Roselock Ltd is a dedicated care provider committed to offering high-quality support to its residents. To ensure this continued support, Roselock Ltd needed a comprehensive, flexible training solution to equip staff with essential knowledge and skills. In June 2022, they partnered with Flourish to enhance their training processes via their eLearning platform, Click Learning.
Identifying the Need for Change
Prior to using Click Learning, Roselock Ltd predominantly relied on face-to-face training sessions. While effective in some respects, this approach had significant limitations. Only 12 candidates could be trained at a time, which was not cost-effective for a staff size of up to 70. Additionally, new staff members often had to wait extended periods before the necessary training was available.
Recognising these challenges, they sought a training provider that could offer a diverse set of courses, accessible on-demand, to meet both mandatory requirements and specific needs as they arose.
The Shift to Click Learning
The transition to Click Learning significantly enhanced Roselock Ltd's training capabilities. Click Learning was recommended by the Care Providers Voice (CPV), an organisation we have proudly worked with for many years, and which currently has 8,183 active users.
With Click Learning, Roselock Ltd has accessed a wide range of courses essential for their staff's development. Mandatory courses are readily available for all staff, and optional courses are allocated based on specific needs.
An example of when this flexibility was particularly useful occurred when a resident was discharged from the hospital with a catheter. Louise Brian, Care Home Manager, was able to allocate Catheter Care training immediately to all her staff so that they had the knowledge to support the resident. This immediate access to specialised training ensured staff could provide high-quality care without delay.
Another significant advantage of Click's courses is their interactive nature. Louise Brian highlighted, "It's very interactive and not just written text; this helps staff to stay focused. Staff members appreciate the engaging content, which helps them retain information better."
Managerial Insights and Benefits
For managers, Click Learning offers invaluable tools for tracking and managing staff progress. Louise highlighted the platform's efficiency: "From a manager's point of view, I like Click Learning as I have a weekly update sent to my email so I can keep up to date with the staff progress. It also colour codes the staff progress as an easy guide."
This feature has empowered managers to tailor their training matrix to suit individual staff and resident needs. Louise further noted, "Being able to allocate training as needs lead and to tailor the training matrix to suit my individual staff and residents has been transformative."
Positive Feedback and Impact
The feedback from Roselock Ltd's staff has been overwhelmingly positive. The platform's user-friendly design and comprehensive content have transformed their approach to training and development. "I like that the information is very detailed," said one support worker, illustrating the depth and quality of the courses.
Another support worker shared, "I can access the training in my own time," highlighting the convenience and flexibility offered by Click Learning.
Staff members have embraced the flexibility and depth of training provided by Click Learning, resulting in enhanced competence and confidence in their roles.
Conclusion
Roselock Ltd's experience with Click Learning showcases the transformative impact of tailored and engaging eLearning solutions in the health and social care sector. The team at Roselock Ltd highly recommends Click Learning to other organisations. The flexibility, range of courses, and user-friendly platform have significantly improved their service delivery.
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Care providers can access over 130 health and social care courses and certificates on our easy-to-use ‘Click Learning’ eLearning platform. Digitalise your learning and development to make significant time and cost savings.
Ashridge Home Care is a leading provider of personalised home care services dedicated to offering exceptional support to individuals in their homes. They approached Flourish back in 2020 with a commitment to strengthening their carer's knowledge base.
Before partnering with Flourish they utilised training resources from Care Skills Academy. However, it became apparent that they needed to offer their learners a more diverse and extensive range of training courses, leading them to Flourish.
The Solution:
The partnership with Flourish in 2020 marked a significant enhancement in Ashridge Home Care's approach to training. Through Flourish's 'Click Learning' eLearning platform, their learners gained access to an extensive library of over 100 health and social care courses.
Flourish offered a tailored and comprehensive training, addressing Ashridge Home Care's need for a more extensive selection of training materials. This includes expertly created and CPD accredited courses covering all statutory and mandatory training for social care, as well as many other development pathways.
The 'Click Learning' platform, with its wide range of accessibility features, is perfectly suited to Ashridge Home Care's diverse needs. Its innovative toolbar, capable of reading course content and translating it into multiple languages, proved to be an invaluable asset. This functionality ensures that all learners can fully engage with and benefit from the training courses regardless of their background or learning. This commitment to accessibility and inclusivity is reflected in the wider usage of similar technologies across the educational sector. Over the past year, an impressive total of 686,457 individuals have activated the Recite Me toolbar to navigate educational websites and training platforms, including Flourish.
Louisa Pope, Training Coordinator at Ashridge Home Care, praised the platform's extensive course selection and accessibility, stating,
"The range of courses available for my learners is impressive. The accessibility toolbar has been particularly beneficial, allowing courses to be read out and translated, enhancing our carers' learning experience."
Impact and Results:
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with over 103 learners completing various courses. Learners and trainers alike commend the platform for its user-friendly interface and the practical applicability of the content.
Louisa commented,
"The feedback I've received about Flourish from my learners is overwhelmingly positive. It's easy to use, and the reminders for course completion are incredibly helpful. I'm confident in the quality of the content, which empowers us to uphold a high standard of care."
A particularly inspiring example of our training's real-life impact involved a carer who, after completing the Stroke Awareness course, could swiftly identify the signs of a stroke in a client. This crucial knowledge allowed the carer to act immediately, conducting a stroke assessment that led to prompt medical intervention.
The carer's quick thinking and application of the course material ensured the client was rushed to the hospital, where they were diagnosed with a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). The client recovered at home, thanks to the carer's actions.
This story highlights the vital role that comprehensive training plays in empowering carers to deliver exceptional care. It's a testament to how our 'Click Learning' platform educates and prepares carers to make a significant difference in critical moments.
Conclusion:
Ashridge Home Care's experience with Flourish showcases the transformative power of quality training in the care sector. The extensive course range, coupled with the accessibility and interactivity of Click Learning, has significantly enhanced the knowledge and skills of Ashridge's carers, improving the quality of care provided to clients.
Ashridge Home Care wholeheartedly recommends Flourish to other organisations striving for excellence in care.
Explore Our Training Courses
Care providers can access over 130 health and social care courses and certificates on our easy-to-use ‘Click Learning’ eLearning platform. Digitalise your learning and development to make significant time and cost savings.
Alternative Education Provider, Progress Schools, Champions Specialist Education Training
At Flourish, we are dedicated to providing high-quality online and in-person education courses specifically designed to address the complex needs of vulnerable children in educational settings. This case study explores Progress Schools’ experience with our Attachment and Trauma Training Programme, and our live, interactive Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) Webinar.
Why Progress Schools chose Flourish
Choosing Flourish as their training provider was a strategic decision for Progress Schools. Our unique position, with extensive expertise in supporting both the educational and the children’s residential care sectors, set us apart. This comprehensive understanding of the issues and challenges that young people face, especially those who are vulnerable and have complex needs, made us the ideal choice for Progress Schools. Their cohort, often comprising young people with intricate challenges, required a provider who could offer deep, actionable insights into attachment and trauma-informed care.
Attachment and Trauma training programme
The Attachment and Trauma Training Programme was rolled out across all 13 sites of Progress Schools, underlining a significant commitment to enhancing the capabilities of their staff in supporting vulnerable young people. Progress Schools, with a staff base of 80, required a training solution that could be effectively delivered on a large scale, catering to multiple sites simultaneously. Flourish met this need head-on, providing a training programme that was both scalable and impactful, tailored to meet the needs of a multi-site educational organisation.
Progress Schools chose this training programme to deepen their understanding and enhance their skills in supporting young people who require attachment and trauma-informed care. They sought to complement their existing policies with specialised training that introduces advanced, practical techniques tailored to the unique needs of their students. A key outcome for the team was recognising the importance of identifying the root causes of students' behaviours. The understanding gained from the training is already being deeply embedded by the provider, clearly evident in how teaching and support staff approach their roles with renewed confidence and insight.
Reflecting on this, one teacher from Progress Schools in Toxteth said:
“I learnt about how trauma can change how our brain functions, which can impact on how our students see situations and people. This understanding is crucial for us to tailor our support to truly meet the needs of our students."
Similarly, a staff member from Lilford Centre in Tyldesley shared:
"Strategies on how to deal with challenging behaviour and paying more attention to why the behaviour is being displayed has been eye-opening. It's about looking beyond the behaviour and understanding the root cause."
Attachment & Trauma Training Programme
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From training into practice
The Attachment and Trauma training has led to significant shifts in the approach taken by Progress Schools staff in supporting their students. Following the training, participants have outlined clear, actionable steps they intend to take to enhance their support strategies.
A teacher from Progress Schools in Thrapston said:
"After the training, we've agreed to enhance our teamwork and communication about each student's situation, aiming to tailor our support to meet individual needs better.”
Incorporating the training's insights on trauma into everyday interactions is another key change.
"We'll apply what we've learned, especially in challenging situations, opting for more understanding and less direct instruction."
Shared a staff member from Progress Schools in Stockport.
ESBA Webinar
For Progress Schools, the decision to attend the EBSA Webinar stemmed from a significant rise in cases of emotional-based school avoidance. This a trend that is echoed nationally with an estimated 30,000 children in England missing school in 2022 because of EBSA.
The webinar offered an opportunity for staff members to update their practices with the latest insights and strategies. The biggest takeaway for the team was the comprehensive understanding of emotional avoidance challenges and anxiety-led behaviours, equipping them with enhanced approaches to support students effectively.
Sean O'Dell, Advanced Practitioner at Progress Schools commented:
“Liza delivered an engaging and informative CPD session with a focus on anxiety-led behaviours and how to manage these. Her extensive industry experience provided a thought-provoking and inspirational CPD session that will have an impact on our students, schools and staff teams.”
Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) Training Course
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If you're seeking comprehensive training for your staff on supporting vulnerable children and young people in education, our expert-led courses offer the resources and expertise you need to make a significant difference. For more information, get in touch today.
This case study explores Middlesbrough Virtual School’s experience with Flourish's eLearning courses, face-to-face training and webinars. It highlights the council's decision to select Flourish as their training provider, the specific courses utilised, and the impact these programmes have had on educational professionals across Middlesbrough and, ultimately, the children they work with.
Background:
Middlesbrough has encountered significant issues related to socioeconomic deprivation. Ranking third highest on the national deprivation scale, they face challenges, particularly in supporting the educational needs of its most deprived children. Recognising the need for advanced professional development, Middlesbrough Virtual School wanted to ensure educators in the region have the necessary skills to tackle these challenges head-on.
The council sought a provider capable of delivering comprehensive, impactful training tailored to the unique demands of its educators and support staff. Before partnering with Flourish, the Virtual School led the charge in professional development, with Educational Psychologists (EPs) later joining. However, it quickly became apparent that the demand for training far exceeded the team's capacity to deliver, highlighting the need for a more scalable solution.
Middlesbrough Virtual School chose Flourish for our wide range and depth of training programmes. We offer courses addressing the critical needs of vulnerable children in schools, including how to prevent exclusions and handle school avoidance through hands-on activities. These courses are developed by experts who have deep knowledge in their fields and real-world experience, ensuring that our training is both relevant and effective.
Implementation and Outcomes:
Our partnership with Middlesbrough Council’s Virtual School began in 2019, with a comprehensive rollout of our online training programmes to key stakeholders across Middlesbrough's educational settings, so far, we have provided online training to over 100 school professionals. In addition to this, we have provided whole-setting training in attachment, trauma, and emotion coaching, areas identified as crucial for addressing the needs of the city's most deprived children. Flourish has been an integral part of the PROCLAIM project in terms of our Attachment and Trauma programme, we are working with over 25 settings currently and this year will be the third year we have provided keynote speakers for their annual conference. This training is delivered either face-to-face or via webinar.
The scope of this initiative expanded significantly, with plans to include all schools in Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough College, and two Local Authority (LA) service areas by 2025. Feedback from educational settings has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the significant impact of Flourish's training on professionals and the children they support.
Victoria Banks, Virtual school head at Middlesbrough Council, commented:
"Flourish's approach has been impressively responsive and showcases a high level of skill. They work alongside leading experts in the field, bringing a depth of knowledge. We have received some fantastic feedback from teachers and support staff alike. It's clear that Flourish's programmes are making a real difference in how we support our most vulnerable children."
Middlesbrough Virtual School’s experience with Flourish showcases the powerful impact of expert-led training in overcoming significant educational challenges. By partnering with Flourish, the council has not only enhanced the capabilities of its educators and support staff but has also taken a crucial step toward addressing the broader needs of its most vulnerable children.
“Flourish are proud of our association with Middlesbrough Virtual School. They are a beacon of innovation and quality as well as being committed to ensuring all schools adopt relational practices with children and young people at the heart of all they do.” commented Karen Beach, Head of Educational Development at Flourish.
As we continue to work closely with the council, our goal remains to equip educators and support staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to make a lasting difference in the lives of their students. We are committed to developing and delivering training programmes that meet the educational community's current demands and anticipate future challenges.
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This case study explores Lorraine Prentice, Practice Lead for Fostering and Adoption at Argyll and Bute Council and Kirsty Hunter, Supervising Social Worker within the Family Placement Team at Argyll and Bute Council, experience with the Reflection on Childhood Attachment Tool course and assessment tool. It focuses on the overall impact of this training programme on their professional practices.
Background:
Lorraine Prentice approached Flourish, looking for a training solution that would enhance their team's understanding and application of childhood attachment theories. Her input was crucial in shaping a course that addresses the real-world challenges faced by professionals in this field.
In response, Elspeth Soutar, Course Lead, drew on her qualified social work experience and training in dyadic developmental approaches and mindful parenting to develop the Reflection on Childhood Attachment Tool Course. Her broad combination of training and qualifications in therapeutic and mindful approaches ensured the course was grounded in expert knowledge. While also tailored to address the practical challenges faced by professionals in fostering and adoption. The use of a reflective activity that was designed to feel interactive, colourful, and dynamic enabled previous learning to be brought to life and theory to be consolidated into practice. It had a dual purpose as an example of how mindfulness practices enhance our well-being and professional skills.
Q. What initially attracted you to the Reflection on Childhood Attachment Tool?
A. Kirsty:
Our family placement team is quite small, and although we were all getting the theory of 'slowing down', we weren't sure how to put it into practice. There was a gap in our learning as an assessing team that we wanted to fill.
A. Lorraine:
Firstly, a key thing for us was recruitment. We had people coming forward who were unsure what would be asked of them as a carer. Their decision was often driven by emotions rather than having the skills and traits to become a foster carer or adopter. We wanted to learn how to have those conversions about suitability better so that it was a mutual agreement. The course gave us a language to use and some legitimacy to have this conversation better.
Another big thing for us was disruptions. We wanted to be better at preventing arrangements from falling apart, and we also wanted to improve our communication with both parties if an arrangement does go wrong.
Finally, we wanted to refine the matching process. We wanted to firm it up and ensure we were clear about what each child needed before being matched with a carer.
Q. Did you find the mindfulness session useful?
A. Kirsty:
We found the mindfulness session, along with the tips how to slow down particularly helpful. This has allowed us to get a sense of ourselves before we try to look at what is going on for an individual family. As social workers, many of us are rescuers, and we go into a situation and immediately want to help. However, sometimes, we can be so focused on this that we miss so much. So, the mindfulness techniques surrounding 'slowing down' have been really helpful.
A. Lorraine:
The mindfulness exercise was something that some of us were familiar with, and others were not. It was a wonderful experience and a great way to start the session. It was something that we also did on our foster carer day. The feedback was that people were surprised that they could relax in a room full of people they didn't know very well. We encouraged them to think about how they could use it when dealing with difficult situations rather than just jumping straight in.
Q. Did you find the follow-up session valuable?
A. Kirsty:
The follow-up session was useful because it allowed us to reflect on what we have learned and how we have been implementing it.
A. Lorraine:
The follow-up session was really valuable because it got the theory back in our heads again and reminded us to slow down and properly assess the situations we are dealing with.
Q. How have you implemented what you have learned in a real-life situation?
A. Kirsty:
I recently had a call with a mother who was in crisis, and she had a daughter who was in crisis. It was important for me to slow down and gather my thoughts to better help. I introduced the theory of the boxes (representing Maslow's Hierarchy of needs). Without even having them physically there, it helped me understand, slow down my thinking, and ground me in the moment.
I was also recently doing some work with a foster carer, and we were talking about that young person's life and how we could help them. The young person joined us for this session and talked about school. During that conversation, I took a step back as I sensed we were missing the basics. Yes, there were issues with the young person missing school, but I wanted to know whether she felt safe. We did this by using the theory of the boxes, and from this, we realised that actually she didn't feel safe, and we needed to look at this before we addressed anything else.
Q. What is the biggest takeaway from the tool?
A. Kirsty:
We have really benefited from the experience we had. One of the biggest takeaways for the team was the importance of using the boxes. Using them has helped me stop the' busy brain' and allowed me to drop back to the basics. Reflecting on the theory through the boxes, I have begun to realise what we need to do in a crisis. The boxes are useful for yourself but also for the child or carer.
We have all used them practically in assessing individuals. They are a great way to communicate with an individual to visually see where they are at emotionally.
A. Lorraine:
A key thing we took from the tool was that we needed to know how well carers could reflect on their own experiences (and the significance of this). We learnt that we needed to add some self-reflection into the early stages of prep for becoming a foster carer or adopter.
The course has also helped give us structure to conversations that we sometimes take over. We now understand the importance of giving the opportunity back to a young person to find a way to communicate for themselves and explain what matters to them.
We've now got a 'language' to use when talking to carers about whether they are equipped to care for a child who has been through challenges. We wanted this to be a mutual conversation where they understood the reasoning behind our decisions.
Finally, we have gained a better understanding of things we need to know about ourselves so that we can look at prospective carers with 'more informed eyes': this, in turn, means that the children will have a better experience and opportunities to grow and develop.
Reflection on Childhood Attachment Tool
Following an impressive first year, Devon County Council have renewed its contract with leading social care training provider, Flourish.
In January 2022, Devon County Council (DCC) began working with Flourish. The partnership provided training for individuals and organisations across social care in Devon.
Flourish is a nationally recognised social care eLearning provider, with its Learning Management System ‘Click Learning’ boasting an impressive 125 courses. Since its inception in 2006, Flourish has worked with over 30 Local Authorities to deliver funded care training.
This unique offer enables Local Authorities to centralise training and development for social care providers in the local area.
As a Skills for Care ‘Centre for Excellence’, Flourish has supported thousands of care providers to improve the quality of care, reduce staff turnover, and enhance CQC ratings.
Before working with Flourish, Ruth Haynes, Workforce Development Advisor for Training & Education at DCC, was aware of some challenges facing care providers in the area. The absence of a centralised system meant quality and effectiveness of training varied.
Ruth said: “We needed a ‘Care Passport’, whereby social care staff could hold all their training certificates in one place and transfer training if they chose to move to a different organisation.”
Ruth was keen to see how a centralised system would support care providers and individuals working as Personal Care Assistants. The Click Learning platform does just that. It enables care providers to benchmark the learning and progression of staff, ensuring quality standards remain high.
Ruth said: “The relationship is very much a two-way partnership. The team at Flourish are always open to new course ideas and works with us to ensure our providers have access to the best training opportunities.
“We have only scratched the surface of our partnership with Flourish, and I hope this year we can level up even further and support our providers to do what they do best – deliver fantastic care.”
Head of Customer Engagement at Flourish, Peter Humphreys, said:
“It has been a pleasure to work with DCC for the last year. We have set the foundations for a thriving partnership that places the quality of care at its heart.
“Our mission has always been to drive quality standards and help those working in the sector access training and development opportunities that directly impact care quality.”
DCC serves East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge, and West Devon. Access to Flourish’s platform is available to all care providers who fall within those areas. Care providers can access funded learning below.
The Flourish and Devon County Council case study
Background
In January 2022, Devon County Council (DCC) began working with Flourish. DCC serves East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge, and West Devon.
107 care providers plus many Personal Care Assistants in Devon currently access Flourish’s system. Between them they have completed over 20,900 courses.
Nicki Wright and Ruth Haynes are at the helm of training and education for the county's social care providers. They work with all social care providers across Devon, including external Private, Voluntary, and Independent (PVI) providers and individual care companies. They support the upskilling, development and running of training programmes for them.
The Challenge
Before working with Flourish, Nicki and Ruth identified several challenges affecting care providers across the county.
Given that many care providers used different training platforms, training varied, with some providers and Personal Assistants having little or no access to any training.
The variations between training and centralised systems made it difficult for care providers to benchmark staff learning and progression.
Ruth said: “We needed a ‘care passport’, whereby social care staff could hold all their training certificates in one place and transfer training if they chose to move to a different organisation.”
The duo also highlighted that much of the training on offer in the area was Healthcare focussed, with little emphasis on Social Care.
They also shared how the lasting effects of COVID-19 created a greater demand for online learning rather than face-to-face.
The Solution - Fully funded social care training in Devon
In January 2022, DCC began working with Flourish, enabling the care providers across all sectors and Personal Assistants to access Flourish’s online learning management system ‘Click Learning’.
Going into the partnership, Nicki was keen to see fair access for everyone, and to use a training platform which was bespoke to the social care sector. She was also interested to see how Flourish’s platform would support those who previously had little access to any training.
Peter Humphreys, Customer Engagement Manager at Flourish, said: “Click Learning enables providers to benchmark the learning and progression of staff, ensuring quality standards remain high.
“It was important that providers had access to a system that centralised training and enabled them to take control of courses, tailoring learning to fill knowledge gaps.
“Our partnership with local authorities is unique to our service offering. How it works is simple: Local authorities pay a set fee to us, which gives all social care providers under the borough council access to hundreds of courses via Click Learning.
“Providers can come directly to us, taking away the fuss for the council.”
Result
Since working with Flourish, Nicki and Ruth have noticed a massive difference in the feedback from providers.
Ruth said: “The relationship is very much a two-way partnership. Flourish is always open to new course ideas and work with us to ensure our providers have access to the best training opportunities.
“The flexibility of the platform means it can adapt to workforce demands. The social care industry is quality-driven, so ensuring access to high-quality training has greatly improved several aspects of care for our providers."
As an example, Ruth noted that the platform has profoundly affected social care staff and referenced one instance where a PA’s client had suffered a stroke. The PA accessed Click Learning to complete a stroke awareness course, helping them tailor support for their client.
Nicki and Ruth agreed that they would one hundred per cent recommend Flourish to others. She said: “Flourish has been fantastic. Peter [Humphreys] has had a huge impact and has been extremely helpful and supportive throughout the last year.
“We have only scratched the surface of our partnership. I hope to continue working together to support our providers to access the highest-quality training, helping them do what they do best – deliver fantastic care.”
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The Flourish and Greenwich Shared Lives case study
Background
Greenwich Council, Royal Greenwich Shared Lives are part of the ‘Shared Lives Plus’ national organisation. Shared Lives is an arrangement where individuals and families provide accommodation and support for people who need some help to live the lives they choose. A Care Quality Commission graded ‘Good’ provider, Greenwich Shared Lives offer a range of services including, long term, short term, respite, and Flexible support (day support). Individuals who are referred to the service under the scheme are carefully matched with carers and families to enable their individual needs to be met. There are currently 32 active and support Carers who support 40 individuals across different settings, including in the community.
The Challenge
Before working with Flourish, Greenwich Shared Lives main approach to training relied heavily on face-to-face training sessions, with limited e-learning options. Registered Manager, Sacha Wheatley pinpointed that this approach presented some challenges, particular for Carers who supported individuals at home.
She said: “Some of our Carers are based further afield to Greenwich, which sometimes made it difficult to achieve full attendance at training. It was especially challenging for our Carers who support individuals at home.
Sacha noted that flexibility was one of the most attractive elements of Flourish’s service offer. The easy-to-use nature of Flourish’s Learning Management System (LMS) ‘Click Learning’, would enable them to provide multiple learning and development opportunities to all staff – regardless of their location.
Sacha said: “We were really keen to give our Carers a degree of flexibility and autonomy when completing training. Flourish were the obvious choice to help us deliver this.”