ANGUS COUNCIL SOCIAL WORK & HEALTH OUR EXPERIENCE Shirley Gibson Internal Verifier

RESPONSE FROM THE SCOTTISH SOCIAL SERVICES COUNCIL TO THE CONSULTATION ON LIFELONG LEARNING – “Partnership working is critical to the learning and development of the social services workforce. Existing collaborative and partnership arrangements between employers, and education and training providers provide good practice examples for this and other sectors.”

THE DRIVERS Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice The National Care Standards The Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme in Tayside,

WHAT WAS NEEDED Home Care and residential staff needed palliative care training. We needed trainers We needed palliative care knowledge

TRAINING THE TRAINERS Angus Council and Marie Curie/NHS formed a partnership Two members of the training section and four operational staff were to be trained as facilitators.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 2 day facilitation course and update Material resources Ongoing support Updating information Information on development opportunities MARIE CURIE, NHS

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ANGUS COUNCIL 2 trainers 4 operational staff Clerical support Premises Operational managerial support

THE TEAM The team of six was then formed with one clerical officer as admin support.

DEVELOPING THE TEAM Trainers visited sites involved in Palliative Care. Trainers attended training courses Maggie’s Centre Dundee

Macmillan Day Centre Angus Roxburgh House Dundee

TRAINING COMMENCES The first study day was held in May 2008 Ratio of attendees was I trainer to 6 attendees Each session was observed and timed by a team member then feedback was given Evaluation sheets were discussed between the team then collated by admin

WHAT DO STAFF THINK

SOME COMMENTS FROM STAFF “ Made me realise that it is not only for people who are about to die but for long term illness as well” “Realising how much you need to listen and not always talking and that there are alternative ways to communicate”

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WORKPLACE Staff awareness of services Care plans include the wishes and choices of service users in relation to end of life care and arrangements following death Staff have commented on how the training has made them more aware of the need for a care plan which reflects palliative care

DEVELOPMENTS IN TRAINING More practical training is being planned Information/ updates received from MacMillan practice educator are sent to managers to be cascaded to staff We are hoping to add palliative care training to our induction programme for new staff.

WHERE ARE WE NOW? So far the team has provided 20 study days to staff. 6 more days are planned for the first half of the new year The numbers trained between April 2008 and November 2009 were 272 We are now delivering in house training in different locations Facilitation courses are being developed We are now training health care assistants and Macmillan welfare rights staff

SUMMARY The initiative has demonstrated what can be done when partnerships are formed. The staff are more motivated and confident to make improvements to a service that already provides high quality care to the people of Angus.