Kelly Park Caring Agency introduces apprenticeship programme

A CARE provider is introducing an apprenticeship programme for all of its 136 staff as it looks to meet new industry standards.

County Durham-based Kelly Park Caring Agency has worked with Newcastle College to develop an apprenticeship course that will provide its staff with a Level 2 qualification.

The apprenticeship framework in health and social care will be rolled out to staff in groups of 10, who will follow a flexible course of study that will allow them to choose from different pathways, including clinical support, blood donor support and medical assistance.

Kelly Park Caring Agency was founded in 1994 to provide home care support workers to social services, primary care trusts and private service users.

It employs over 300 qualified home care support workers who work across County Durham, Newcastle and South Tyneside.

Once staff have completed completion of the framework, the carers will be able to further their training with a Level 3 qualification, which is mandatory for care workers who administer medication. In addition to this, the company has offered to interview anyone over the age of 18 who signs up for the apprenticeship in health and social care at Newcastle College.

Danielle Blinco, assistant human resources manager at Kelly Park Caring Agency Limited, said: “As a company that prides itself on providing a quality service to our clients it is important to us that our staff are trained to the highest standard.

“Signing up with Newcastle College as a training provider could not have been easier. From our initial enquiry regarding our training needs to signing our staff up to the framework was a straightforward process.

“We were so impressed by the service we received that we have gone on to enrol some of our managers on further management courses at the college.”

Last week saw the official launch of the Journal’s 100 Apprentices in 100 Days campaign, which is headed up by the National Apprenticeship Service and supported by the North East Chamber of Commerce. It aims to get employers to take on 100 apprentices over 100 days as a way of helping to create employment for the many people struggling to find work amid the current economic climate.

Barbara King, director of the school of health and care at Newcastle College, said: “Flexible training programmes such as the apprenticeship framework in health and social care, allow businesses to provide their staff with quality training leading to the attainment of nationally recognised qualifications.

“We work with many organisations that do not necessarily wish to recruit extra staff, but are looking for ways to up-skill or cross-skill their existing workforce.”