Learning & Development
At Blackwood, we place considerable emphasis on learning and development of new and existing employees. We believe in equipping our workforce with learning and development opportunities to match their ambition and actively encourage employees to reach their full potential through the following Learning and Development areas.
Below are the types of learning and development that we offer to support our employees' needs:
- Induction
- Mandatory Training
- Job Specific Training
- Further Education
- Professional Membership
- Learning and Development Support
Induction
From day one with Blackwood you will undertake a comprehensive, welcoming and informative induction programme which explains more about Blackwood and your specific job.
Mandatory Training
There is a programme of mandatory training that is provided depending on the requirements of your individual job profile, person specification and your current skills. Courses that would be mandatory with a Care and Housing Support role include:
- Fire Safety
- First Aid
- Food Hygiene
- Moving and Handling
- Infection Control
Job Specific Training
Each job within Blackwood has specific training that helps individuals to develop good skills and practice within the job. In Care and Housing Support jobs this includes training like using hoists, how to bath and showing service users and specific disabilities training like Multiple Sclerosis, Dementia, Huntington's.
In other roles within Blackwood, job specific training will include things like minute taking, Microsoft courses and Customer Care.
There are opportunities for individuals to attend industry and role specific events, conferences and seminars to ensure they keep up to date with current practices and relevant issues.
Further education
In Care and Housing Support all workers are starting to work towards their Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ's) in Health and Social Care. The level of SVQ which is undertaken is driven directly by their job. Each worker requires to be qualified to the appropriate SVQ level to meet the requirements of the Scottish Social Services Council whose intention is to professionalise the social care sector.
Other further education courses are available and are driven by individuals jobs. The qualifications that have or are currently being undertaken include MSc, Postgraduate qualifications, degrees, HNC's, SVQ's in various subject such as Housing, Maintenance, Construction.
Professional Membership
At Blackwood, we believe in maintaining individual's professional status and therefore encourage continuous professional development to maintain their memberships. Memberships that could be held include Chartered Institute of Housing, Scottish Social Services Course, Chartered Institute of Management, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and Chartered Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Learning and Development Support
- Within your 6 month probationary period with Blackwood, you will have three probationary appraisals at months 1, 3 and 5 to give you and your manager protected time to reflect and focus on your development.
- After you have completed your probationary period your appraisal will be held annually.
- Every employee has regular one to one meetings with their supervisor.
- Individuals are given the opportunity to learn from more experienced members of the team through coaching, mentoring and shadowing sessions.
- Financial assistance for any course will be considered including paying for course fees, exams fees, expenses relevant to the course and book allowances.
- Paid time off to undertake training and exams will be considered.
- We offer all employees the right to request time off for training.
- We offer regular opportunities for individuals to progress their knowledge and skills through regular continued professional development (CPD).
To learn more about Blackwood's Learning and Development in practice from our current employees please see the Employee Stories section.
