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Health Education & Improvement Wales - Upcoming Training

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Health Education & Improvement Wales - Upcoming Training

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2 hour webinar - 2 CPD points

Audience: Faculty
Description:
Interactive workshop approved by RCP and suitable for all faculty members and senior trainees involved in supervising medical and dental trainees. The workshop focuses on recognising and managing issues that may affect trainees' progress.

Participants explore signs and triggers of support issues, learn pathways of referrals and discuss techniques of supervising trainees with various support needs.
Aims and Objectives:

Describe issues that may have significant impact on training progression

Develop skills in understanding support issues and recognise triggers related to work performance

Develop skills in effective supervision of trainees with support needs

Develop skills in constructing specific educational plans with reasonable identifiable objectives and outcomes needed for satisfactory progression

Knowledge of how to support a trainee with ill health or disability in the workplace

Identify where to find information and resources

Role of Professional Support Lead and their responsibilities within the Specialty School

Increase networks and potentially create a community of support within Wales

Dates:
12/01/2022 (10am - 12pm) - To register use link or QR code above
Booking Information:
The PSU will also deliver this workshop by request from Postgraduate Centres or Specialties. To book please contact PSU onHEIW.ProfessionalSupport@wales.nhs.uk

Mentor and Mentee Training - Getting the Most out of Mentoring Two 1 Hour Webinars - 1 CPD point each

Audience: Faculty and Trainees
Description:
2 Part webinar or one face to face workshop.

Possible to run on separate days or together.
Aims and Objectives:
Part 1

* Concepts of mentoring

* Topics for mentoring in a healthcare setting

* Mentor and mentee relationships, behaviours and responsibilities to each other

Part 2

* Mentoring skills and tools

* Core skills that both mentors and mentees should be familiar with focus on tools for achieving goals such as setting the SMART objectives, using the GROW model and Johari Relationship Window to maximise successful outcome
Dates:
29/06/2022 (7pm - 9pm)- Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above
Booking Information:
The PSU will also deliver this workshop by request from Postgraduate Centres or Specialties. To book please contact PSU onHEIW.ProfessionalSupport@wales.nhs.uk

Active Bystander Training

2 Hour Webinar - 2 CPD points

Audience: Faculty and Trainees
Description:
Webinar or face to face teaching which considers why we need active bystanders, who they are and what they do.

Be an ally - learn how you can become an active bystander.

Aims and Objectives:

What does it mean to be an Active Bystander?

Difference between noticing behaviour and doing something about it

Barriers to intervention

How to intervene safely

Dates:
06/04/2022 - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

Addressing Differential Attainment 1 hour Webinar - 1 CPD point

Audience: Faculty and Trainees
Description:
Webinar or face to face teaching which looks at the who, what and how of Differential Attainment before moving on to consider the system, institutional and importantly individual interventions that make a difference.
Aims and Objectives: Dates:
17/01/2022 (1pm - 2pm) - To register use link or QR code above

07/02/2022 (1pm - 2pm) - To register use link or QR code above

14/03/2022 (1pm - 2pm) - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

06/04/2022 (1pm - 2pm) - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

17/05/2022 (1pm - 2pm) - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

15/06/2022 (1pm - 2pm)- Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

Crucial Conversations 1 hour Webinar - 1 CPD point

Audience: Faculty and Trainees
Description:
Webinar or face to face teaching where we consider feedback conversations, why they're crucial before moving on to the format and technique for success
Aims and Objectives:
Dates:

19/01/2022 (7pm - 8pm) - To register use link or QR code above

18/05/2022 (7pm - 8pm) - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

Minimising Imposter Syndrome 1 hour Webinar

Audience: Trainees
Description:
Imposter syndrome is the feeling of being a fraud, despite evidence to the contrary.

This webinar is aimed at anyone who identifies with impostor syndrome or who would like to understand more to support others.
Aims and Objectives:

Recognise signs of Imposter syndrome

Effects of Imposter syndrome

Risks Imposter syndrome

Steps to manage and overcome symptoms

Dates:
02/03/2022 (7pm - 8pm) - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

15/06/2022 (7pm - 8pm) - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

Exam Support 3 Parts - 1 hour each

Audience: Trainees
Description:
A series of 3 webinars providing practical tips and resources for a structured approach to revision, suggestions for maximising preparation time and tools for combatting anxiety to achieve exam success.
We recommend attending all 3 webinars Aims and Objectives:
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3
Dates: We recommend attending all 3 webinars
02/02/2022 - Part 1 (7pm - 8pm) - To register use link or QR code above

09/02/2022 - Part 2 (7pm - 8pm) - To register use link or QR code above

16/02/2022 - Part 3 (7pm - 8pm) - To register use link or QR code above

Unconscious Bias 2.5 hours each - 3 CPD points

Audience: Faculty & Trainees
Description:
All of us make judgements of others within the first few seconds of seeing them. This is influenced by our own socialisation and is referred to as unconscious bias. However, there is a difference between unconscious bias and discrimination. Once we are aware of our biases, we are no longer unconscious to them.
Aims and Objectives:

Defining unconscious bias

Understanding the difference between unconscious bias and discrimination

Unconscious bias and implications within clinical setting

Action planning and practical steps in minimising the implications of unconscious bias in clinical setting

Dates:
06/01/2022 (1pm - 3.30pm) - To register use link or QR code above

26/01/2022 (7pm - 9.30pm) - To register use link or QR code above

10/03/2022 (1pm - 3.30pm) - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

12/05/2022 (1pm - 3.30pm) - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

07/07/2022 (1pm - 3.30pm) - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

Civility in the Workplace 1 hour webinar - 1 CPD point

Audience: Faculty & Trainees
Description:
Every place of work has a different atmosphere, a different environment, a different ethos. An efficient and harmonious working environment is created, largely, by the way people behave in the workplace.
Aims and Objectives:

The prevalence of workplace behaviour(WBA) in health professions

Types of WBA

How to recognise WBA

Reasons why they occur in the workplace

Practical solutions to them, particularly from a clinical perspective

How to escalate these issues

Share our experience managing these issues

Dates:
09/02/2022 (7pm - 8pm) - To register use link or QR code above

04/05/2022 (7pm to 8pm) - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

PSU Service - An Introduction (for inductions / reminder of support available)

10 - 30 minutes (tailored to need)

Audience: Faculty & Trainees
Description:
Webinar or Face to Face when possible
Aims and Objectives: Booking Information:
The PSU will also deliver this workshop by request from Postgraduate Centres or Specialties. To book please contact PSU onHEIW.ProfessionalSupport@wales.nhs.uk

Maintaining Your Strength and Wellbeing 1.5 hour webinar

Audience: Trainees
Description:
An overview of the PSU team and service, observations on Certainty vs. Uncertainty and the 3 Step approach to dealing with Challenges.
Aims and Objectives:
Focusing on Tools and Resources to maintain and improve wellbeing including: 'Reframing' to recognise and appreciate positive aspects of situations, noticing energy levels by using an 'Energy Log' / keeping an energy 'credit balance' and a mindful breathing exercise to create opportunities for calm.
Dates:
26/04/2022 (7pm - 8.30pm) - Registration will open shortly using the link or QR code above

Support Awareness for Trainees 1 hour webinar

Audience: Trainees
Description:
Programme available to all trainees. The workshop focuses on how to maximise potential and avoid getting into difficulty.
Aims and Objectives:

Participants explore signs and triggers of progression issues

Learn of the support which is available as well as some helpful hints toward successful progression through training.

Booking Information:
The PSU will also deliver this workshop by request from Postgraduate Centres or Specialties. To book please contact PSU onHEIW.ProfessionalSupport@wales.nhs.uk

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2 hour webinar - 2 CPD points Audience: Faculty Description: Interactive workshop approved by RCP and suitable for all faculty members and senior trainees involved in supervising medical and dental trainees. The workshop focuses on recognising and managing issues that may affect trainees' progress.

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Digital Inclusion & Basic Digital Skills

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Learn My Way | Learn how to use the internet

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Learn how to use the internet. Learn My Way is a website of free online learning for beginners, helping you develop digital skills.

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Adult learning courses online and in-venues near you. Many courses are free. From arts, crafts and history to ESOL and learning new skills.

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How to videos and courses on a range of everyday online skills for home and work

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The Workers' Educational Association is a charity registered in England and Wales, number 1112775, and in Scotland, number SC039239, and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, number 2806910. Copyright © Workers' Educational Association 2022.

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The Workers' Educational Association is a charity registered in England and Wales, number 1112775, and in Scotland, number SC039239, and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, number 2806910. Copyright © Workers' Educational Association 2022.

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Adult Learning Wales | Addysg Oedolion Cymru

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Adult Learning Wales | Addysg Oedolion Cymru

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Community Courses

Adult Community Learning Courses for Individual Learners

Provided Online and in your Local Communities

Community Learning Courses

Workplace Courses

Accredited Learning Services

Trade Union Education

Youth & Community Work

Workplace Courses

Community Courses

Adult Community Learning Courses for Individual Learners

Provided Online and in your Local Communities

Community Learning Courses

Workplace Courses

Accredited Learning Services

Trade Union Education

Youth & Community Work

Workplace Courses

Adult Learning Wales. Unsectarian and Non-Party in Politics. Community learning in Wales since 1907.

Adult Learning Wales is a charity registered in England and Wales (no. 1071234) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (no. 3109524)

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Addysg Oedolion Cymru | Adult Learning Wales - w: www.adultlearning.wales/

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Adult Learning Wales | Wales' Community Learning Provider of Choice

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Adult Learning Wales is an adult education movement, committed to widening participation, promoting active citizenship and skills development. We provide the best quality learning, working across the whole of Wales.

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UNISON Member Learning - IT e-learning courses from Skills Academy

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UNISON Member Learning - IT e-learning courses from Skills Academy

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Blog Creation
Coding Foundations
Computer Maintenance
Computers and Internet for Beginners
IT Certification Level 2
IT Security
Microsoft Excel Level 1-3
Microsoft Outlook Level 3
Microsoft Word Level 3
Microsoft Teams
Mobile and Portable Device Security
Online Security
PowerPoint Diploma
Vlogging
Website Development Foundations
WordPress
Microsoft Mail Merge
Zoom

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UNISON College is working with the Staff Skills Academy to offer our members access to a range of over 600 free online courses. With options ranging from Managing Remote Teams to Reptile Care to HTML Basics, there's something for everyone, no matter whether you're looking to develop your professional skills or just learn for your own personal fulfilment. Courses are CPD and ROSPA accredited. With these self-guided courses, you learn at your own pace.
10 tips to help you make the most of online learning Click here to access a full list of the courses available.
To apply for your free licence please complete the application form via the link below:
Click here to register for an account

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UNISON College is working with the Staff Skills Academy to offer our members access to a range of over 600 free online courses. With options ranging from Managing Remote Teams to Reptile Care to HTML Basics, there's something for everyone, no matter whether you're looking to develop your professional skills or just learn for your own personal fulfilment.

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UNISON Getting to Grips with Digital

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Getting to grips with digital | UNISON Learning and Organising

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Providing learning opportunities for our members has always been an essential part of our role - so, while we have had to postpone all face to face training during this current crisis, we have massively ramped up our online learning provision. Here is a selection of online training provided by UNISON and our partners that you can access free of charge or at a discount.

UNISON's learning site

Any UNISON member can use their My.UNISON account to log in to our online learning site and enrol themselves in online courses. We've recently added a digital version of our popular stressbusting Staying Strong workshop.
Visit the learning site
Skills Academy

We're very pleased to be able to offer our members over 550 free online certified CPD courses through the Staff Skills Academy. These cover a wide range of topics, including:

Time Priority Management

How To Manage Virtual Teams

Remote Workers' Security

If you're interested, please email l.organising@unison.co.uk, including the phrase "Skills Academy" in the header.

The Organising Space

The Organising Space provides a safe space for UNISON activists in all sorts of different roles to connect with each other and share their experiences. There's a dedicated chat in which you can discuss learning and a library of resources that you can download and use to organise and promote learning activity in your branch. UNISON activists can log in to the Space using their my.UNISON account (you can set this up here if you haven't done so already).
Visit the Organising Space
Open University

OpenLearn

OpenLearn is the Open University's web access point for its open and free online resources. You will find around 11,000 hours of learning materials, including 8,000 hours taken from OU undergraduate and postgraduate courses. You can improve your study and employability skills in a range of subjects including health, social care, early years, money and finance, project planning, digital skills, communication skills, and leadership and management.

Online badged courses

UNISON and other partners have helped the Open University develop a suite of six free online badged courses. These are aimed at people who wish to improve their skills, knowledge and career prospects in a number of specific areas. Topics include:

Introducing Practical Healthcare - introductory course for healthcare support staff who might be looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in order to improve their career progression within the health sector

Supporting Children's Development - of particular interest to teaching assistants and other school staff

Caring for Adults - introductory course for carers or those considering a care role

Planning a Better Future - introductory course for anyone considering changing jobs, or wondering how to move up the ladder or return to work after a break

Taking Part in the Voluntary Sector - introductory course for people considering volunteering or aiming to progress within the voluntary sector

Starting Your Small Business - introductory course for anyone thinking of setting up a small business or becoming self-employed. Covers structures, customers, and responsibilities, and looks at the common features shared by successful small businesses, as well as the common pitfalls to avoid.

OU badged courses
Wranx

Wranx is an app that helps you improve skills and knowledge in just ten minutes a day. Choose from topics including maths, English, mental health, the menopause, young workers' rights at work, and much more.

Discounted distance learning

e-Careers

e-Careers offers a wide range of continuing professional development courses designed to help you advance in your career or to take up a new one. With subjects ranging from bookkeeping to wedding planning, there's something for everyone.

UNISON members can claim a discount of 10% on e-Careers courses by quoting 'UNISON10' in the checkout window.
Visit the e-Careers UNISON site
National Extension College

For those who are looking to study for GCSEs and A-levels, the National Extension College is an alternative option to colleges or private tutors. They also offer qualifications in Childcare & Early Years, Counselling, and more.

Union members can get a 10% discount on NEC courses - you just need to let them know when you enrol.

And there are free taster courses, available to union members only, to help you decide whether distance learning will work for you.
Visit the NEC site
And remember, if you're studying at your own expense, you may be eligible for financial support under UNISON's bursary scheme.

Learn My Way

Free courses on using a computer, browsing the web, sending an email and finding work online.
Learn My Way
PEARL

PEARL (Part-time Education for Adults Returning to Learn) is a website developed by the OU with the help of UNISON and other partners. It's designed to help you find all levels of courses and learning opportunities to suit your needs, ranging from short, online courses that do not carry any credits right through to higher education learning offered by colleges and universities.

PEARL places a strong emphasis on part-time study and flexibility, to enable people to continue in work while pursuing their studies.

TUC/Unionlearn resources

TUC Education

The TUC education site offers a range of online learning opportunities, including: a wide selection of e-notes, a directory of courses, and training for union reps, health and safety and learning reps.
TUC Education
Unionlearn

Unionlearn is the learning and skills organisation of the TUC. Its website contains all sorts of resources, including case studies and negotiating guides.
Unionlearn
Photograph © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

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Providing learning opportunities for our members has always been an essential part of our role - so, while we have had to postpone all face to face training during this current crisis, we have massively ramped up our online learning provision.

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This site hosts a number of online learning resources for UNISON members. You will find a variety of short activities which you can complete on this site, as well as directions where to find other useful union learning resources.

Some of our learning resources are called 'e-notes'. Please note that these display best on a desktop computer, using a browser such as Chrome or Firefox. Older versions of Internet Explorer will not work, and iPad users in particular may also experience difficulty loading the resources.

To login to this site, you will need a My.UNISON account. If you don't already have one, you can set one up here. Or, if you're a member of UNISON staff, use your regular system username preceded by 'unison\' (e.g. 'unison\doej') in the membership number box and your usual password. Use the button at the top right of this page to login.

If you experience difficulty logging into the site, please contact us on learningandorganising@unison.co.uk.

Find out about all our learning opportunities on our website.

You may also be interested in online l earning provided by the

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Click the 'Log in' button to log in using your My.UNISON account.

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Design Kit - Human Centred Design Skills for Everyone

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Design Kit - Human Centred Design Skills for Everyone

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This course puts workers and citizens at the heart of the design process. It's completely free and world-renowned.

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Approximately 5 hours per week:

1-2 hours of individual work

2-3 hours of in-person group work

Statement of Accomplishment:

Subject to course completion (completion of all assignments), you will receive a statement of accomplishment signed jointly by Acumen Academy and IDEO.org.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why can't I see all of the course materials?

The Welcome and Course Information sections are open when course registration begins so that you can learn about the course's structure and logistics . The rest of the course materials will be available to you on the first day of the course.

We recommend you find friends or colleagues for your team that you can meet with in person. Each team member should register for the course individually. You can form a team on the platform once the course open s, a month before the course begins.

Do I have to complete the course with a team?

While we believe taking the course with a team will give you the best experience and chance of completing the course, it is possible to complete the course individually if you wish .

Pacific Standard Time.

What if I can't complete the course this time around?

If you're enrolled in the course and want to withdraw, please follow these instructions from NovoEd. Look out for the next session of this course. You're welcome to sign up for a course as many times as you like!

Need more help? Get more of your questions answered
here.

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Approximately 5 hours per week: 1-2 hours of individual work 2-3 hours of in-person group work Subject to course completion (completion of all assignments), you will receive a statement of accomplishment signed jointly by Acumen Academy and IDEO.org. Why can't I see all of the course materials?

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UNISON Learning Financial Support (For UNISON Members)

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UNISON Learning Financial Support (For UNISON Members)

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Applications for 2021 grants are now open. We still have a range of accredited training available to members via the Skills Academy offer and the discounts that our partner organisations offer UNISON members are still available.
UNISON wants to help members realise their potential. We offer financial support to members taking part in various educational and learning opportunities, as well as learning discounts from a number of providers. We also offer grants to members studying on trade union and labour movement or women's studies courses.

The number of grants is limited and they are awarded on a first come, first served, basis. See the relevant application form for further details.

I have received my undergraduate degree. I scored a 2:1, meaning that I have wonderful opportunities for future full time employment; future self-employment, and future post graduate education.

I should like to convey my deep felt thanks to you all at UNISON for helping me financially with the Open University grants I received towards modules. I have always delighted in being an active member of UNISON, and will continue do so with enthusiasm.

- James, West Midlands

Being a UNISON member can also save you money on a range of educational opportunities, both online and offline.

Open University grants

Open University grants are available to UNISON members undertaking 30 and 60 point Open University courses up to and including undergraduate level at their own expense. Grants are made as follows:

60 point courses: up to £500

30 point courses: up to £250

Please note that to be eligible for the grant for this year your 30 or 60 point course with the OU must start in 2021 Click to download the application form for 2021
Trade Union and Labour Movement or Women's Studies grants

Members studying these subjects can apply for the following:

Certificate or Diploma grants of up to £500 towards fees for members on Trade Union and Labour Movement or Women's Studies courses

Bachelor or Masters Degree study: substantial grants for union reps studying Trade Union and Labour Movement or Women's Studies degrees

Please note that to be eligible for the grant for this year your course must start in 2021 Click to download the application form for 2021
Learning grants

These grants of up to £300 are intended to help members studying at levels up to and including undergraduate at their own expense on the following types of courses:

Trade Union and Labour Studies (where an applicant has not received a bursary)

non-vocational education up to and including undergraduate level (e.g. GCSE maths or English)

vocational education relevant to public service work up to and including undergraduate level

Please note that to be eligible for the grant for this year your course must start in 2021 Click to download the application form for 2021
Learning discounts for UNISON members

Members can get fee discounts for distance learning from:

National Extension College - 10% discount on all NEC courses, including GCSEs, A-levels, and vocational courses; let them know you're a union member when you enrol

CILEx Law School - 5% discount on law courses (excluding legal practice course or postgraduate Diploma in Law

The Open College of the Arts - £100 off OCA tutored arts and craft courses for UNISON members enrolling on their first course unit with the OCA

Birkbeck, University of London - 10% discount for union members

E-Careers - 10% discount for UNISON members on a range of professional skills development courses; quote 'UNISON10'

University of London - 10% discount for union members on four of its distance learning courses

Do you work in a school?

The Education Support Partnership, a charity for the education workshop, offers a Training and Development fund in partnership with the CSIS Charity Fund, specifically to assist:

Photograph © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

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Applications for 2021 grants are now open. We still have a range of accredited training available to members via the Skills Academy offer and the discounts that our partner organisations offer UNISON members are still available. UNISON wants to help members realise their potential.

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Far-right activists have been mobilising in our streets and online, often seeking recruits in communities suffering years of neglect, under-funding and unemployment.

These include many of our own communities here in Wales.

Try our Tackling the Far-right eNote today.

Who's this eNote for?

This eNote is for trade union reps who want to learn about ways to tackle the far right in their workplace and community.

How will it help me?

This eNote will:

➔ explain who the far right is and why we oppose them

➔ give you practical tips on how to campaign against the far right

➔ let you practice answering difficult questions you may encounter.

Our Tackling the Far-right eNote is available in both Welsh and English.

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Far-right activists have been mobilising in our streets and online, often seeking recruits in communities suffering years of neglect, under-funding and unemployment. These include many of our own communities here in Wales. Try our Tackling the Far-right eNote today.

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LTLC Critical Care Redeployment e-Learning

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LTLC Critical Care Redeployment e-Learning

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About the London Transformation and Learning Collaborative - Critical Care programme

The London Transformation and Learning Collaborative - Critical Care (LTLC) programme is aimed at supporting the cross-skilling of the London NHS workforce to manage:

existing critical care demand;

potential future spikes in critical care demand as a result of Covid-19; and

longer-term permanent expansion of critical care capacity.

This programme supports London's recovery plan by ensuring that:

system-level training infrastructure sustains readiness for future surge and increased critical care capacity;

well-being is integrated for all staff; and

opportunities to enable workforce and training innovations are maximised and continually adapted.

Follow updates on Twitter using the hashtag #NHSLTLC or HEE London @NHSHEE_LDN.

Our approach

The LTLC aims to increase the supply and resilience of London's critical care workforce through:

the development of a modular education programme that can be tailored to distinct learner needs;

multi-channel delivery of education to accommodate different skill training requirements and enable wide-spread accessibility;

sharing of practice from critical care units across London (e.g. proformas, job descriptions and reports of positive interventions), that other units may want to consider adopting or adapting;

mapping of optimal critical care workforce models in eight key surge sites, that will inform their learner needs; and

incorporation of a feedback mechanism, to refine and evolve the programme's educational content over time.

The programme is user-led, with both the systems and future learners actively involved in every stage, from development to delivery. We are working with five integrated care systems (ICS) in London to ensure we are responsive to different needs across the capital.

The below chart illustrates the different stages of the programme.

Desired outcomes

We will be collating educational materials and training activities for learners and educators that can be tailored to learners' existing skill level and current or future critical care role. These will include materials for e-learning, face to face teaching, simulation, and work-based placements as well as personal development. We aim to deliver:
For learners:

Easy identification of required and desired skills aligned to your current role or expected critical care role.

Materials for self-directed learning, resources, and work-based placements to improved confidence and competence working in critical care (including for COVID-19 specifically).

For trainers:

Easy identification of required and desired skills aligned to your learners' current role or expected critical care role.

Efficient collation, design and delivery of educational content and train-the-trainer materials to cross-skill critical care workforce (including for COVID-19 specifically), particularly in the on-line era.

For systems: Primary

To build the London NHS workforce capability to operate at a new increased critical care capacity.
Secondary

Demonstration of a new agile model for developing and delivering education rapidly in response to changing national healthcare requirements, in collaboration with existing regional systems.

Step One: Interprofessional skills matrix

To support you identify the most useful educational content for yourself or your learners, we have developed a skills matrix that map the content to the skills they address, by professional group or role within critical care.

The content is being mapped against NMC, GMC, HCPC, NCFRN CC3N and CoBaTrICE professional competencies, so that learners may present their learning and professional development easily for revalidation & appraisal.

Select here for the

The skills matrix is a developing document. Please use the link below to provide us with some feedback on the skills matrix. This resource is under constant review so your input is highly valued. The survey is designed for both learners and educators and should take no longer than a few minutes to complete. Thank you very much in advance.
https://healtheducationyh.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/skills-matrix-feedback
The skills matrix is under active revision so please check back regularly for the latest version. New additions this week include:

1. Surge doctor resources, focusing on ventilation, assessment & monitoring, sedation, safe patient transfer, and end of life care

2. NIV resources, aimed at managing NIV in the acutely ill patient

3. End of life care

4. Cross-skilling programme for redeployed staff from Homerton University Hospital (mapped to matrix; also grouped in Trainers resources below, under 'Programme Outlines/Timetables')

5. Paediatric critical care nurse cross-skilling priorities highlighted on RSC tab of skills matrix. Follow relevant links below in RSC section, or access directing from the e-LfH learning hub

6. Registered Support Clinician 'Skills Passport' (downloadable PDF in RSC section) to highlight the most important skills to hold before starting work on a critical care unit

7. Non-Registered Support Staff 'Skills Passport' (downloadable PDF in NRSS section) to highlight the most important skills to hold before starting work on a critical care unit

8. Healthcare Scientist surge roles introduction, and Medical Equipment Safety and QA HCS role (see HCS section)

9. Great Operational Practices - RSC / NRSS Task Allocation for 'Pod' Structure, and Paediatric critical care nurses cross-skilling documents

Current updates in progress include:

1. Pharmacy resources

2. Moral injury

3. Expanded AHP resources

The searchable Equipment Training Matrix is available under 'ICU Generic Resources' either below, or via the e-LfH hub.

About the skills matrix

The matrix includes recommended skills for the following posts:

ICU Generic Skills: for all staff members deployed to work in ICU. These are the basic requirements.

COVID-19 Generic Skills: for all staff members working within a COVID-19 area.

NRSS (Non-Registered Support Staff): for all staff who are not registered under a professional body.

RSC (Registered Support Clinician): for all staff who are registered under a professional body (e.g. NMC, GMC, HCPC). They may be redeployed to critical care areas during surge or caring for patients on wards who are more unwell than usual (deteriorating/ICU step down). These learning outcomes have all been mapped where possible to the CC3N Step 1 competencies (National Clinical Framework for Registered Nurses (NCFRN) for Adult Critical Care Nurses Critical Care Networks National Nurse leads (CC3N) Step 1 competencies)

PT (Physiotherapist): for physiotherapists with minimal or no previous ICU experience (skills matrix in early stages of development - significant revision required)

OT (Occupational therapist): for occupational therapists with minimal or no previous ICU experience (skills matrix in early stages development - significant revision required)

SLT (Speech and language therapists): for speech and language therapists with minimal or no previous ICU experience (skills matrix in early stages of development - significant revision required)

Dieticians: for dieticians with minimal or no previous ICU experience (skills matrix in early stages of development - significant revision required)

Note: AHP roles may vary depending on local workforce planning. The skill matrix focusses on cross-skilling non-critical care specialist AHPs to be competent in working within ICU, undertaking tasks that will allow experience critical care AHPs and other team members to deliver more complex tasks requiring more extensive training.

HCS (Healthcare Scientists): (skills matrix in early stages of development - significant revision required)

Pharmacy (Pharmacists): (not yet available)

Surge Doctor: 1. doctors who have had minimal (less than 3 months) or no previous ICU experience OR 2. non critical care doctors who have had more than 9 months of critical care experience. They may be redeployed to critical care areas during surge or caring for patients on wards who are more unwell than usual (deteriorating/ICU step down). These learning outcomes have all been mapped to help learners track their self-development to their own training and revalidation needs as appropriate. Curricula mapped to are:
- Competency Based Training in Intensive Care Medicine in Europe competencies (CoBaTRice)
- Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM) Core and Common competencies (which map against ACCS, CAT & CMT competencies)
- GMC Good Medical Practice (GMP)​

The skills matrix has been created to assist with cross skilling staff in preparation for ICU bed expansion. The skills and learning objectives are taken from national frameworks for individual Professional Bodies. If a skill falls under a particular competency framework, this has been mapped on the matrix. This is not a prescription of the skills to be undertaken by each role, they are recommendations as to what essential and priority skills are deemed to be necessary to allow flexibility within an ICU team but with precedence on safe patient management. It is not designed to limit a professional scope. The intention is to cover the key interventions and therapies available within intensive care; any additional specialised intervention and therapies may be beyond the scope of this matrix. The skills and roles will require adaptation to local workforce and care remodelling. The skills are suggestions as to what we feel should be delivered with the delivery being undertaken by local teams.

Step Two (for Learners): Educational resources

The current educational resources available for learners can be found below. These have been mapped to the skills matrix by professional grouping. We are still in the resource collation and co-creation phase and would appreciate you sharing any relevant resources (please see the below 'How to give your feedback' section).

​ICU Generic Skills and COVID-19 Generic Skills are the basic skills required by all healthcare professionals working in the critical care and/or COVID-19 environments. Additional skills and resources are described in the individual professional grouping sections.​

COVID-19 Generic Skills

For all staff members working within a COVID-19 area.
Safety Communication COVID-19 Generic Resources

RSC (Registered Support Clinician) - staff who are registered under a professional body (e.g. NMC, GMC, HCPC)

An RSC may be:

a junior ICU nurse who has not yet achieved their step 1 competencies in the National Competency Framework,

a registered nurse, who works outside of ICU or

a registered (non-nursing) health care professional.

The RSC may be redeployed to critical care areas during surge or caring for patients on wards who are more unwell than usual (deteriorating/ICU step down). These learning outcomes have all been mapped where possible to the CC3N Step 1 competencies (National Clinical Framework for Registered Nurses (NCFRN) for Adult Critical Care Nurses Critical Care Networks National Nurse leads (CC3N) Step 1 competencies).

To accompany these resources a "skills passport" has been developed to highlight the most important skills for the Registered Support Clinician to hold before starting work on a critical care unit (as identified by senior critical care nurses and educators across London). This skills passport document is a downloadable PDF and contains:

1. An introduction to the passport

2. Passport Assessment tool for RSC Staff

3. Statement of Competence - to be completed by RSC and supervisor

4. Links to e-LfH resources identified to help achieve RSC status if needed

Safety Airway Breathing Circulation GI Neurology Medication

Administration of drugs nasogastrically - Content required: please see section below on How to give your feedback and share resources

Administration of IV therapy

IV drugs - preparation / administration or prescription - Content required: please see section below on How to give your feedback and share resources

IV infusions - preparation / administration / management of infusion device or prescription - Content required: please see section below on How to give your feedback and share resources

VTE thromboprophylaxis

GI prophylaxis

Glycaemic control - Content required: please see section below on How to give your feedback and share resources

Assessment, Monitoring and Interpretation Equipment Bedside and patient hygiene EOL care Rehabilitation Transfer Ward-based care

NRSS (Non Registered Support Staff) - staff who are not registered under a professional body

An NRSS may be:

a Health Care Support Worker or

a non-registered member of staff specifically recruited to ICU in this role

healthcare students who may wish to work on Critical Care Units during the surge as bank staff

The NRSS may be redeployed to critical care areas during surge or caring for patients on wards who are more unwell than usual (deteriorating/ICU step down).

To accompany these resources a "skills passport" has been developed to highlight the most important skills for the Non-Registered Support Staff member to hold before starting work on a critical care unit (as identified by senior critical care nurses and educators across London). This skills passport document is a downloadable PDF which contains:

1. An introduction to the passport

2. Passport Assessment tool for RSC Staff

3. Statement of Competence - to be completed by NRSS and supervisor

4. Links to e-LfH resources identified to help achieve NRSS status if needed

Safety Airway Breathing Circulation GI Neurology Assessment, Monitoring and Interpretation Bedside and patient hygiene EOL care Rehabilitation Admission Transfer Ward-based care

HCS (Healthcare Scientists)

Healthcare scientist (HCS) as a title encompasses a very varied workforce who work in departments from pathology to radiotherapy, through to sleep studies and data analytics. In response to the first COVID surge HCS performed many different roles and had a whole host of responsibilities outside of BAU.

HCS were redeployed as ICU tech support, clinical engineering support, bedside buddies and floating clinical team (at NHS London Nightingale Hospital).

HCS Surge Roles offers a brief introduction to how HCS could add value in a surge situation

Medical Equipment safety and QA HCS role provide some details regarding this final role.

Most trusts have a lead HCS who can help identify HCS staff and aid in establishing where their skills could be best utilised.
Equipment Safety Professional development

Pharmacy (Pharmacists)

Safety Airway Breathing Circulation GI Neurology

Step Two (for Trainers): Educational resources

The current educational resources and train-the-trainer materials can be found below. These have been mapped to the skills matrix by professional grouping. We are still in the resource collation and co-creation phase and would appreciate you sharing any relevant resources (please see the below 'How to give your feedback' section).

Programme Outlines / Timetables

Content required: please see section below on How to give your feedback and share resources.

Clinical Care

Safety (from RSC/NRSS e.g. teaching material for bedspace safety checks) Airway Breathing Circulation Gastrointestinal (GI) Neurology Medication Assessment, Monitoring and Interpretation Equipment

Optimisation of medical device effectiveness and efficiency (in development)

Planned maintenance and repairs to devices (in development)

Rehabilitation equipment (in development)

Risk management and governance (in development)

Ventilation

Ventilator management (in development)

Waveform recognition and escalation

Bedside and Patient Hygiene Moving and Handling Admission

Admission (in development)
Documentation Transfer

Intrahospital (in development)

Intrahospital / Interhospital (in development)

Rehabilitation and End of Life Care

Rehabilitation End of Life (EOL) Care

Chaplaincy

Communication with family

Completing Respect forms/DNAR (in development)

End of life care (in development)

End of life care plan (in development)

End of life prescription (in development)

Last offices

Symptom control (in development)

Professional Development, Human Factors and Communication

Professional Development Communication

Wellbeing

Train the Trainer

Simulation

Step Two (for Critical Care Units or Systems): Great operational practices

The LTLC programme includes networking across the whole of London and learning from the great practices in each of the Critical Care Units.

Please see below the current resources available which have been shared through this pan-London network as examples of great practices. Though they may be site specific, we hope that by sharing them here, other units can learn and adapt these to their own needs, and share their own great practices in return.

We are still in the resource collation and co-creation phase, therefore we would appreciate you sharing any relevant resources (please see below the 'How to give your feedback' section). We also are a continuously learning ourselves so all feedback, ideas and comments gratefully received - both constructive and positive!

A Toolkit for rapid cross-skilling, support safe redeployment

As we are met with immense pressures and the need to redeploy staff safely across healthcare settings, the LTLC have created a toolkit, compiling guidance and resources to support interprofessional cross-skilling during rapid redeployment of the workforce.

The attached toolkit provides guidance on the resources available on the LTLC website which should be used in conjunction with updated national guidance for workforce management published on 10 December 2020, Advice on Acute Sector Workforce Models During Covid-19. The toolkit is packed with hyperlinks and QR codes to take users direct to the core content.

Download, share via social media or print and post in your department / coffee room / changing room this interactive PDF on "How to access the LTLC Resources for Redeployment."

Paediatric critical care nurses cross-skilling documents

Skills Matrix addition
A column has been added to the RSC tab of the Skills Matrix called "Redeploying paediatric staff areas to update". This highlights the learning outcomes that staff who redeployed from paediatrics to adult critical care in surge 1 felt they needed to revise to feel confident in the adult environment. Each of these is mapped to resources that are readily available through the LTLC e-LfH hub.

In addition, as for all staff redeploying, there are key skills covered in both the 'ICU Generic Skills' tab and the 'Covid-19 Generic Skills' tab such as 'proning' and 'manual handling' videos and patient safety resources.

Additional resources have been provided by colleagues from across London:

1. Report on supported redeployment of PICU staff to general paediatric ward (GOSH to the Whittington Hospital)

2. 17-page guidance document for PICU staff being redeployed to ACC in surge 1 (North Thames Paediatric Network)

3. Evaluation paper Burnett et al. (2020) sharing the experiences of 25 redeployed PICU staff during surge 1

Bay Template

Bay Template
COVID-19 Critical Care Bay Work Template - example of critical care trained, registered support clinicians and non-registered support staff criteria, responsibilities, & tasks working as a small team caring for patients; includes example 24hr work plan.

Select this link to access this resource on the e-LfH Hub.

Nurse Shift Handover Document

Nurse Shift Handover Document
Nursing shift handover document highlighting important point to handover to the next shift, red flag alerts as prompts for emergency escalation, and summaries of all patients in the bay. Hourly slots in which key events can be recorded if required e.g. 'proned', 'transfer to CT scan'.

Select this link to access this resource on the e-LfH Hub.

COVID-19 Critical Care Plan - A Resilient Approach

COVID-19 Critical Care Plan - A Resilient Approach: Outline of the development of resilient critical care approach to future COVID-19 surges or other surges in critical care demand, covering roles (including Critical care Nurse, Registered Support Clinician, and support staff), allocation & escalation, and an RSC Basic ICU Skills passport.

Select this link to access this resource on the e-LfH Hub.

Daily shift planners for NRSS staff on Critical Care

Daily shift planners for NRSS staff on Critical Care - Shift planning resource for both unit-facing and patient-facing roles, allowing the allocation of a structured plan for the day, and suggestions for patient, bay/pod, and unit level task suggestions.

Select this link to access this resource on the e-LfH Hub.

COVID-19 Critical Care Made Easy Guide

A brief introduction to the management of the COVID-19 patient on critical care, covering mechanical ventilation, monitoring & imaging, proning, vasopressors & inotropes, renal replacement and acute kidney injury (AKI).

Select this link to access this resource on the e-LfH Hub.

Step Two: Field Hospital Resources

NHS Nightingale London Educators Resources

The core aim of the NHS Nightingale London Education and Training curriculum was to develop staff who were confident and able to practice safely in their allocated roles within the NHS Nightingale Field Hospital at The ExCel Centre. Between March and May 2020 over 2,700 learners were trained face-to-face and a further 1,000 participated in on-line training.

Learning was all delivered interprofessionally and was were organised into four broad programmes as outlined below and has well-being threaded through. All of these programmes also had corporate and local clinical induction sessions. It is important not to forget the importance of Local Clinical Induction for staff new to a Critical Care Unit.

(further information available in the ' Overview Documents ' section)

Safety Critical Training

Safety Critical Clinical Skills

Consolidation of Learning

Day Zero
The underlying principles of Day Zero are to alleviate anxiety and to deliver learning needs not met within induction. The aims when used at NHS Nightingale London were:

To orientate staff to the hospital site, ward space, equipment and hospital layout

To focus on patient safety and prepare people to step onto a critical care unit on a "day one"

To identify outstanding learning objectives for new starters at NHS Nightingale London and meet them or signpost to where they can be met

To alleviate anxieties prior ahead of clinical work the Nightingale London

To reinforce messages around culture and well-being

Posters
These posters were developed to support the training of staff for NHS Nightingale London and to be used in the clinical areas to remind staff of key information about communication tools including SBAR, CUSS, Closed-loop communication and Hand signals for non-verbal communication.
Simulation Scenarios
These scenarios were written to support the face-to-face training within the London Nightingale Education team.

They are designed for a range of participants from those with no healthcare experience (red) through to pre-existing ICU staff (green) tackling more complex issues.

NHS Nightingale Yorkshire & Humber Educators resources

The core aim of the NHS Nightingale Yorkshire & Humber Education and Training curriculum was to develop staff who were confident and able to practice safely in their allocated roles within the NHS Nightingale Field Hospital at The Harrogate Convention Centre.

Learning was all delivered interprofessionally and organised into three broad programmes as outlined below. All of these programmes had corporate and local clinical induction sessions. It is important not to forget the importance of Local Clinical Induction for staff new to a Critical Care Unit.

(further information available in the ' Overview Documents ' section)

​​Yellow education and training for registered healthcare professionals who will be working in a critical care role that is different to their current role and require some additional critical care training to enable them to do the job.

These scenarios were written to support the face-to-face training within the Yorkshire & Humber Nightingale Education team.

Step Three: Sharing your resources and feedback

The skills matrix and educational resources are still being developed and we would appreciate any feedback and contribution you may have to support their finalisation. You can contact us on LTLC@hee.nhs.uk. See the drop-down sections below for more information.

Skills matrix

There are 2 ways to give feedback on the skills matrix:

A. Use the link below to provide us with some feedback on the skills matrix. This resource is under constant review so your input is highly valued. The survey is designed for both learners and educators and should take no longer than a few minutes to complete. Thank you very much in advance.
https://healtheducationyh.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/skills-matrix-feedback

B. For more detailed and specific feedback you can download a copy of the 'Skills matrix Excel', and make direct edits to email to us. We would appreciate input on the following areas:

1. A change to language - please add "notes" on the excel with the appropriate language and rationale, and indicate in your email body the areas you have made recommendations on

2. Addition or deletion of a skill - please add new rows to the excel and put additions in GREEN, or highlight suggested deletion skills in RED

3. Essential vs desirable - please indicate this by writing in column D (in a contrasting colour or highlighting a cell where a change has been made)

4. Educational resource recommendations - please see the below section on 'Educational resources'

5. An indication of how you intend to use the skills matrix - we would be interested for feedback on the usability of the skills matrix. If making suggestions, please provide enough of an explanation that your input can be actioned

6. Links to other competency frameworks - please provide links to (or copies of) competency frameworks which should inform this skills matrix

Educational resources

The LTLC are collating existing high-quality education resources developed across London to make them openly accessible. We are asking anyone with such a resource to send it to LTLC@hee.nhs.uk. If you are able to complete the attached coversheet we would be grateful but this is not imperative as we really need any resources submitted ASAP.

Please ensure that you have permission from those involved in its development before you share it with us. When sharing the resource, we will always attribute authorship to the original authors. We may make minor edits before it is shared to ensure that the content is accurate, up-to-date and in a standardised format. Please note that LTLC are not responsible for the resource after it has been shared.

The resources we are looking for include any critical care related educational resource from all professions, such as:

Lesson plans

ICU competency frameworks​ (especially occupational therapists, physiotherapists, SALT, dieticians, pharmacists)

Video content

Simulation scenarios

PowerPoint lectures

Examples of topics we are interested in are:

ICU skills such as ventilation, ICU drugs, tracheostomy management etc

Profession specific topics (for example, content developed by dieticians to teach ICU feeding)

ICU rehabilitation and delirium

Moving and handling intubated patients

Equipment training, such as ventilators and infusion pumps

ICU leadership

Wellbeing

Up-to-date COVID management

Managing the COVID Surge: 10 Quick Wins for ICUs

Frontline clinicians working with the National CLEAR Programme for ICU, as part of the LTLC, are sharing ten recommendations that can be adopted in ICU in 48 hours. While working collaboratively across four London trusts, clinicians identified these "quick wins" in response to the experience and reflections of staff in the first wave of the pandemic.

Managing the COVID surge: 10 Quick Wins for ICUs

The National CLEAR Programme provides training, data analytics and modelling tools for Clinically-Led workforcE and Activity Redesign (CLEAR). CLEAR participants working in ICUs across four London trusts have identified "quick wins" to share with colleagues across the NHS. Whilst these recommendations may seem straightforward and "common sense", our evidence shows that they improve communication, staff wellbeing and patient care.

All of the recommendations can be adopted within 48 hours. The 10 Quick Wins infographic provides a summary checklist for discussion in multi-disciplinary planning forums and staff meetings (Download the printer ready version here). The 10 Quick Wins slidedeck provides further details and practical examples.

Research outputs informing our programme

Learning from the Education Experiences of ICU Staff (Survey)

A Survey into the Workforce utilised to Support Critical Care Units during COVID-19

Two short surveys were developed in collaboration between the Intensive Care Society (ICS) and the Operational Delivery Network (ODN) representatives, and disseminated via Survey Monkey over the month of May 2020. One was specifically for critical care managers/nurse leads to complete, the other for staff who were redeployed into critical care.

The aims of the surveys were to obtain a snapshot of the additional workforce mobilised to manage critical care surge during the COVID-19 crisis. The aim was that that the data returned can help inform areas of good practice, and identify areas for improvement in future, should the need for staff redeployment to critical care be required again.

The results of the survey can be read here.

LTLC Emerging Findings: Changes to Models of Care on ICU (infographic)

Results from a rapid qualitative appraisal based on telephone interviews with staff across ICUs in London to:

document changes made it ICU models of care

explore challenges and enablers in the implementation of these changes

identify the aspects of care delivery that worked well and areas for improvement

Select this link to access the infographic.

NHS Staff Experiences of Working in Critical Care - The CLAP Study (infographic)

Results of telephone interviews with 40 staff from critical care units in Scotland and England.

Select this link to access the infographic.

Additional materials

FICM and HEE Skills Passport

FICM (Faculty of Insensive Care Medicine) and HEE (Health Education England) COVID Skills Passport
https://www.ficm.ac.uk/news-events-education/news/ficm-and-hee-launch-covid-skills-passport
"The entire intensive care community is keen to acknowledge the contributions made during the COVID-19 pandemic by many members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT). In particular, those who were deployed into Critical Care areas, joined rotas, used existing skills, and cross-skilled as abilities and supervision permitted.

The Faculty understands that for medical trainees, nurses and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) who do not generally work in Critical Care, getting recognition for any new or added ICM skills obtained during the pandemic can be problematic. In conjunction with Health Education England (HEE), we have developed a 'COVID Passport' to help those individuals get the recognition they deserve.

The Passport is comprised of two sections:

Care Packs: Each 'Care Pack' contains examples of skills and work undertaken during deployment to Critical Care that individuals can denote that they have completed. This section is counter-signed by a supervisor in ICM (this may be a consultant, charge nurse, senior AHP or line manager, as appropriate) to certify that the health professional has worked in these general areas to the denoted level of supervision.

Skills Self-Certification: Specific skills developed can be delineated further, in the 'COVID-19 Skills Passport Clarification' section of the document. This will provide future employers and trainers with more detail on individual attainments. Please note that this section is entirely self-certified and is not signed-off by an ICM supervisor."

Further information

NHS England/Improvement and Health Education England have worked in partnership to develop this approach which has already been extensively tested with stakeholders.

Please contact the LTLC team for any further information or questions about the programme ( ltlc@hee.nhs.uk)

How to access

The London Transformation and Learning Collaborative (LTLC) programme, you will need an e-LfH account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below.
Register >
To view the London Transformation and Learning Collaborative (LTLC) programme, select the View button below. If you already have an account with e-LfH, you will also be able to login and enrol on the programme from the View button.
View >
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 London Transformation and Learning Collaborative (LTLC)programme, please contact e-LfH directly.

More information

Please select the following link for more information on how to use the e-LfH Hub.

© e-Learning for Healthcare 2021

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London Transformation and Learning Collaborative - Critical Care (LTLC) - e-Learning for Healthcare

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The London Transformation and Learning Collaborative - Critical Care (LTLC) programme is aimed at supporting the cross-skilling of the London NHS workforce to manage: existing critical care demand; potential future spikes in critical care demand as a result of Covid-19; and longer-term permanent expansion of critical care capacity.

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Short e-learning courses from UNISON, free for everyone

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We use English and maths every day. But many of us aren't as confident as we like to be when it comes to our literacy and numeracy skills. That's why UNISON has launched Skills Builder, an online tool designed to help you feel more comfortable using words and numbers.

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It includes top tips on spelling, speed reading techniques such as skimming and scanning and suggestions on how to get the most from reading and writing.

There's also a refresher on basic maths, with clear explanations and examples on fractions, percentages, divisions, and multiplications.

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Can I use it on my smartphone? Yes, you can use it on your smartphone, laptop, and desktop.
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We use English and maths every day. But many of us aren't as confident as we like to be when it comes to our literacy and numeracy skills. That's why UNISON has launched Skills Builder, an online tool designed to help you feel more comfortable using words and numbers.

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A literacy and numeracy booklet from UNISON

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A literacy & numeracy guide from UNISON

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A literacy & numeracy guide from UNISON

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Digital Inclusion & Basic Digital Skills

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Learn My Way | Learn how to use the internet

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Learn how to use the internet. Learn My Way is a website of free online learning for beginners, helping you develop digital skills.

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This gambling addiction charity has resources for parents, including programmes for schools https://gamfam.co.uk/for-schools and resources for parents

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The digital world that we live in can be a minefield for families and parents/carers. The way in which children 'game' now is completely different to how modern day parents/carers would have experienced.

The 'monetization' of gaming is at the forefront of research and there are increasing concerns surrounding online gaming and the subsequent links this has with underage gambling.

10 Signs for Parents to Look For

Disordered gambling is sometimes referred to as the 'silent killer'. Unlike drug or alcohol addictions the signs are sometimes harder to spot and if not dealt with at an early age can have a devastating effect on both the gambler and their families later on in life.

If you think that your child may be at risk of developing a gaming addiction then there are a series of measures that you can put in place. This is by no means an exhaustive list but just some strategies that could ensure a potential situation does not escalate.

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The digital world that we live in can be a minefield for families and parents/carers. The way in which children 'game' now is completely different to how modern day parents/carers would have experienced. The 'monetization' of gaming is at the forefront of research and there are increasing concerns surrounding online gaming and the subsequent links this has with underage gambling.

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Learn My Way in Welsh

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Cyrsiau am ddim ar sut i ddefnyddio cyfrifiadur, pori'r we, anfon e-bost a dod o hyd i swydd ar-lein.

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Gwylio fideo Mike

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Cyrsiau am ddim ar sut i ddefnyddio cyfrifiadur, pori'r we, anfon e-bost a dod o hyd i swydd ar-lein. Yn gwneud camu ar-lein a dod o hyd i waith yn rhwydd! Ar ôl i Mike Oyameda, 50, symud o Lundain i Oldham ym Manceinion, fe'i gwelodd hi'n anodd i ddod o hyd i swydd.

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Open University - Level 3 Certificate for TAs

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Open University - Level 3 Certificate for TAs

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Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools

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How to videos and courses on a range of everyday online skills for home and work

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FREE COVID-19 back to work courses (USW)

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FREE COVID-19 back to work courses (USW)

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COVID-19 Back to Work Course
The University of South Wales has launched a free course for people who would like to brush up on their work skills, aimed at people who are currently on furlough, out of work, or just looking to change jobs.
This free course form the University of South Wales gives you access to three modules which will help develop your work skills as well as giving you some useful hints and tips for your wellbeing.

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USW Exchange | COVID19 Back to Work Course | University of South Wales

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The University of South Wales has launched a free course for people who would like to brush up on their work skills, aimed at people who are currently on furlough, out of work, or just looking to change jobs.

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Do brilliant work supporting families who have been bereaved by gambling related suicides and raise awareness of the dangerous effects of gambling on mental health and the high suicide risk.

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Gambling with Lives was set up by the families and friends of young people who had taken their own lives as a direct result of gambling. These were all very normal, bright, popular and happy young folk who had great futures ahead of them ... gambling was their only problem.

​

Their deaths were very sudden - "out of the blue" with no warning. They were not the result of massive gambling debts, rather what gambling had done to their hearts and their heads.

​

No one knows how many deaths are related to gambling each year; but research indicates that there are between 250 and 650 gambling related suicides every year in the UK ... a minimum of one every working day.

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Gambling with Lives aims to:

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Support families who have been bereaved by gambling related suicides

Raise awareness amongst gamblers, their families and friends, and health professionals of the dangerous effects of gambling on mental health and the high suicide risk

If your family has been bereaved by gambling related suicide, please contact us at info@gamblingwithlives.org All media queries to 07732 958306

​

Please note that we are a small charity and cannot offer helpline facilities. If you want to speak to someone immediately about a gambling problem have a look at the contacts on our Help page.

LATEST RESEARCH - NEW SUMMARY PAPERS

Our research summaries on the Number of Gambling Related Suicides in the UK; Addictive Products; and the Inadequacy of Prevalence Measures are now available on the website.

Click here to access

Swedish research published in 2018 shows people with gambling disorder have a 15 times higher suicide rate than the general population ...

... meaning up to 550 suicides p.a. in the UK

Families bereaved by gambling related suicides talk about their experiences

Review of the 2005 Gambling Act - Our Demands

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Gambling should be enshrined in law as a public health issue, and government should legislate for precautionary actions that a public health approach entails. Those actions should include:

Independent evidence based public health messages about the risks associated with gambling, the specific risks associated with individual gambling products, the addictive nature of products and the risk to mental health.

Classifications and licensing conditions for gambling products based on the harm they cause.

Dangerous products to be made safer, including through slowing down speeds of play and the application of stake limits.

Stringent affordability limits and source of wealth checks that are enforced across gambling operators.

An end to all VIP schemes and other inducements to gamble which are deployed by gambling operators to persuade customers to gamble beyond their means and wishes.

The rigorous enforcement of gambling age restrictions.

An end to all gambling advertising, including sponsorship of sports.

A duty of care on the part of gambling operators to protect gamblers from harm.

The creation of an independent ombudsman to enforce gambling operators' duty of care.

A statutory levy on gambling operators to pay for independent research, education and treatment which increases substantially the money available for these areas and ensures independence from the gambling industry.

Implementation of a comprehensive NHS prevention and treatment programme.

Training for front line health and other support workers as well as the broader public health workforce to recognise, diagnose, prevent and treat gambling disorder and harms.

A duty on the part of the state to record the number of gambling related suicides.

GAMBLING - SOME KEY FACTS

Click here to access our full Research Brief (May 2018)

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There are a minimum of 340,000 adult gambling addicts in the UK, with a further 2 million "at risk"

Over 55,000 young people aged 11-16 are addicted to gambling

UK and international research has found that 4-11% of suicides are related to gambling ... equivalent to 250-650 deaths per year in the UK

Research from Sweden found that gambling addicts are 15 times more likely to take their own lives than the general population

Gambling addicts are 3-4 times more likely to attempt to kill themselves than other types of addict

Gambling disorder was classified as equivalent to drug and alcohol addictions in 2013

Some gambling products are extremely dangerous:

Only 33% of people think that gambling is fair and can be trusted; 71% think that it is dangerous to family life

The industry made nearly £14 billion gross profit in 15/16 ... but contributed just £8m to pay for research, education and treatment

Just 2% of addicts were able to access treatment - compared to 15-20% for drugs and alcohol addictions

The GamCare treatment network is not linked to NHS primary care, so that 90% of those who receive treatment are self-referrals

You can now support Gambling with Lives by buying and wearing one of our limited edition t-shirts. Demonstrate your support for our work to raise awareness, make gambling safer and improve treatment ... wherever you go!

Contact us at

Sizes - S,M,L,XL; Available in White, Black, Red or Blue

RECEnt EVENTS

Registered Charity Number : 1184114

Or sign the petition to:

by clicking
Here

The BIG STEP continues to lead on work around gambling and football, calling for:

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An end to gambling advertising, sponsorship and promotion in football.

Football clubs to deliver preventative education, awareness and signposting in their community.

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We have also joined the Campaign Against Gambling Advertising (CAGA) which is calling for wider action around gambling advertising

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Gambling with Lives was set up by the families and friends of young people who had taken their own lives as a direct result of gambling. These were all very normal, bright, popular and happy young folk who had great futures ahead of them ... gambling was their only problem.

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Members can choose from a variety of training topics that will educate and assit them further in their role.

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Expression of Interest Form (EOI) | Union Learn

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Thanks for your interest. Before we can assist you fully we need to collect some information from you so that we can understand your requirements. We also need to collect this information to comply with certain administrative requirements. All information will be used in the strictest confidence.

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This app gives people with gabling problems a way of blocking access to gambling sites & apps. Really useful for anyone trying to recover from this most dangerous of addictions.

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Beating addiction can be a daunting task. Gamban is the first step to self-exclusion, but there are a number of other steps you can take...

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I'm proud to announce this positive step we are taking to address growing concerns about student gambling. We will be encouraging students' unions to promote the app to students across the UK - I believe it will provide much-needed support to thousands of students currently grappling with addiction.
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Shakira Martin - NUS President

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Beating addiction can be a daunting task. Gamban is the first step to self-exclusion, but there are a number of other steps you can take... format_quote I'm proud to announce this positive step we are taking to address growing concerns about student gambling.

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Are you interested in improving your English, maths or IT skills?

Your employer has a responsibility to address your training needs in these areas.

You can also contact your region for information about courses or providers in your area. UNISON has a national agreement with the WEA. GCSE maths and English courses are often free at colleges or adult education providers. Your local library may offer help with IT skills.

UNISON members who wish to study GCSE maths or English can apply for a learning grant of up to £200 for help to buy course books, or with registration or exam fees.

You can also use our Skills Builder tool for quick, fun, informal learning, which uses everyday examples to help you build your skills and confidence around English and maths.
Skills Builder
Some apps and other tools can make reading, writing, and maths easier. You can find some of the most useful ones using our Inclusive Technology Guide.
Inclusive Technology Guide
Getting to grips with digital

If you're trying to get up to speed with IT, digital, or the world online, start with our digital beginners' guide, which links to some really helpful resources.
Digital beginners' guide
Do you work in early years, care, or NHS catering?

Our handy You Can Work It Out guides offer quick hints and tips to help you with English or maths issues you might come across every day in your workplace.
You Can Work It Out: early years You Can Work It Out: care You Can Work It Out: NHS catering
Do you want to support English, maths or IT learning in your workplace?

We have produced guidance for UNISON learning reps and organisers on offering English, maths and IT learning opportunities.
Find out more

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Your employer has a responsibility to address your training needs in these areas. You can also contact your region for information about courses or providers in your area. UNISON has a national agreement with the WEA. GCSE maths and English courses are often free at colleges or adult education providers.

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A collection of resources from all of Wales' universities to help you get started with higher education.

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©1999-2020. All rights reserved. The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to its secondary activity of credit broking.

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Step-by-step guides for everything digital - a key resource for Digital Champions

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400+ Guides for you to share or print - Digital Unite

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400+ Guides for you to share or print - Digital Unite

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Our award-winning range of 400+ how-to guides covers a whole host of digital topics. Written by subject matter experts and updated regularly, the guides are perfect for supporting others with digital skills or improving your own knowledge. Now also includes a section of specially prepared Easy Read…

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Modern workplace training

Learn how to get more work done, from anywhere on any device with Microsoft 365 and Windows 10. Discover how industry professionals leverage Microsoft 365 to communicate, collaborate, and improve productivity across the team and organization.

Start here

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Get productive quickly with Microsoft 365 videos and tutorials. Explore Microsoft 365 training guides and tips to collaborate with anyone, anywhere.

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Learn to use PowerPoint by watching my clear and concise videos!

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Online British Sign Language Course - CIPD Certificated

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Online British Sign Language Course - CIPD Certificated

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British Sign Language - Learn BSL Online

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Online British Sign Language Course - Learn BSL Today

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The fast, easy, & effective way to learn BSL. Our online British Sign Language course is fun, & flexible. Ideal as level 1 revision & beginners.

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The European Council's online course about domestic and other forms of VAW,

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18 hour online course

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Climate change is a key issue on today's social and political agenda. This free course explores the basic science that underpins climate change and global warming.

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Digital Skills for Social Care during Covid-19 (Wales)

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Digital Skills for Social Care during Covid-19 (Wales)

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A free e-learning course to help tackle the digital divide in the health and social care sector has been launched in Wales this week.

The new bi-lingual course Inspiring Digital Use in Health and Social Care / Ysbrydoli Defnydd Digidol ym maes Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol has been developed in partnership between Digital Communities Wales and Digital Unite. It explains to those in a health or social care role the benefits of digital service delivery, how to find the most trusted health information online, and where people can go for further health-related support.

The introductory course is hosted on Digital Unite's award-winning Digital Champions Network*. Those studying the CPD-accredited course also have access to seven other online courses to help them develop their Digital Champion's status, covering areas such as accessibility for the visually impaired and how to engage older people in online activities.

Bob Gann, independent consultant and author of Digital Inclusion in Health and Care in Wales, said:

"The rapid growth in digital technologies brings transformative opportunities for people to become more active partners in their own care, interacting with services with the convenience they have come to expect in other areas of their lives.

"But with these exciting opportunities comes a serious risk. As more and more vital public services are delivered online, digitally excluded people in Wales are in danger of being left behind. The need to upskill the health and social care sector has never come at a more pressing time as we learn to digitally transform our front line staff through this current pandemic.

"The new e-learning course launched by Digital Communities Wales and Digital Unite will not only help our key workers to understand the importance of digital inclusion in their day-to-day role but it will help increase their own skills when it comes to using digital technologies in the work place. I'm glad it's here and look forward to hearing the feedback from the participants."

The online course can be completed in the participants own time and is packed full of inspiring videos, case studies and quizzes and comes complete with a digital badge and a certificate to recognise the skills and knowledge gained.

Laura Phillips, Training and Development officer at Digital Communities Wales - Digital Confidence, Health and Well-being, said:

"This introductory e-learning course for health and care workers in Wales has been in development with Digital Unite over the last 12 months, so we are delighted to finally be in a position to launch and see what impact it will have.

"Digital technology can be overwhelming for many, so we've tried to make this course as simple and interactive as possible; helping key workers to find quality health information online and signposting them to the best online tools, resource and apps for their patients and service users.

"Ultimately, we want this course to be a stepping stone to them becoming digital champions for their organisation, helping others to engage with digital technologies in order to gain maximum benefit from the life changing opportunities provided."

Digital Communities Wales - Digital Confidence, Health and Well-being is a Welsh Government project which is delivered by the Wales Co-operative Centre. Digital Communities Wales staff based at the Wales Co-operative Centre deliver bespoke support to organisations to help them embed digital inclusion into their strategies and practices. The team also coordinates a range of volunteering initiatives to increase basic digital skills volunteering across Wales.

* Digital Unite's Digital Champions Network is an award-winning online learning platform that trains and supports people to become confident Digital Champions. It combines training and development with project management and has over 20 online courses, hundreds of resources and easy-to-use monitoring and reporting tools. Digital Communities Wales has been part of the Network since December 2017 with around 275 Digital Champions supporting organisations and their frontline teams across the country.

There are 250 voucher codes available to Welsh-based health and social care organisations that wish to participate in the course. To request a voucher, please email digitalcommunities@wales.coop.

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E-learning course to help health and social care key workers digitally upskill during Covid-19

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The new bi-lingual course Inspiring Digital Use in Health and Social Care / Ysbrydoli Defnydd Digidol ym maes Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol has been developed in partnership between Digital Communities Wales and Digital Unite.

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NHS staff undergo rigorous pre-employment checks before they begin work to ensure they are able to provide safe care for patients.

To support the COVID-19 response and the recovery of service, staff movement between NHS organisations need to be swift and efficient, with evidence available that checks have been completed before staff move.

The COVID-19 Digital Staff Passport provides a solid legal framework for staff to be temporarily deployed into other NHS organisations and streamlines and speeds up the sharing of information, allowing staff to move promptly and with ease. The information is transferred securely by the staff member through their own smartphone, putting them in control.

Learn more about passporting in the NHS.

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Home - NHS COVID-19 Digital Staff Passport

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NHS staff undergo rigorous pre-employment checks before they begin work to ensure they are able to provide safe care for patients. To support the COVID-19 response and the recovery of service, staff movement between NHS organisations need to be swift and efficient, with evidence available that checks have been completed before staff move.

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The Anti-Vaxx Playbook

Exposing anti-vaxxers' deadly plan to disrupt Covid vaccines, and how we can stop them

Anti-vaxxers met in private in late October 2020 to discuss their plans to disrupt the Covid vaccine. They didn't realise CCDH was there too. The Anti-Vaxx Playbook is our new report exposing their tactics, messages and use of social media. Our report explains how health experts, the public, tech giants and legislators can counter these harmful plans.

Help stop the spread of misinformation about a Covid vaccine

Drawing on the latest research, the Center for Countering Digital Hate created this infographic on how we can all help prevent the spread of misinformation and boost good evidence-based advice. Click the image below to share it on Twitter.

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The Anti-Vaxx Playbook | Center for Countering Digital Hate

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Anti-vaxxers have been meeting in private to discuss their plans to attack a Covid vaccine. The Anti-Vaxx Playbook is a new report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate that exposes their plans and describes how experts, tech giants and the public can work to counter them.

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Welcome to the UK Safer Internet Centre, where you can find online safety tips, advice and resources to help children and young people stay safe online.

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Working with online safety experts, we're here to provide parents & carers with guidance, advice and support to keep children safe online | Internet Matters

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What we do

Help & advice

Helpful information and guidance on a range of key online safety topics.

The Childnet Film Competition 2024 is open!

Do you know any young people aged 7-18 who are passionate about film? Can they tell a good story, create animation or inspire positive change? Would they like to make a short film about online safety?
Then enter the competition now!

Download brand new interactive resource ReelLife!

An interactive resource to help young people aged 9-14 identify the potential risks of social media.
Check out the resource...

Try out the Childnet Digital Leaders Programme today!

A youth leadership training programme empowering young people to educate their peers about online safety.
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Blog

The latest advice and guidance on key online safety issues, as well as information on the latest apps and games.

Free resources to help you teach about online safety.

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Childnet - Online safety for young people

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Helping make the internet a great and safe place for children and young people.

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Are you being bullied?

If you are being bullied, or you are not ready to make a report to CEOP, you can talk to Childline anonymously online or on the phone - No worry is too big or too small.

Visit Childline

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Are you being bullied? If you are being bullied, or you are not ready to make a report to CEOP, you can talk to Childline anonymously online or on the phone - No worry is too big or too small. Visit Childline

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Staying safe online - tips for older people | Age UK

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Online scams are becoming increasingly common. These include viruses which can damage your computer and online scams. Read our guide to staying safe online.

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Report Cyber Crime - Action Fraud (Police)

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Report Cyber Crime - Action Fraud (Police)

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More than 22,500 people had their social media or email accounts hacked last year, new data shows.

Sun seekers looking to book their summer getaway are being warned to look out for fraudulent deals, as new data released today shows victims lost a staggering £12.3 million to holiday fraud last year.

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National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre

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Staying safe online

Many relationships that begin romantically can quickly become controlling, with partners reading emails, checking texts and locations of social media posts. This can be just the beginning, with a third of survivors who responded to a Women's Aid survey on online abuse telling us that their partner or ex-partner had used spyware or GPS locators to track them down.

Online domestic abuse can include behaviours such as monitoring of social media profiles or emails, abuse over social media such as Facebook or Twitter, sharing intimate photos or videos without your consent, using GPS locators or spyware.

Women's Aid research on online domestic abuse found that:

For 85% of respondents the abuse they received online from a partner or ex-partner was part of a pattern of abuse they also experienced offline.

Nearly a third of respondents (29%) experienced the use of spyware or GPS locators on their phone or computers by a partner or ex-partner.

For half (50%) of respondents the online abuse they experienced also involved direct threats to them or someone they knew.

Nearly a third of those respondents who had received threats stated that where threats had been made online by a partner or ex-partner they were carried out.

Conviction data for im age based sexual abuse (commonly referred to as 'revenge pornography') show that out of the 376 prosecutions for this offence record ed in the year ending March 2 019 , 83% (313 ) were flagged as being domestic abuse-related . (ONS, 2019)

Twitter

Twitter has certain rules and policies that it expects everyone who uses it to abide by. Tie rules include not abusing people on Twitter. When someone breaks the rules they can be sanctioned. We know that perpetrators use Twitter to abuse their partners or ex-partners, monitor their movements and also carry out certain behaviours such as revenge pornography. This is unacceptable and against Twitter's rules and policies.

Below are some of the main ways of keeping safe on Twitter. There are other tools and resources that can be used and these can be found on Twitter's Safety Centre

Stop other people seeing your tweets- you can 'protect your tweets' so only people who you approve can see what you are tweeting. Here's how to protect your tweets

Disable your location - if your tweets have a location added it may be easier for the perpetrator or their friends and family to find you. To check your location settings and to turn it off here's how:

1. In the Tweet compose box on twitter.com, click the button with your location.

2. Select Turn off location from the dropdown menu.

3. The Turn off location setting will be saved, so next time you compose a Tweet on twitter.com your location information will not appear.

Block Someone who is being abusive - if you are being abused or harassed by someone online you can block them from being able to see your profile or getting any of their tweets. NOTE if you block someone they will know that you have blocked them. Here's how to block someone

Report abuse - you can report someone for being abusive, threatening you or harassing you on Twitter. You can report them using this form

Use your report as evidence - if you have reported someone for being abusive you can also download and email your report to use as evidence for the police or other agencies. Here's how to use your report as evidence

If you are a domestic abuse service you can also report abuse on behalf of someone you are supporting through this form

Facebook

Women's Aid and Facebook have teamed up to produce a guide to staying safe on Facebook. The guide provides advice to help women and girls understand the risks and tools needed to protect themselves and stay safe on social media. The guide has a lot of helpful tips - from how to report something that is abusive, to stopping an intimate, private or sexual image from being shared online. It aims to help women take greater control of their own safety on Facebook, whilst staying connected to the people and causes they care about.
Download
Remember, you can also download your Facebook data into a PDF and use it however you want. This could be for the police as proof of online abuse or for other evidential requirements.

To download your data from your Facebook page:

1. Clickat the top right of any Facebook page and select Settings

2. Click Download a copy of your Facebook data below your General Account Settings

3. Click Start My Archive

Find out more

Resources and information
Facebook and Women's Aid Safety Guide
This guide by Women's Aid and Facebook provides advice to help women and girls understand the risks and tools needed to protect themselves and stay safe on social media.
Facebook and Women's Aid Safety Guide Vitual world Real Fear
Women's Aid report into online abuse, harassment and stalking (2014)
Virtual World Real Fear Report A4 Digital Stalking Poster A4 Digital Stalking Poster Staying safe online - Easy and Practical Help
Digital Stalking leaflet
Digital Stalking Leaflet
Digital stalking: A guide to technology risks for victims
Jennifer Perry (2012)
Digital Stalking Guide PDF
Office for National Statistics (ONS). (2019) Domestic abuse in England and Wales: year ending March 201 9. Published online: ONS

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Many relationships that begin romantically can quickly become controlling, with partners reading emails, checking texts and locations of social media posts. This can be just the beginning, with a third of survivors who responded to a Women's Aid survey on online abuse telling us that their partner or ex-partner had used spyware or GPS locators to track them down.

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True Vision is is a police-funded web site designed to provide you with information about Hate Crime.

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Generate a passphrase or test your password's strength

We don't store passwords or phrases on our servers

Approximate Time To Crack: 0 seconds

Creating a Strong Password and the Human Element

To create a strong password for online or other local access usually involves a set of rules. Tell me if this 8 + 4 rule to create a password looks familiar: "Use eight characters with one upper and one lower case, a special character like an asterisk and a number. The more random the better."

Everywhere you look online for good password creation help, you find rules that make it impossible for regular humans to follow. The Internet is littered with IT and HR policies about how to create a password that lists a litany of laws regarding creating strong passwords that make it harder for you to pick a good password that you can memorize.

So what people do (not you, of course, other people) is to create a really long and complex strong password that is practically impossible to memorize, but safe, and then they write it down somewhere unsafe. Or they game the system and create a password online involving something familiar that's just good enough to slide past the rules, but that's ultimately easy for a hacker to guess - here's looking at you Password1!.

Passwords seem to have an odd dual nature. Generally, the stronger and safer the password the more likely it is difficult to remember, and conversely, the easy to remember weak passwords like '123456', 'iloveyou', 'password1' and 'monkey' are very easy for computers to guess.

The general thinking appears to be that if you create a password that is difficult for you to memorize, it will also be strong and difficult to crack by a computer.

That's just not true. Take this supposedly strong password for example 10Ue728! It may look like it has everything needed for a good password, it is 8 characters long, there's an uppercase and lower case letter, it has numbers and even a symbol. And yet, it should take about 3 minutes to crack it. Shocked? I was.

You need to create a strong password for everything these days, and reusing the same password for everything is a big no-no, so how do you pick a secure password that is also easy to remember? Almost every week there's a new report about some or other system somewhere that was hacked, and almost always it is because someone picked a bad password that left access to the data wide open.

We have been trained for years by IT departments and big corporations that the most effective passwords consist of a complex mix of upper and lowercase, letters, numbers and symbols. However, exactly because these so-called perfect passwords are such a complicated mix of characters, they are difficult to memorize.

How About Using a Passphrase For a Password?

Humans are terrible at creating random things, which also means that we are terrible at creating secure passwords. The famous xkcd comic got it right: humans have been trained for years to use hard-to-remember passwords that are easy for computers to guess.

Using a passphrase instead of a regular 8 + 4 password is one way to make it easier for you, and also more secure. Creating a passphrase may sound like a lot of work. How do you create a passphrase that's random, but memorable? Where do you start?

That's why I created this site, I wanted to make it easy to create a password online that is memorable, strong, and suitable for all purposes. Looking online for a password creation tool, you might get a good selection of random characters, and sometimes even a good passphrase option, but I couldn't find anything that combined it with images.

So, I created this site. This tool helps you to create a password online and also has the option to create a passphrase, and more importantly, to create a strong password that also has a visual element to it so that it is easy to remember. The default option we provide to create a password is a combination of two words, a number, and a symbol. Also, you will see image representations of the words, along with the other characters, and don't forget the spaces! That simple combination creates a passphrase that is a strong password that is also easy to remember.

If you want to only use words to create a passphrase, that's available too, simply select it from the drop-down and pick one you like that's also memorable to you. The estimated strength of the password, based on how long it might take to crack it, is displayed each time.

You can even type in your old password to see what the calculated strength is. The calculation to do this is based on the work done by ZXCVBN (https://github.com/dropbox/zxcvbn) which is written in such a way as to mimic how password cracking tools work. I hope that this tool, which was heavily inspired by (...) helps you to create passwords online that are easy for humans to remember, and very hard for computers to break!

So How Exactly Does a Password Get Cracked?

Usually the methods for cracking a password involve the following steps:

1. First, the hackers start with a bunch of word lists. There are various lists of passwords that are easy to find online. Then, you combine the password list with a lists of all English words, all names, dates, and so on. In less than one second, 30% of all passwords will be cracked.

2. After exhausting the word lists, the next step will be to try all of the words again with common substitutions: capitalizing the first letter (december → December), making common letter-for-number swaps (december → d3cemb3r), and other common password variations.

3. Next, they start combining the previous word lists, like Name + date (doug3251983). Name + [separator] + date (doug.3251983).

4. If all else fails: brute force, a.k.a. try every combination of characters. Try a, thenb, then c ... eventually aa, ab, ac ... eventually6j2b#hi8, 6j2b#hi9, 6j2b#hi0, et cetera.

If you created a password with any of these commonly targeted combinations, it can be easily cracked.

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Generate a passphrase or test your password's strength We don't store passwords or phrases on our servers Approximate Time To Crack: 0 seconds To create a strong password for online or other local access usually involves a set of rules.

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This partnership aims to improve digital skills for people and organisations. Find out more about its work and how your organisation can get involved.

The government is working with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Combined Authorities (CAs) to help establish Local Digital Skills Partnerships (Local DSPs) across England to tackle local digital skills challenges and build thriving and inclusive regional economies.

There are 8 Local DSPs in:

You can read an evaluation of the first 6 Local DSPs which found them to have had positive outcomes for local people and communities, local businesses and public sector partners.

Local DSP Regional Coordinators

The 8 Local DSPs are allocated funding to employ a Regional Coordinator to facilitate the delivery of digital skills training opportunities in their respective Local DSPs. By working collaboratively with both regional and national stakeholders, they will be developing new innovative models to improve digital skills across their regions, boost their local economies and share this best practice with other LEPs and CAs. Regional Coordinators also have regular contact with DCMS.

Find out more about how you can join your Local DSP network by contacting their regional coordinator:

The Digital Skills Partnership Team

For more information, please contact Gary Coyle, Head of Policy, Local Digital Skills Partnerships: gary.coyle@dcms.gov.uk

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CommonSenseMedia - Latest information on Apps, Games and Online Security (US-focused)

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CommonSenseMedia - Latest information on Apps, Games and Online Security (US-focused)

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Common Sense Media: Age-Based Media Reviews for Families

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Common Sense Media is the leading source of entertainment and technology recommendations for families. Parents trust our expert reviews and objective advice.

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Browse Free Online Courses - FutureLearn

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Starting learning for free with a wide range of free online courses covering different subjects. Discover free online learning from top universities and organisations.