Effective training and development are critical to delivering best-in-class care; so we provide a wide range of sector-leading learning and development programmes for all our colleagues, from the day they join and throughout their career. If you're new to care, we'll give you everything you need to develop your skills and build your confidence. While if you're a bit more experienced, Choice is the ideal place to further your knowledge and realise your full potential.
It all starts with your induction
Our comprehensive induction programme is recognised as one of the best in the care sector, rated highly by over 90% of our colleagues, many of whom say it's more detailed and inclusive than anything they've experienced previously in their career.
During the first 12 weeks of their employment, new colleagues are introduced to every aspect of their role. The programme combines a mix of face-to-face training, one-to-one discussion with the Service Manager and practical experience, complemented by sector-leading e-learning, developed by national subject matter experts. This includes training for their Care Certificate.
Everyone shadows a senior team member, who also acts as a mentor, growing their responsibility as they build their knowledge of the service, the specific needs of those they're supporting, health and safety requirements, company policies and performance expectations.
In this way, after three months, new joiners are already very much part of the team, competent and confident in their duties, under the continued guidance of the Service Manager.
In a recent staff survey, over 99% of colleagues said they have improved the way they work thanks to the training that's provided at Choice.
You never stop learning
During your time at Choice, you're paid to continue to develop your skills. Ongoing training and development combines e-learning, formal training, workshops and work-based learning. It's a flexible, modular programme that gives you the opportunity to build your expertise across over 25 mandatory and voluntary specialisms, learning at your own pace, designed around your interests and the specific needs of the people you support.
Training we provide includes:
- Autistic Spectrum Condition
- Basic life support
- Communication
- Data protection
- Deliberate self-harm
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Drug and alcohol abuse
- Epilepsy
- External fire training
- First aid
- Fluids and nutrition
- Food safety
- Health and safety
- Infection prevention
- Intensive Interaction
- Learning disabilities and mental health disorders
- Managing risk
- Medication
- Mental Capacity Act (MCA) / Deprivation of Liberty (DOLs)
- Mental health disorders and sexualised behaviours
- Moving and handling
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Personality disorder
- Personal relationships
- Positive Behaviour Support
- PROACT-SCIPr-UK®
- Safeguarding
- Schizophrenia
- Sexuality in learning disabilities
- Supervision and appraisal
Vocational qualifications
For many of our colleagues, we also offer the chance to build skills, knowledge and capabilities through nationally-recognised vocational qualifications, including Health & Social Care Level 3 and Levels 2, 3 & 5 QCF Diplomas.
Expert support and guidance
We believe in nurturing talent. Experienced senior colleagues, many of whom have worked in the care sector for most of their careers, act as proactive mentors for new and more junior staff, supporting day-to-day learning and skills development throughout the organisation.
We support professional development at every stage of your career, actively promoting from within. The vast majority of our current Service Managers started with Choice as Care Workers, so the opportunity for progress is a proven path.
Our unique management development programme is designed to recognise the most capable colleagues across the organisation, based on a clear competency framework, and then develop their skills over a six-month period, through structured mentorship, coaching and training, to help them progress towards management positions. Graduates of the programme are actively promoted into senior roles across the business as opportunities become available. By investing in our future leaders, we ensure they have the tools, training, and confidence to deliver the highest possible standard of care.
We offer both Foundation and Advanced management development training, designed to help you progress.
Foundation Level
The Foundation Management Development Programme is designed for frontline Senior Social Care Workers and Shift Leaders, to help them make the next step up to senior positions.
Advanced Level
The Advanced Management Development Programme is structured to assist dedicated senior team members to develop their skills and experience to progress to registered management level.
