Training

Policy, People and Professionalism

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"The induction at HCA was great! Normally when starting a new job I'm nervous and the induction/training can be the most daunting part, this wasn't the case. We were made to feel at ease straight away. The week was well structured as were the Induction packs so we were aware what we needed to learn before we started. The handouts and presentations were to the point and relatively short, but still very detailed. The best induction I've ever had - thanks Jan and HCA! Looking forward to the Induction reunion!"
Kate, new support worker, Stafford Lodge.

Our Recruitment and Training department ensures quality in recruitment, excellent training and ongoing development of our workforce, advice and support to staff and their managers, and the development and implementation of policies and procedures in compliance with employment law, health care regulations and best practice guidance.

We appreciate that the people who work in our residential care homes are our most important resource and that the quality of our services depend on our employees feeling confident and supported in their work.

Our recruitment practices are robust, ensuring that we exceed minimum standards. All potential employees are interviewed twice before being offered a job. We then conduct a pre-employment meeting with them to make sure they fully understand the role and our expectations of them. We do not allow new staff to commence working in any of our services until we have received two satisfactory written references and clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau.

All new staff complete a week long induction held at our Head Office. This includes:

• An introduction to our service, philosophy and expectations

• Internal and external policies

• Health and Safety in the Care Home

• Autism training

• Epilepsy training

• Safeguarding Adults training

• An opportunity to meet with the Directors to give feedback and ask any questions

We are committed to working towards professionalising the workforce through the generation of policy, training and best practice guidance. Safeguarding Adults is a real passion of ours and we are committed to minimising opportunities for any form of abuse of vulnerable people within our services.

To this end, all of our care staff are required to qualify to at least NVQ level 2 in Health and Social Care, and in addition receive further training in areas such as:

• Epilepsy

• Mental Health Act

• Positive Response training

• Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)

• MAKATON

In addition, all our senior staff will work towards achieving an NVQ level 3 (and above) in Health and Social Care.

We have a Managers' Development Programme which is continually developing and gives all our managers the additional skills required to allow them to excel in their roles as leaders and managers.

Many of our Support Workers prefer to remain working with our service users on a daily basis and we develop their specialist knowledge in subjects such as TEACCH and other communication skills and Health Action Planning.

Our primary aim is that the provision of care services to autistic individuals is enhanced by the best possible use of our staff. We ensure, through our commitment to the training and development of all of our employees, that they know what is expected of them by Homes Caring for Autism, the service users and their families, and the external professionals and local commissioning teams.

Our Care Homes

View details of our care homes below.

Holly Tree Cottage, Berrow

Holly Tree Cottage

Apple Tree House, Berrow

Apple Tree House

Hilltop, Weston-Super-Mare

Hilltop

 

Stafford Lodge, Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset

Stafford Lodge

Read about all of our homes