The importance of good quality training in care

In 2016, Saxmundham-based national in-home care provider Christies Care added an extra day of training to its already industry-leading training course. Six months in, Lin Barnes, Director at Christies Care, examines how the training has created a greater pool of fully trained carers for Christies to call on to ensure their clients are supported and explains why Christies Care invests so much time, money and effort into training.

The 11-day residential induction course includes: two days of Dementia training, two days on Learning Disabilities, End of life care, First aid, Medication, Moving and Handling, Dignity and respect amongst other core areas like how to support those with Parkinson’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis is also provided as is Stroke Awareness and Care. Plus, every carer must complete an annual two-day refresher course to stay on top of their training and any new developments.

Lin explains: “By including a good grounding on all the elements of care into our induction, it means all our carers are ready to be deployed to any client in need. It also means that they have a good level of training covering all the various areas of care and can choose to specialise in a particular area if they wish.

“We’ve found the more rigorous and thorough induction gives our carers and our clients greater confidence. Our clients need carers who they can rely on; carers who know what to do in an emergency; carers who can help someone move about safely; carers who can help with medication; who can help with their continence needs. Our carers leave their training with a robust knowledge and the confidence and support they need to do a really good job for our clients.

Lin continues: “Being a live-in carer can be lonely and mentally, emotionally and physically demanding. We have a Carer Support Team charged with supporting carers with whatever they need, whether it’s a query on medication, advising on the best train to get to meet a client, help dealing with a personal problem or handling the logistics involved in implementing a personalised care plan, they’re just a phone call away. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Their support is what keeps everybody going, and makes sure our carers are backed up by a solid group of knowledgeable, supportive and compassionate advisors.”

Christies Care’s award-winning training team has over 80 years’ experience including specialists in fields like dementia, and learning disabilities. They train Christies carers as well as family members and other care staff.

For more information visit www.christiescare.com