Making the right choice

Good quality training is an essential part of the workforce development to ensure staff can achieve their full potential. It also enables employers to demonstrate their progress to their regulators, the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

What to consider

It's a good idea to draw up a list of requirements, taking into account:

• Is on-site delivery required?
• When should the training start?
• How many staff can be released at any one time?
• How are individual learning needs going to be taken into account?
• Are there a variety of learning and assessment methods available to support staff?
• What learning and development budget is available?
• What do I need to do to support the learner and provider in achieving the right outcomes?

Where do I begin?

Research the market before you select a training provider. You can do this in a number of ways:

• Talk to your local brokerage for guidance on suitable training providers.
• Talk to other employers about their training providers and experiences. Most importantly, ask if they would use that training provider again.
• Draw up a shortlist of training providers to contact.

Questions you may want to ask potential training providers include:

• What is included in the cost of each person ad what is the timescale of the programme?
• Are discounts available for groups?
• If the course is certificated, who is the awarding body?
• How will the programme be delivered?
• What occupations expertise do your trainers/assessors/tutors have and how do they remain current?
• How will the training be monitored?
• How will I receive feedback?
• What charges in practise can I expect?
• What are the objectives for the training?
• Are there any competences the training links to?
• Are services users/carers to be involved in the training?
• Can you deliver on site?
• Can the training be tailored to meet my needs?
• How do you approach diversity issues in your training? Can you give examples?
• Do you have Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance? How much?
• Do you have a customer complaints procedure?
• Will I receive regular progress reports?
• What is your success rate?

NVQ specific checklist

• What are your most recent assessment centre external verifier grades/outcomes?
• What is the assessor/candidate workload ratio?
• How often will the candidate meet with their assessor?

Final arrangements

• Negotiate payment and agree invoice arrangements/cancellation fees
• Agree a contract and ensure it is signed by both parties
• Agree start, review and completion dates
• Agree who is going to do what, for example, will the training book the venue where applicable, supply equipment, supply handouts, produce certificates, etc.