The CWP Education, Learning and Development Team is delivering an innovative Clinical Support Worker (CSW) and Allied Health Professional Support Worker Development Programme, called Heart of Care.

Heart of Care offers a range of development opportunities, training workshops, information sessions and events as well as pastoral support to enhance well-being and enable career progression. We value our staff and want to ensure you feel welcomed, supported and well equipped for your role.

Our Training and Pastoral Support Assistants act as a key point of contact for identifying training needs, signposting to career pathways and development routes, listening to feedback, mentoring and pastoral support.

Our Preceptorship Programme takes six months for those new in role and three months for more experienced staff. It entails attending reflective supervision sessions with your manager as well as two development days. This a great opportunity to embed your skills and knowledge as well as evidencing your commitment to continuous development.

Our Training and Pastoral Support Assistants will be on hand to guide you with all your training needs should you have any queries or questions.
 

Upskilling workshops are available and cover relevant topics such as patient centred care, anxiety management and WRAP, trauma informed practices, mental health skills, delirium, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act and Autism.

We also offer bitesize workshops based on topics highlighted by CSWs and AHP Support Workers and their managers eg boundaries and conduct, social skills and empathy, diversionary activities. They will be delivered at a location near you in short, focused sessions.

We aim to 'care for the carers' and Companions in Compassion gives you the chance to revisit and reflect on your personal well-being and professional practice.

This inspirational two-day workshop will support, develop and encourage you to deliver compassionate, person centred care and to champion this across our organization. You will enhance skills such as deep listening and conflict resolution whilst cultivating personal insight and re-connecting with your professional purpose and motivation. There will also be a focus on self-care and personal wellbeing amid the pressures of work and life. It is open to all staff more than 2 years in post within the Trust.
 

Would it help you as a clinical support worker or AHP support worker to know where and who in the community offers support to patients and carers in addition to CWP?

The Heart of Care team are hosting two-hour walking tours in specific areas such as Chester and Birkenhead to visit various charitable, funded and voluntary organisations that are well placed to support people in their recovery and in keeping well.
 

his course follows on from our inhouse training available to support your further development around leading, mentoring and managing staff.

The Higher Development Award (HDA) is a personal development pathway which is open to all staff. The course gives you the tools and knowledge to gain a qualification and progress your career to the next level.

You can attain a Level 2 or 3 Chartered Institute of Management qualification in Leadership or Coaching and Mentoring, attendance is at one of our local colleges.

You may already be helping new starters settle into their role, giving advice and supporting your colleagues so why not become a mentor?

In order to support you and to enhance your skills you can attend a Mentor Development Day which qualifies you to support other staff, building on your current skills and giving you further knowledge which you can take back to improve the competency and confidence within your team.
 

We want to show how much we value your contribution to high quality care and the support to other staff, patients, their families and carers.

We provide information about national events and we will also be holding our own annual Heart of Care Conference to acknowledge your immense contribution to patient care. The day will consist of speakers, workshops, wellbeing and learning activities, careers advice and consultation.

Keeping you up to date

We send out a regular newsletter that contains all the latest local, regional and national news as well as training and development opportunities. 

For more information

For any further information about any of the opportunities, please contact the Heart of Care team on: cwp.cswdevelopment@nhs.net.