How training providers adapted their offer during the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic brought change for everyone working in social care and it also changed the way in which learning and development was provided. Our endorsed providers tell us about how they managed change in delivering training to ensure providers were able to continue to deliver effective care during the pandemic.

Changes to the delivery of training and assessment

The priority for most training providers was to offer continued support to the sector, by sustaining the quality of training and development and allowing workers to ensure continued delivery of quality services. 

It became apparent for many that increased digital provision was vital; this included giving learners access to webinars, videos, social media, and WhatsApp groups to stay in touch, and to deliver training through online meetings and eLearning packages. With the move to online delivery and communication, many staff faced challenges adapting and had to quickly learn new IT skills. The move to home working also posed challenges for many, with staff learning to use software such as Microsoft Teams to liaise with colleagues and plan any virtual training. 

For smaller providers who employ a limited number of staff, the transition was much more of a challenge. Without a large IT infrastructure in place, they needed to work with external organisations to allow for learners to access content through virtual platforms. Larger providers were able to mobilise staff to work predominantly on developing their own in-house eLearning programmes, while spending time planning and maintaining the quality of virtual training.

The almost overnight transition into virtual delivery was indeed a challenge, but one which allowed endorsed providers to future proof and offer blended learning approaches going forward.

Impact on learners

Learners were still able to access the training they needed during the pandemic, but they were also required to adapt to a digital approach. Some of our endorsed providers commented on the positive feedback that they’ve received, in particular the seamless transition to virtual classrooms and webinars and how the quality of training remained strong. The WhatsApp and social media groups gave learners the opportunity to support each other during unsettling times and allowed for any concerns to be captured and resolved by the providers.

While many missed face-to-face contact, learners appreciated the increased digital capability that online learning provided and the flexibility that came with it. While some people were initially unsure of the online delivery, it quickly became clear that the support from the providers themselves and their peers was just as important as the platforms used to continue the delivery of training.

Looking to the future

Many of our endorsed providers expressed the frustrations faced with the transition to online delivery, but felt it to be a rewarding experience that will futureproof their organisation and provide the best possible experiences for their learners. In many ways, the possibility of a blended learning approach provides countless opportunities, for both social care workers and the people they support. Training is now more accessible than ever before and provides hope that more people will choose a career in adult social care.

One of the common themes to come from this reflection was innovation. Endorsed providers truly embraced the momentous task of re-developing their core businesses to suit the needs of learners. It seems clear that none of them plan to stop here, with many already looking at ways to further boost their offering in the future.

We’d like to thank our endorsed providers for giving us some insight into the challenges they faced over the last two years. It’s incredible to what they’ve all achieved, and we look forward to seeing what’s next for them.

We’ll soon be producing a resource filled with all the inspirational stories from our endorsed providers, which will be available on our website

If you’re interested in finding out more about Skills for Care endorsement, visit our website.

Discover more information and stories about managing change on our #ManagingChange spotlight webpage.

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