CPD Level 4 module for the work-health trainer role
LEAD ORGANISATION
ADDITIONAL ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED
Thames Valley University; Berkshire East Primary Care Trust
DATE
Completed February 2010
PROJECT SUMMARY
Progress South Central have provided funding to support the development of the new role of Work Health Trainer, part of the 'Slough Working Better' project. 'Slough Working Better' is one of ten Advancement Network Prototypes across England being used to shape the new adult advancement and careers service. The health 'Test Bed' represents a major opportunity to implement the aspirations of key national initiatives including pathways to work, fit for work pilots and compulsory health assessments for ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) claimants.
The innovative role of 'Work Health Trainer' will provide an integrated service between employment and health services to facilitate early intervention and to provide help and support to individuals, enabling them to better manage their health and wellbeing with a view to returning to work or sustaining meaningful activity. The Work Health Trainers operate from GP surgeries and take referrals from organisations such as Shaw Trust, thereby forming a new trial outlet for careers information and advice in Slough.
Progress South Central provided funding for Phase 3 of the Test Bed project, which supported partners to develop and accredit a CPD Level 4 module as a necessary resource to train current health professional employees of Berkshire East Primary Care Trust to become Work Health Trainers. The training for this specialist role develops the skills and knowledge necessary to understand the barriers to learning and work faced by those with ill health. The module itself was written by Thames Valley University and incorporated blended learning, as well as access for all learners to an online work health trainer library.
IMPACT
A scoping exercise was carried out into the requirements of the Work Health Trainer role and the Level 4 module was then written and validated. The module sits within a progression pathway leading from Health Activist at Level 1 through to the CPPD in Applied Positive Psychology (Health and Social Care settings) at Level 7.
The organisations involved reported that the support from Progress South Central enabled the smooth running of Phase 3 of the wider project and the creation of the online resource using Blackboard, and also enabled the use of expert input to ensure a robust training package.
The intention is to promote the work health trainer programme for rollout at a national level.
The subsequent phase of the wider project, Phase 4, aimed to train nine health trainers for the new role of Work Health Trainer who will then support 60-80 identified individuals from the partner GP practice.