Union Learning Centre, Mersey Care Trust, Ashworth Hospital, Merseyside
Across the trust, there are a number of Union Learning Representatives whose role is to:
Raise awareness of learning
Identify learning needs
Provide advice and guidance to staff
Assist staff to access funding for learning
Support the learner
Promote learning in the workplace
Provide equal access to learning
The Union Learning Centre, e-Café, based at Ashworth Hospital, is the central hub for the Trust Union Learning Representatives. The Centre covers a wide geographical area for the Trust including 43 sites from Southport, St Helens and South Liverpool. We have approximately 6000 staff providing a wide range of Mental Health Care from Learning Disabilities, Drugs and Alcohol, Adult Mental Health, Medium Secure and High Secure services.
The centre is available at various times including evenings, weekends (depending on demand) and drop in sessions throughout the lunch hours. Within the centre and Trust wide there are a variety of training courses available including Introduction to NVQ’s, NVQ’s, various levels of Life Skills including Maths, English, IT, language courses and many more which do not necessarily have to be work related. Within the centre we have an IT suite with LearnDirect (available soon) and other various IT courses from a basic introduction to an intermediate level, along with a training room for more interactive learning. For some courses you may have to pay a small fee, and Union Learning Representatives will discuss this with you.
The benefits to the organisation of encouraging this are equality of access to training; a more skilled workforce; recruitment and retention of staff; personal development and career progression for all staff; new training opportunities and improving the working and personal lives of staff.
For more information, contact Lorraine Lewis, Tony Freel or Pat O’Rourke on 0151 473 2948 / 2949.
I came to work in the Union Learning Zone in September 05. My employment history is based in The Management of Violence and Aggression Services. I am currently on a phased return to work, after being off on long term sick for 14 months due to an assault during an incident within my work area.
My substantive post is as a nursing assistant working within the High Secure environment here at Ashworth Hospital.
Since I came to the union Learning Zone I have developed skills in Data Input, Laminating and General Reception Duties. I have also undertaken an initial assessment with Learndirect the results of which I am pleased to say confirm I am of a level two standard in both literacy and numeracy.
I am due to begin my ECDL qualification and NVQ in Customer Services level three in Jan 06. I already hold a basic counselling certificate, one of my long term aims is to take this forward and complete my NVQ level one in counselling so that I can develop my skills to help others.
Whilst I have been I have been working in the Union Learning Zone my personal development has included aspects such as updating my CV, learning how to make the most of an application form, interview techniques etc, with the help of the staff in the Zone I have applied for five vacancies all of which were online, I have become more proficient using the Internet and my computer skills are improving.
My aims whilst I am here are to build on my life experiences and confidence along with my skills and qualifications, hopefully this will give me the necessary toolkit to move forward and widen my redeployment horizon. I would like to feel I am not just employed but that I will make a positive contribution to the organisation.
Various levels of Life Skills including Maths, English, IT, language courses and many more which do not necessarily have to be work related.
Within the centre we have an IT suite which supports on-line learning packages such as Learn Direct and UK Online.We also offer various IT courses from a basic introduction to an intermediate level.Our facility includes a training room for more interactive learning.
For some courses you may have to pay a small fee, and our Union Learning Representatives will be able to discuss this with you.
