The highly respected Open and Distance Learning Quality Council has, on the 11th July 2008, awarded accreditation status to INCARE SERVICES.

Steven Martyn, training manager of INCARE SERVICES stated:
“Incredibly, when we started INCARE Services 15 years ago, it was almost impossible to find an appropriate quality assessment package for the diversity of the care training services we provided. Now, with many new training providers starting up in just the last few years, finding quality training has become more difficult and can often be a ‘hit or miss’ process for the learner. The new learner or training purchaser can have confidence that they are working with an accredited provider, as is outlined within the care training code. We are therefore absolutely delighted to be awarded accreditation with the ODLQC.”

Accreditation status from The ODLQC means INCARE SERVICES offers new learners and training purchasers even more nationally accredited training in addition to it’s current status with the CIEH (Chartered Institute of Environmental Health). For full details of all the available courses click here.

The care training code encourages care providers to source “only accredited training providers” and this has lead to an increase in training providers searching for suitable accreditation bodies. The ODLQC are extremely well respected in the accreditation field working with established providers such as the BSY group.

Perhaps the most exciting development is the accreditation of the Activities Training Assessment Certificate (or ATAC) distance learning pack. This training pack is designed specifically for staff wishing to carry out meaningful activities in the care environment. At a cost of just £55 (plus £4.95postage) or £45 for the e-pack, staff can complete an accredited training course with successful candidates receiving a certificate acknowledging their ability in the field. The pack has been used by INCARE SERVICES for their own team of activity staff for five years now, and external agencies such as Age Concern Training have, in the past, used the pack during their training courses. Said Melissa Martyn, activities coordinator for Incare Services –“This is fantastic news for our team and proves what we have been saying for years now, the Activities Training Assessment Certificate is tried and tested as the best and most cost effective tool for developing activity workers”.

Another unique area which is vital for a successful and safe care team is the management of manual handling training. INCARE SERVICES first started running five-day “train the trainer in manual handling” as early as 1996 and have since developed the courses extensively. In addition to their own, they are now providing these courses for groups such as the Care training Consortium. Now the course is nationally accredited, this should be a major incentive for new learners wishing to achieve this award.

With extending accreditation to two-day risk assessment and safety management training courses, INCARE SERVICES is now leading the field with safe practice training. But what about induction and new manager training? Two recently accredited training courses are included for the induction process - for care staff, Maintaining safety at Work (all of area 3 of the Skills for Care induction framework) and for managers, the Newly appointed Care Manager, which is ideal for care staff who are in management posts and looking for comprehensive training. Maintaining safety at work, as an induction unit for the skills for care framework, can often be subject to funding either from local authorities or from Skills for Care (previously known as TOPSS) themselves. For details of funding opportunities please visit the Skills for Care website directly. For details of induction funding opportunities in West Sussex, contact INCARE SERVICES directly.