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A Bishop’s Stortford care home is offering staff access to education opportunities focused on personal development and lifelong learning.
Meadowbrook at St James’ Park has partnered with Open Study College to provide more than 400 discounted courses, ranging from GCSEs, A-levels, and professional qualifications to beauty therapy and Indian head massage.
Deputy manager Ilona Kreciszewska has enrolled on a neuro-linguistic programming and psychology course to deepen her understanding of communication and leadership.
She said: “I’m really looking forward to better understanding how people think and communicate and using that to connect more closely with both residents and the team. For me, it’s about growing as a leader and bringing that insight back into the home.”
The home’s award-winning parent company, Connaught Care, will fund almost any course staff are interested in. The only requirement is to explain how they will use their new skills to enhance residents’ lives.
Laurence Feather, the chain’s head of people, said: “There is already a very strong focus on professional development across the care sector, and rightly so. For me, however, what is often missing is a genuine investment in the personal development of staff.
“At Connaught Care, we believe that if you grow the person, you grow the professional. This has enormous benefits not only for the people who work here, but also for our residents, who benefit from being surrounded by a team of driven, well-rounded and, ultimately, happier carers”.
In April, Connaught Care was named Care Home Employer of the Year at the Great British Care Awards in recognition of its commitment to staff wellbeing, development and innovation.