Over the recent years, we have had to review how our service offers learning and development opportunities and this includes considering the positives of both face-to-face learning and virtual. On the training calendar you can find dates for the training programmes, with options of virtual or face to face (for most sessions, some are in-person only). It is our hope that by offering these two different learning styles we will be able to provide both flexibility and accessibility options for our carers.
All of our face-to-face training will be held at the Quarry Centre on Cummings Park Crescent, any exceptions to this will be listed on the calendar and workers will ensure that they update all confirmed attendees. All virtual training will be held over Microsoft Teams and will be live, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and promote discussion. Should you have any issues with accessing Microsoft Teams please contact your individual workers or our admin team on 01224 067604.
All mandatory training courses and timescales for renewal are on the page below. We are aware that our carers will have views on which training they find more beneficial than others therefore it is important that all carers complete the feedback and reflection forms provided after each ACC organised course to submit their thoughts. The forms will contribute to any reviews of the mandatory training courses. A big thank you for all the feedback provided regarding the training already presented.
We have also included other opportunities for learning and development in the form of courses and information from other sources. We want to ensure that you can access a wide variety of subjects which match the needs of the care you are providing, if you have further suggestions then please let us know.
Mandatory Training List
It is important that you ensure all mandatory training courses are completed and kept up to date, as this could impact your registration or approval at panel. Should you have any concerns about when your training is due to be renewed then please refer to your Learning and Development Plan and/or discuss with your individual worker.
Some courses in the table below are marked invite only, if you feel any of these courses would benefit your learning, this should be discussed with your worker and they will ask to have you added to the waiting list, you will be contacted directly in advance of the date allocated.
While there are no mandatory training courses for Kinship Carers, all courses are open for you to access, and you can discuss this either with your allocated worker or any member of the Kinship Team.
Foster Carers
| Pre-Approval | Renewal Timescales |
|---|---|
| Skills to Foster | One off |
| Safer Caring | 3 years |
| Child Protection | 3 years |
| First Aid – Invite Only | 3 years |
| Attachment | 3 years |
| Therapeutic Re-parenting (Click Learning only) | 3 years |
| Trauma Informed Care | 3 years |
| Child Development | 3 years |
| Post Approval | Renewal Timescales |
|---|---|
| The Role of the Foster carer (Click Learning only) | Within the first 12 months |
| Loss and Bereavement | Within the first 12 months |
| Equality and Diversity (Click Learning only) | Within the first 12 months |
| Life Transitions | Within the first 12 months |
| Record and Report Writing | Within the first 12 months |
| Theraplay | Within the first 12 months |
| Life Story Work | Within the first 12 months |
| Online Safety & Cyber bullying (Click Learning Only) | 2 years |
| Trauma and the impact on brain development (Click Learning only) | 3 years |
| Transition to Adoption | As required |
| Adult Support Protection (Carers of young people 15+) | Prior to any young person turning 16 years |
| Continued Care (Carers of young people moving to continued care) | Prior to presentation at Panel to change registration to Adult Care Providers. |
Adopters
| Pre-Approval | Renewal Timescales |
|---|---|
| Prep to Adopt | One Off |
| Safer Caring | 3 years |
| Child Protection | 3 years |
| First Aid – Invite Only | 3 years |
| LifeStory Work | 3 years |
| Online Safety & Cyber bullying | 3 years |
| Record & Report Writing | 3 years |
| Theraplay - Invite Only | Renewed when Necessary |
| Post Approval | Renewal Timescales |
|---|---|
| Attachment | 3 years |
| Trauma Informed Care | Renewed when Necessary |
| Loss and Bereavement | Renewed when Necessary |
| Child Development | Renewed when Necessary |
| Transitions to Adopt – Invite Only | Renewed when Necessary |
Click Learn
Click Learn has changed and a licence is allocated to each learner, where before it was allocated to each course.
This means we can now, with the agreement of your supervising Social Worker, allocate multiple courses to you.
Learners must complete the course and quiz at the end to get the certificate.
It is your responsibility to notify AFAdmin with the hours taken to complete the course, if not an average 3 hours will be allocated to your training record.
External Training
If the course you are interested in is not available through Aberdeen City Council, please look at the other learning and development information provided below as you may be able to access this through other means.
Individual workers will be able to support you in finding any additional training that you may be interested in.
Please let us know if you find any useful external training opportunities that can be shared across the service. We are always looking to improve training and good practice.
** It is your responsibility to inform AFAdmin of any external training providers you have completed courses with if you want this recorded on your training record. Include course name, training provider, date start/end and hours taken.
Feedback Form
At the end of each training course all attendees will be provided with a feedback and reflection form, the intention behind this is to gather views on the organisation, structure, and content of each of the training courses.
The feedback form is anonymous as our admin team will ensure your name will be left off the form when being passed onto facilitators.
Adopters and foster carers only. The decision has been made that the feedback and reflection forms are part of the training. Your training record will be updated with the hours on completion of the course; however, training certificates will not be awarded until these forms have been returned.