Better Together information pack: 6. What training do Mencap staff receive?
The Better Together pack has been split into different documents, each covering a different area of information about Mencap and our services; including how we work with the people we support, and the importance of building and maintaining strong
relationships
Relationships are about the people in your life. You might have different types of relationships like friendships, family relationships, or a boyfriend or girlfriend.
with their family and friends.
Unless stated otherwise, all sections of the information pack are applicable to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The information on this page follows the How does Mencap support people to make their own decisions? section of the Better Together information pack.
What training do Mencap staff receive?
We know how important it is for our colleagues to have good quality learning and development opportunities, that help them provide excellent, professional care to the people we support. That’s why our
induction
An induction is when someone shows you where things are and what you need to know. You will get an induction if you start a new job at Mencap.
training is recognised as one of the best programmes in the sector and has won several awards.
At Mencap we actively encourage and welcome a partnership of learning between ourselves, each person that we support and their family and friends. Working together means we can share best practice and continue to develop our
knowledge
Knowledge is knowing a lot about something.
, skills and expertise. This helps us support each person to have their best quality of life.
All Mencap support colleagues complete a comprehensive 12 week Induction
The induction meets all of the requirements of the Care Certificate and includes a wide range of subjects and methods of learning. Some learning is done in a classroom, some is done using digital ways of working and some is done in the workplace.
Examples of subjects included in induction are:
- An introduction to Mencap and to
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
-
Safeguarding
Keeping people safe from being hurt, abused, or neglected is called Safeguarding.
- Administering medicines
- People moving and handling
- Emergency First Aid
- Supporting people in a person-centred way
We believe a strong local induction is key to helping our new colleagues develop a truly person-centred way of supporting people. Learning and activity in the workplace help new team members to put the things they learn into practice and to continue learning from people they support and their colleagues.
New colleagues are also observed and assessed, to make sure they’re able to do the tasks they need to do.
An induction is only the beginning
We believe it is important that our colleagues continue to learn and develop in their roles. They access learning that meets the specific needs of the people that they work with. Some examples might be:
-
Autism
Autism is a disability. Autistic people find it difficult to understand what other people think and feel. They also find it difficult to tell people what they think and feel. Everyone with autism is different.
- Mental Health
-
Sexuality
Sexuality is how you feel about yourself and your body. It is about finding out and knowing what feels right for you.
- Specific Health related training like epilepsy or diabetes
We make sure everyone regularly updates their training so that their knowledge and understanding remain current. Mencap managers receive a comprehensive 6-month induction that includes the learning that support workers complete, with additional elements for managers.
For all our colleagues, training is tailored to them and the needs of their role.
If you would like to know more about the training provided to Mencap employees, please ask the managers who oversee the service for further details.
The next section of the Better Together information pack is: