Integrated Programme of Educational and Training Delivery Across Health and Social Care: A new approach between STARS (Short Term Augmented Response Service) and Dumfries and Galloway College
A key driver for this Dumfries and Galloway College initiative was to create an integrated programme of education and training across health, and social care practice, at all levels, by providing colleges, employers, and HEIs with an opportunity to work together ensuring an appropriately skilled, mobile and flexible workforce.
Social Care Partnerships within Dumfries and Galloway designed and developed in consultation with health, nursing and social work colleagues with an employer led to a Reablement workforce development programme for their health and social care support workers. In 2010 the Reablement Team (Short Term Augmented Response Team – STARS) at NHS Dumfries contacted the college to pursue a wider educational partnership and in 2012 SQA formally accredited the former in-house programme as the first National Progression Award in Health and Social Care: Promoting Reablement a combined theory and practice recognised, assured and nationally delivered qualification.
By 2013 17 NHS healthcare workers and 24 FT learners obtained this qualification and this achievement is minuted in the Scottish Parliament as being the first in Scotland. In 2013/14 a further 18 NHS staff and 37 learners further achieved this including 14 who are articulating onto UWS nursing programme, bringing into this tier skills of Reablement which are both current and sector leading.
This type of training is now impacting on the delivery of services with Care homes receiving awareness raising training and other variations on the award being adapted to meet the varying needs of the local workforce.