployment and education provision for support workers. This will allow greater consistency of roles and ensure services maximise workforce capacity and capability safely to meet increasing demands on services. There should also be clear plans locally on how to recruit the future diagnostic radiography support workforce.

HEE has published a suite of resources to support this work.

Developing career pathways for diagnostic imaging support worker roles: literature review and expert group survey

A rapid review of the literature was conducted by KCL. This paper summarises the results of that review. It briefly covers the historical development of support worker roles in the profession, recent reports, and issues that support workers and services can face when seeking to develop the roles and create progression pathways, including into pre-registration degrees.
Read the literature review and expert group survey.
Developing career pathways for diagnostic imaging support worker roles - guidance on roles and responsibilities

Health Education England (HEE) has published this guidance in collaboration with the Society of Radiographers to maximise the contribution of the diagnostic imaging support workforce to deliver safe and effective care. This guidance sets out the roles and responsibilities that diagnostic imaging support workers, including assistant practitioners, can perform at four career levels. It provides additional, profession-specific competencies that complement the AHP Support Worker Competency, Education and Career Development Framework.
Read the guidance on roles and responsibilities

Related Documents

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HEE is working closely with The Society of Radiographers and partners to develop the role of diagnostic support workers in imaging services. Supporting Success The Supporting Success project is developing guidance on occupation-specific roles and responsibilities for diagnostic radiography support workers employed in the NHS.

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Society of Radiographers - Support Worker Pages

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Society of Radiographers - Support Worker Pages

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Clinical support workers and senior clinical support workers enable effective patient care and undertake important clerical, administrative and housekeeping duties to support the delivery of diagnostic imaging or radiotherapy services.

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Clinical support workers and senior clinical support workers enable effective patient care and undertake important clerical, administrative and housekeeping duties to support the delivery of diagnostic imaging or radiotherapy services.

The Care Certificate in England is an identified set of standards that health and social care workers adhere to in their daily working life and new NHS staff will have the opportunity to achieve the certificate.

All support workers should have the opportunity to achieve the required education, knowledge and training for their role (see the CoR Education and Career framework). Senior clinical support workers provide some aspects of clinical care before, during and after imaging examinations and radiotherapy treatments.

The support workforce provides care as part of the multidisciplinary team under the direction and supervision of radiographers and associated professionals such as nuclear medicine technologists and sonographers.

As part of the career pathway, the radiographer support worker role can be a route to a registered radiographer.

The clinical support worker roles are crucial in the overall radiography workforce structure. They can provide an alternative entry route into assistant practitioner or registered practitioner roles and are generally recruited from the local population, supporting local communities with local staff.

Read more

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Clinical support workers and senior clinical support workers enable effective patient care and undertake important clerical, administrative and housekeeping duties to support the delivery of diagnostic imaging or radiotherapy services. The Care Certificate in England is an identified set of standards that health and social care workers adhere to in their daily working life and new NHS staff will have the opportunity to achieve the certificate.

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This hub is a growing collection of resources for our support workforce and those who work with and support them.

The hub contains further information for and about our support workforce, including details of RCOTs commitment and opportunities for associate membership. There are also a selection of career conversations with members of our OT support workforce, and collated resources relating to career development, equity, diversity and belonging (EDB) and communities and connections.

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Working in a range of settings across health and social care and beyond, our occupational therapy support workforce includes those working in a range of non-registered roles aligned with occupational therapy or blended allied health professional (AHP) disciplines.

This hub is a growing collection of resources for our support workforce and those who work with and support them.

The hub contains further information for and about our support workforce, including details of RCOTs commitment and opportunities for associate membership. There are also a selection of career conversations with members of our OT support workforce, and collated resources relating to career development, equity, diversity and belonging (EDB) and communities and connections.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Working in a range of settings across health and social care and beyond, our occupational therapy support workforce includes those working in a range of non-registered roles aligned with occupational therapy or blended allied health professional (AHP) disciplines. This hub is a growing collection of resources for our support workforce and those who work with and support them.

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This course is designed for line managers (of any profession, banding or grade), and colleagues working across the NHS in roles which have a caring responsibility for staff (e.g. clinical and educational supervisors, team leaders, staff network members, Health and Wellbeing Champions, Wellbeing Guardians).

Whether you are new to the course or undertaking it as a refresher, this e-learning course has been designed to support all learners.

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The NHS People Plan sets out the ambition that every member of the NHS should have a health and wellbeing conversation with their line manager or a peer, and that as part of this conversation, line managers will be expected to discuss an individual's health and wellbeing, and any flexible working requirements, as well as equality, diversity and inclusion.

Alongside a range of national resources that were published in March 2021, NHS England launched a national training programme in 2021-22 that was designed to support NHS colleagues in having safe and effective wellbeing conversations. We are now pleased to confirm that this training programme has been extended into 2022/23.

Support for line managers and those holding wellbeing conversations

NHS England have co-designed a national training programme with support from a number of NHS organisations, that aims to offer delegates an opportunity to learn more about what a wellbeing conversation is, when it may be appropriate to initiate one and provide them with additional knowledge and skills to have safe and compassionate conversations about various aspects of wellbeing. The programme, delivered by trained professionals from Passe Partout, also advises how to safely signpost staff to additional support when needed, and offer an opportunity to practice a conversation in a safe, supportive and non-judgmental space of the session.

Feedback from the initial cohort delivered in 2021/22 was incredibly positive, with 88.9% of delegates who completed the post course survey reporting that they felt confident or very confident to initiate a wellbeing conversation after attending the training.

The programme is aimed at line managers (of any profession, banding or grade), peers and colleagues working across the NHS in roles which have caring responsibilities for staff - for example clinical and educational supervisors, team leaders, members of staff networks, health and wellbeing champions or Wellbeing Guardians.

If you are interested in attending, please see below to view available dates.

"I completed the training on Monday 24 January 2021 and can honestly say it was the best wellbeing training I have ever attended. The framework is an easy guide to follow, with conversations organically moving through the stages. The facilitator was passionate about his subject, which in turn kept all attending engaged for the whole session. The break out activities offered not only an opportunity to practice and explore the framework, but also allow us to discover more about ourselves.

I would highly recommend this training to all, as I strongly believe it could help all on an individual and team level."
Emily, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Training dates 2021/22 cohort. Training dates - January 2023
Please note each session is 3.5 hours long, delegates will need to commit to attending the full session. We are now fully booked throughout December, but have availability in January. Please see below for available dates. Given the high demand for these dates, we ask that colleagues please only book a date that you are able to attend and that you do not book on multiple sessions.

10 January 2023, 1.30pm-5.00pm

11 January 2023, 9.30am-1.30pm

11 January 2023, 10.00am -1.30pm

11 January 2023, 1.30pm-5.00pm

12 January 2023, 10.00am-1.30pm

13 January 2023, 10.00am-1.30pm

16 January 2023, 1.30pm-5.00pm

17 January 2023, 9.30am-1.00pm

17 January 2023, 10.00am -1.30pm

18 January 2023, 9.30am-1.00pm

18 January 2023, 1.30pm-5.00pm

19 January 2023, 9.30am-1.00pm

19 January 2023, 1.30pm-5.00pm

20 January 2023, 10.00am-1.30pm

23 January 2023, 1.30pm-5.00pm

24 January 2023, 9.30am-1.00pm

24 January 2023, 1.30pm-5.00pm

25 January 2023, 9.30am-1.00pm

26 January 2023, 10.00am-1.30pm

27 January 2023, 10.00am-1.30pm

30 January 2023, 1.30pm-5.00pm

31 January 2023, 9.30am-1.00pm

Train the trainer model for HR, OD, Health and Wellbeing and facilitation colleagues to access

To support NHS organisations and ICSs to embed the training in local people practices and to support with longer term sustainability, in addition to the programme detailed above for line managers, NHS England are also running a train the trainer programme of the national wellbeing conversations training.

The aim of the train the trainer programme is to enable HR, OD and health and wellbeing professionals to learn how to deliver this training locally, so that they can embed it within their organisations and be part of a national community of practice.

To apply for the train the trainer programme, please register your interest by emailing Samar Hayek at ournhspeople.hwb@nhs.net. Successful applicants will need to have attended the line manager training first, and will be offered a place on a facilitator briefing session where participants will be equipped with the skills and resources to deliver the health and wellbeing conversation training, followed by access to a number of action learning sessions which offer an opportunity to practice skills, raise challenges and link in with other trainers.

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NHS England » Having safe and effective wellbeing conversations

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The NHS People Plan sets out the ambition that every member of the NHS should have a health and wellbeing conversation with their line manager or a peer, and that as part of this conversation, line managers will be expected to discuss an individual’s health and wellbeing, and any flexible working re…

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Develop new skills and discover new ways to improve your experience of work with short guides developed by experts. Open to anyone in health and care.

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Develop new skills and discover new ways to improve your experience of work with short guides developed by experts. Open to anyone in health and care.

Register and sign in to:

Save your progress when working through these short courses and easily find your place next time

Contribute to conversations and share your experiences of the topics

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Develop new skills and discover new ways to improve your experience of work with short guides developed by experts. Open to anyone in health and care.

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Use this document to evidence CPD and understand what your next steps are!