Search for Learning and Development Services and Pathways

Children naturally go through loss and change but for some, especially those bereaved, it can be very difficult.

When children come into care or are adopted, it is only natural that they will feel a sense of loss, and if the separation from the birth family is looking to be over a longer period of time, it is likely that they will feel a sense of bereavement too. Having an understanding of this can help you to better cope with the difficult emotions that our young people are trying to deal with as well as give you strategies for how to communicate with your child or young person.

This overview of loss links to children of different age groups and provides suggestions for working with children and families.

Managers are expected to manage the performance of individuals in their team and this isn't always an easy task. This blended and engaging online course covers good management practice in a setting where managers are encouraged to learn from each other's experiences and are able to get HR advice on current issues. You’ll have an opportunity to review the council’s employee performance management procedures, consider the principles, benefits and responsibilities associated with performance management and the key techniques, skills and conduct of an effective performance Improvement meeting. 

Often addressing poor performance can be a challenge for managers and this course aims to provide you with a space to find out an overview of everything you need to do and ask questions to make sure that you are on the right track. This course promotes positive performance management and the steps you can put in place to prevent poor performance in the future and therefore we would recommend all managers attend this course whether they are managing poor performance or not.

This course is open only to line managers working for South Gloucestershire Council.

IF YOU ARE A SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE EMPLOYEE YOU WILL NEED TO CONTACT OUR IT DEPARTMENT TO REQUEST YOU ZOOM LICENSE. YOU WILL NEED TO FILL OUT THIS FORM IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY OBTAINED A ZOOM LICENSE.

Please check that you can access Zoom prior to the event. Licences can take up to an hour after being requested, zoom can be accessed via the web browser if you have not been able to request your license in time.

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

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.

Clinical Skills Lab, Learning and Research Building , Southmead Hospital

This half day course follows CQC requirements on the administration of medication. It includes trainer presentation, discussion, and a short multiple-choice assessment at the end to check the information has been retained by participants. Relevant handouts/paperwork will be provided. This course is aimed at any adult social care staff in South Gloucestershire, working in domiciliary, residential and day care services (statutory sector AND IVP sector agencies).

This session is £49 for non SGC staff

These sessions are for members of the South Gloucestershire Council Coaching and Mentoring Service and is open to external coaches.

We ask that all members attend two sessions of group supervision per year. Please see full details below for more information.

Full details:

What is coaching supervision?

Coaching supervision is the practice of reflecting upon your work as a coach, usually with a trained supervisor in either a 1:1 or group basis. It is often emphasised as ‘SUPER-vision' providing you with an enhanced ability to see your work from multiple perspectives. If not viewed like this coach supervision could be misconstrued as a more managerial practice by someone with more power than yourself 'checking' that you are 'doing it right'. Far from this, the relationship is more of one of equals, where the supervisor and coach (supervisee) sit 'side by side' in a safe, non-judgemental space getting curious about the your work as a coach. Through this process you gain insight into yourself, the client and the work you do together. Regular coaching supervision will enable the coach to explore these areas and in doing so improve their coaching effectiveness and ensure best value for coachees. Coaching supervision is an essential part of a coach’s ongoing learning and development.

It is free for internal coaches and we will charge external coaches £100 per session or £300 for four.

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.

Gender and sexuality are two of the most powerful organising principles in our society and as such require exploring and understanding in an empowering and informative way. This training is developed by Freedom, OTR’s LGBTQ+ youth service. Freedom celebrated its 25th year of existence in 2020 and is the longest-running LGBTQ+ youth group in the UK.

This introduction to Learning & Development, which follows on from the Council Induction session, is a valuable part of the new starter's induction programme for all practitioners in Adults and Childrens Social Care. We focus on how Learning and Development can support you in your new role as well as progress your career at South Gloucestershire Council. The Children, Families and Adults we work with, need us to be the best we can be.... and that starts with our Continuous Professional Development (CPD).


Please note - if you are an existing member of staff, have not previously attended a council induction or the L&D welcome session, and think this session would be of benefit to you, you can request a place on this induction.

As a new employee of the council, it’s important that you get an understanding of how the council works, how your role contributes to the overall council plan, how decisions are made, what is expected of you and what you can expect from us.

This face-to-face induction offers a welcoming and interactive experience and includes a welcome from the Chief Executive or one of his Executive Directors, an overview of the council and it’s services with a guided tour (accessible version available), and the opportunity to meet other new starters.

Social Care staff must also book the afternoon Social Care Learning & Development Welcome session (Click here to book)where you will find out more about the learning and development and career progression offer available to you.

Please note - if you are an existing member of staff, have not previously attended a council induction, and think it would be of benefit to you, you can request a place on this induction.