Search for Learning and Development Services and Pathways

The aim of this blended course is to enable all managers recruit and retain staff effectively. Even if you have recruited in other organisation, it is important for you to attend, to learn best practice for South Gloucestershire Council. All hiring managers are expected to attend this course.

If you have recruited in other organisations you may also find this useful as a refresher or to find out the council approach.

The course will familiarise you with the council’s recruitment guide and you will explore essential and additional criteria for posts, options regarding advert content and where adverts are placed, how to identify appropriate selection processes to use alongside the recruitment interview, shortlisting, preparing for interviews and other assessment tools, how to make fair and unbiased recruitment decisions, giving feedback and the steps you need to take to induct a new starter through to probation.

Please ensure that you have completed the Recruitment Onboarding and Induction e-module before attending this course.

Please log onto the Enable website and visit Learning > Available Learning. The Recruitment Onboarding and Induction e-learning is within the Management & Leadership section.


The day itself will consist of some group discussions and self reflection time to aid your learning. As this course covers South Gloucestershire processes it is for internal staff only.

At certain times, most people find it difficult to communicate honestly, directly and openly with other people. This course will help you to understand different ways of relating to other people, how to identify assertive, passive and aggressive communication and how you can communicate more positively with others. Assertiveness involves being clear about what you feel, what you need and how it can be achieved. It allows you to engage respectfully with other people, whilst also respecting your own needs and ensures that you don't feel taken advantage of through setting appropriate professional and personal boundaries.

In this course we will look at rights and responsibilities in communication, communications styles, motivation and intent in communication and the impact of assertive and non-assertive behaviour. It will give you an opportunity to think about how you relate to others and changes you can make to communicate clearly and assertively.


Please ensure that you have completed the Assertiveness Skills e-module before attending this course.

IMPORTANT: To complete your registration for this session please complete the pre-course preparation outlined below.

By booking onto this course, you are consenting to your contact details being passed onto the trainer.

The meeting will open at 9.15am, so that you can join the meeting in time to check that the technology is working prior to a 9.30am prompt start.

Pre-course preparation - please see attached

The session will focus on Direct payments and the legal framework. We will consider the benefits of a direct payment for adults, carers, professionals and the Local Authority as well as the challenges that may be experienced. Some guest speakers will be available to talk to you in small groups:
- A direct payment recipient will tell you about how it helps her to live a good life
- Steffan Lewis from the South Glos DP monitoring team who will be able to answer any questions you have about the process.
- A representative from one of the Support Providers will tell you about how they can offer bespoke support to an individual receiving a direct payment

Plus a video of one of your social work colleagues who will tell you why she thinks direct payments can promote an individual’s wellbeing.

Please click here to view and download the course handouts.

This training is organised by South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership and is targeted at all staff from all agencies who are working directly with children, or adults who are parents.

This training session will cover: The laws and policies that relate to safeguarding children and YP What we mean by safeguarding and how some children can be harmed What signs to look out for How ACE's impact families and children Local and inter-agency procedures that are in place The role of early help Appropriate information sharing Responding to allegations

Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 324 838 037 051
Passcode: GNxZVY

Requirements for training via Zoom:

• Participants must be provided with protected time, in an environment free from all work-related duties and distractions to successfuly complete the training
• Participants require access to a camera and microphone to be able to fully engage in the session
• On the day of training, should the above requirements not be possible, participants should rebook for a different date when they are able to meet the requirements, failure to full engage in the session may result in non-issue of certificate and a request to repeat the training session.

Please note: All attendees must have already attended Signs of Safety Awareness session or Signs of Safety 2 day training to be able to attend this course

Core Skill 5 - This course aims to improve the recording practice of Foster Carers and is linked to Induction Standards for Foster Carers.

Please click here to view and download the course handouts

Please have a digital copy (or print if you prefer) of the course WORKBOOK to bring along to the session. (All other resources are available for digital download and storage via the same link should you wish to use them during or after the event)

Also, please be aware that some of the resources contain sensitive content, that you may find upsetting. This training aims to educate and raise awareness, but it can evoke emotional responses, particularly for individuals with personal connections to child or adult bereavements, or the incidents themselves.

If you find the content overwhelming, we encourage you to prioritise your well-being. Take breaks, reflect on your boundaries, and seek support from trusted individuals or professionals as needed. For assistance during or after the training, please reach out to the trainer or your line manager in the first instance, contact Interchange the staff counselling service, or you can also access Thrive.

We are committed to creating an inclusive learning environment and promoting empathy and respect for all.

The training is organised by South Gloucestershire Safeguarding Children Partnership and is targeted at all staff from all agencies who are working directly with children, or adults who are parents. Effective child protection depends not only on reliable and accepted procedures for all staff involved with children, but also on their skills, knowledge and judgement and the ability to work together co-operatively. Staff with lead roles in child protection require specialised training in order to carry out their work with abused children and families. Please note it is recommended to leave a minimum of 3 months between attending Introduction to Child Protection and Advanced Child Protection.

Please DO NOT book onto the Advanced Child Protection course, unless you have attended the Introduction to Child Protection course. The knowledge needed for this course is dependent on you having attended the previous session. Thank you.

Core Skills 4 - Important Core Skill training looking at how we respect and celebrate differences in others, the power of language and why it is important.

This training is aimed at managers who want to improve how they manage difficult conversations with members of their team. The content is primarily focused on maintaining good levels of performance within teams, but can be used to support other conversations such as those when managing change. This day will provide a range of tools and techniques that will help you be more confident in difficult situations and help you to understand the causes of and issues surrounding difficult conversations, how to prepare for and manage conversations, different communication styles and how to adapt your approach, emotions that may be experienced and how to deal with them, the support available to you as a manager and action planning for your own difficult conversations.

The standard charge for this course is £115 per day but for council employees there is no charge. Please refer to our Course Charges on the Home page for information on discounts and exemptions.


Our tutors are highly experienced, and deliver our programmes with passion, pride and excellence. If you have any questions about this course work please contact emma.ford@southglos.gov.uk.

Participating in sessions

Participants are asked to embrace and abide by the following commitments:

• Maintain your focus on group learning and professional development
• Actively support peers
• Create a safe environment to encourage contribution and learning
• Participate constructively in the sessions
• Listen to encourage and welcome all views
• Respect each other’s values
• Maintain confidentiality in all matters

We embrace diversity and want to ensure that our sessions are fully inclusive for all. Please let us know any requirements or needs you have in relation to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation or caring responsibilities that may be relevant to your participation in the session.

The course programme follows a set syllabus and includes topics such as:

 - Apply an ergonomics systems approach to safer handling

- To understand the need for evidence based practice

- Be able to select and evaluate a range of current handling manoeuvres

- Be able to select and evaluate a range of mechanical and small handling aids that are presently available

- Will recognise unacceptable/controversial handling techniques

- To feel competent and confident to assist others to problem solve manual handling scenarios.

- assessment of single handed care using equipment. 

Mandatory training course for OTs to comply with Health & Safety at Work Act legislation and meet RCOT code of ethics