Training
Various organisations offer a range of carer workshops and training that look at different aspects of care.
Carers Together provide workshops in response to carers’ needs and requests. In the past these have included First Aid; Moving and Handling People; Coping with Challenging Behaviour; Living with Dementia; Autism Awareness. You can see what training they currently have available through their events calendar here. You can also give the team a call and discuss your training needs on 01642 488977 or keep up to date with their training and event opportunities through their Facebook page.
Contact- for families with disabled children often providing training workshops and webinars on a range of topics designed to support parents and carers. View their latest training offer.
Darlington Action on Disability (DAD) provides training for carers who wish to become paid personal assistants. You can give them a call on 01325 489999.
The Open University have a free Caring for Adults course which is an introductory course for anyone in a caring role, either paid or unpaid. It builds on what you already know to give you a better understanding of your role as a carer. It also supports your own well-being by giving you some ideas and information about looking after yourself and dealing with stress.
Carers UK has developed Learning for Living which is designed to help you identify the skills you have gained through caring, figure out what you need and help you chart a path to get there, whether you are still caring or your caring has come to an end.
Carers UK has also developed an e-learning module You and Your Well-Being which aims to help you build strategies to maintain your physical and emotional well-being whilst caring.
Employment
Changes in the Law to support carers:
Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023
Are you looking to return to employment but need support with developing your confidence or skill set? Have you left previous posts because managing work and your caring responsibilities became too much? There is a range of organisations that can provide you with support to help you develop and get 'work ready' as well as guide you to the most appropriate opportunity. Below we have pulled together information on some of the organisations that can provide this kind of support:
The Junction Foundation's Youth Employment Services - If you are aged 16-25 years old and not in education, employment or training already we are able to offer you support. Please contact a member of the team on 07947956326 to see how they can help you!
LEAP – Lifelong, Employment, Achievement, Productivity - is a partnership between Humankind, Tandem, Citizens Advice Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough Citizens Advice Middlesbrough, Stockton and District Advice and Information Service, Hartlepool Citizens Advice, MVDA, RCVDA, Let’s Connect, and Changing Lives.
As trusted local providers with deep roots in communities across the Tess Valley area, LEAP partners are crucial in supporting people in preparing for, finding, and progressing to decent work. LEAP aims to build on its collective knowledge and experience of delivering a wide range of employability programmes and specialist provisions for economically inactive people and those furthest from the employment market. As a partnership, LEAP can support individuals with financial inclusion, benefits, employment skills, emotional well-being, access to community groups, social engagement, general employment, and advice and guidance.
Download: LEAP Tees Valley A5 flyer.pdf
If you would like to progress towards employment, or you are supporting someone interested in accessing the programme and they are aged 18+, live in the Tees Valley area, and are not currently in employment, then please get in touch with us on either 01325 529210, LEAP@humankindcharity.org.uk.
Beyond Housing, Work and Training: "Are you looking to get back into work, education or training? Do you want to improve your skills or find paid work? Our specialist advisors are ready to get you on the right path!"
We offer one-to-one support with:
- Advice and guidance on what might be stopping you from getting into work or education
- Access to employment opportunities and work experience placements
- Help to develop the skills that businesses need
- A range of training courses and qualifications
- Confidence building and interview and CV skills
- On-going support once you are in work.
We can also help with funding, training courses or qualifications, clothes for interviews, tools and DBS checks. If you’re ready for a new direction fill in the form below or call us on 0345 065 5656."
Thirteen Employability Support: "Thirteen offers a range of free employability services for our tenants and the wider public across the Tees Valley. We support people who are not in employment, education or training but also anyone looking to gain a new job or more hours. We support customers of any age.
Make a referral or give the team a call on 01642 947840. Email: employability@thirteengroup.co.uk or find out about current opportunities on Facebook.
Middlesbrough College Employability Team: The dedicated Employability and Projects Team at Middlesbrough College are on hand to provide students with career support and create bespoke training for the local community.
This service is for Middlesbrough College students. For more information on what the team do, contact the Job Shop at jobshop@mbro.ac.uk.
Redcar & Cleveland College Employability Team: "Our dedicated team will work with you to ensure you improve your skills and help you move into work, education or training. We can provide individual mentoring to support your journey and help you with confidence building, interview techniques and completing applications and where appropriate, job-related qualifications."
For more information contact the Employability team on 01642 865561 or employability@stockton.ac.uk.
Community Ventures Job & Computer Club: These sessions are not just about jobs, the team can help carers learn how to do online shopping, access the GP online services etc.
All clubs offer support with job search, applications, interview skills and CV’s and are delivered in a relaxed environment where you can enjoy a cuppa and receive information, advice and guidance. Every Wednesday 9:30 – 11:30.
For further information contact the team directly on 01642 989254
Westfield Farm: Westfield Farm Community Resource and Training Centre in Dormanstown, Redcar offers free use of computers to look for jobs, training courses and to update your CV.
Discover Care
Discover Care is a new campaign which aims to promote the wide variety of career opportunities in health and social care. The campaign has brought together health and social care employers and educators, these partners include all five NHS Foundation Trusts employ people in the Tees Valley, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland and Stockton on Tees local authorities, a wide range of social care providers, Skills for Care, Job Centre Plus, and the Education Training Collective.
Through Discover Care, we aim to bring more awareness to the wide variety of roles available at many different levels and encourage more people to take steps in entering a career in the sector. We know if more people of all ages and aspirations could discover what’s available, it would open their minds to a career choice they had possibly not even considered.
You can sign up for updates and throughout the campaign, opportunities and events will be promoted on social media, with health and social care professionals highlighting the rewarding nature of their work.
Find a Job on the Gov.UK website
