Search for Learning and Development Services and Pathways

This will be delivered via Zoom and hosted by Suzanne Pearson. 

Please join the meeting prior to the 9.30 start, so you have time to check that the technology is working.

A community based course to increase awareness and challenge stigma about mental health that participants can draw upon in their day-to-day lives and work.

The views of people with ‘lived’ experience of emotional or mental health issues are central to informing the course content as well as up to date research evidence. 

The course is suitable for anyone including staff and volunteers from a variety of settings working with Adults, and/or Children and Families, who wish to learn more about mental health. It consists of a mixture of factual presentation, small group work and large group discussion within agreed ground rules of confidentiality and respecting each other’s points of view. There are extensive handouts available

The trainer Suzanne Pearson is a Registered Mental Health Nurse and CBT therapist with experience of working in the NHS and voluntary sector. She is a qualified adult trainer with extensive experience of delivering high quality mental health training to a range of participants and organisations. She is a Mental Health First Aid instructor (Standard and Youth courses) and an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) trainer.

SOUTH GLOS COUNCIL STAFF - To access training being delivered by Zoom please complete this form. Once the form is filled out access should automatically be granted within an hour of completion.  ZOOM Access Link

COSTS: £49

To improve professional confidence of social care practitioners in Managing Challenging Conversations & Conflict Training to assist in successfully employing professional curiosity in a social care context.

Charges apply for non-South Glos Council staff
Cost: £103.50

Please note: By booking onto this course, you are consenting to your contact details being passed onto the trainer. This is so they can send the invitation to you.

Please join the meeting prior to the 9.30 start, so you have time to check that the technology is working.

This training is specifically for practitioners in South Glos Council's adult social care division, i.e. Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Social Work Assistants, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Senior Practitioners etc.

The session will explore how strength-based practice fits with professional values, the legal framework and the role of Adult Social Care in 2023. We will look at the theoretical basis for strengths-based approaches, current and past. Delegates will share examples of their current practice as well as exploring the use and benefits of strengths-based questions/interventions in assessment, care & support planning, review and adult safeguarding conversations with adults and carers to focus on wellbeing, outcomes and creative solutions to meet need.

Session Aim
To enable delegates to gain a consistent set of underpinning knowledge and to further develop skills and confidence in applying a strength-based approach in practice

PLEASE NOTE: YOUR JOINING INSTRUCTIONS AND ANY TRAINING MATERIALS ARE ATTACHED TO THIS EVENT. 

How will this course help me? Our course will take you through the practical steps of writing clear and concise records and writing sequential, powerful and rewarding reports ° whether they are briefing notes, chronologies, summaries, assessments, care plans, safeguarding investigation reports or court reports. We will show you how to tackle your writing with clarity and confidence. You will understand the importance of: ° defining your purpose; ° organising your evidence; ° thinking and structure; ° writing analytically; and ° presentation. We will also highlight the seven deadly sins of social care writing and recording and show you how to avoid them. The standard charge for this course is £103.50. Please refer to our Course Charges on the Home page for information on discounts and exemptions.

• Managing allegations
• Allyship and Role Model Behaviour
• How to identify and manage racism within the team and in social care workers practice
• Encouraging managers to integrate race equality into their agenda at their team meetings

Please note if you are a Social Worker you should book onto the Professional version of this course.



This training course provides Care Workers with the essential skills and knowledge to apply and comply with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 when carrying out their role.

The MCA applies to every health and social care worker who is involved in the care, treatment or support of people who are unable to make all or some decisions themselves. Care Quality Commission Inspectors are increasingly asking care workers to explain their responsibilities under the MCA.

The MCA provides legal protection from liability for carrying out care and treatment of people who lack capacity to consent, provided that care workers:

• Understand the principles of the MCA
• Have carried out a capacity assessment and reasonably believe that the person lacks capacity.
• Reasonably believe the action they have taken is in the best interests of the person.

Learning Outcome
1. Understand what mental capacity is and what might affect the mental capacity of the people you work with
2. Be able to identify the decisions you are responsible for in your workplace
3. Be able to apply the MCA principles to the decisions you are responsible for
4. Be able to carry out an assessment of capacity
5. Be able to act and decide in the person’s best interests where they lack capacity for a particular decision.

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 to 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 note you have to do this training programme in order.

Test your knowledge before you attend the training (SGC employees only)

For SGC staff only:
Additional learning resources here: Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty (Sway resource)
Request to shadow a MCA assessment here: Peer Shadowing Network Yammer Group

South Gloucestershire Council has launched a new interactive training programme that gives Health and Social Care Workers the skills, knowledge, confidence and practice to apply and comply with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The programme is made up of interactive learning workshops.
The programme is designed for Care Provider managers, Social Worker and Occupational Therapy staff and managers, nurses and all other professionals working in health and social care. You can select from a series of modules as relevant to your job which are listed below.

The standard charge for this course is £49. Please refer to our Course Charges on the Home page for information on discounts and exemptions.

This course is suitable for Social Care Practitioners in both Adult & Children’s Services


Professional Curiosity Workshop – 1 day - The ‘WHAT ?, WHY ?, & HOW ?’

The ability and confidence to demonstrate Professional Curiosity, Professional Courage, and Professional Challenge together are essential to success when working alone as a single agency professional or as a member of a multi-agency team when working to safeguard and protect.

This workshop provides an opportunity for delegates to work together in scenario-based development and application of knowledge and skills. Those attending will be encouraged to fully participate in work and discussions on an individual, class, and small group basis. Trainer led debriefing and facilitation will allow delegates to explore the ‘What, Why, & How’ of professional practice in this area.

Click here to access workbook and PowerPoint

Your pre-course activity is attached. 

Please note: By booking onto this course, you are consenting to your contact details being passed onto the trainer. This is so they can send you any further relevant resources.

Who it's for:  Social Care and OT Practitioners working directly with people in need of care and support.

The course gives an understanding of the Care Act 2014, its principles and duties.
Content includes:
• an overview of the Care Act and its implications
• an outline of the wellbeing principle and duty
• general and specific duties under the Care Act
• how to prevent, delay or reduce care needs with information and advice
• a look at independent advocacy
• safeguarding adults
• assessments of needs, carers assessments and eligibility determination
• an individual’s journey through the reform system.

The standard charge for this course is £103.50. Please refer to our Course Charges on the Home page for information on discounts and exemptions