Kent Connect to Support

The Hub : Training and funding

trainingOn this page you can find training and funding opportunities, on various key topics for the care sector.

Please click on the title to show the details and resources.

Mandatory training

Oliver McGowan useful links and CQC statement

Slideshow from Skills for Care 

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism (Oliver’s Training)

Under the Health and Care Act 2022, from 1 July 2022, Care Quality Commission (CQC)-registered adult social care providers are required to ensure all their staff receive specific training on learning disability and autism that is appropriate to their role. This training course on The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism aims to ensure that staff have the right knowledge and skills to provide safe and informed care. The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism will continue for financial year 2026 to 2027.

Providers may choose to undertake an alternative training package to the national Oliver McGowan package BUT it would need to meet expectations set out in the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice and would not be eligable for the LDSS funding.

To submit LDSS claims for the national program, providers will need to:

  • Be registered with the CQC as a provider of ASC services.
  • Make sure their organisation has an up-to-date Skills for Care ASC workforce dataset account which can be set up here.
  • Complete the Learning and Development Support Scheme onboarding form.
  • Submit a claim once Oliver’s Training has been paid for and completed, providing evidence to demonstrate this.

To view LDSS claim amounts for internally delivered and externally procured Oliver McGowan program use this link

Free Infection, Prevention and Control(IPC) support for your service from the new IPC Nurse Advisor from Public Health, Sarah Hamed.

Sarah's role is to support the care sector with infection prevention and control advice, support, and training to domiciliary care providers and residential care in Kent.

Support could include but is not limited to:

  • Group network discussions
  • Infection, prevention, and control audits
  • Webinars and training sessions

Contact and resources

E-Learning for Health is available to all social care providers enabling you to access many mandatory, health and clinical on-line courses.

Resources and information

  • Future Learn are currently offering the following course FREE until 12 March 2024 - Basic First Aid: How to be an Everyday Hero - click here.

The following are available to all workers in social care;

MindEd is a free educational resource on children and young people’s mental health for all adults. MindEd has e-learning applicable across the health, social care, education, criminal justice and community settings. It is aimed at anyone from beginner through to specialist.

 

Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adult Board have a free Safeguarding Principles online module with a reflection quiz at the end. This module focuses on the safeguarding principles to provide a basic introduction to topics such as the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Capacity Act. This e-learning is designed to act as an introduction to, or a refresher of, the safeguarding principles.

Kent Safeguarding Children’s Partnership site has a wide range of training including free e learning training, some relevant to adult services too, resources, explainer videos and more.

Their full training catalogue can be viewed here and includes free e-learning module’ Adult Safeguarding’ level 1 and Adult Self Neglect level 1 both ideal for care workers and induction.

e-learning for health is an NHS England site open to the care sector. There is a wide range of free training including safeguarding topics. You can view their Safeguarding courses here and the list includes a free online level 3 Safeguarding Adults.

Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) site has a wide range of costed training and free resources. You can view their Safeguarding, DoLS, MCA training pages here

Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board Training The Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board (KMSAB) offer full-day training courses which are prioritised for partner agencies who contribute to the board, but external agencies are welcome to apply and they will be added to a waiting list.

If spaces are available three weeks before the course date, these will be offered to the waiting list.

Information & Guidance

Adult safeguarding - Kent County Council

If you need help deciding whether you need to raise a safeguarding concern to Kent Adult Social Care, Kent and Medway Threshold Tool which provides advice on how to make the right decision.

If you are worried about someone being abused or neglected, please say something.

How to raise an adult safeguarding concern about yourself or someone else - Kent County Council

Find the tool here.

This tool has also been approved by the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board (KMSAB) and is hosted on the KMSAB Website:

We would love to hear any feedback on how the Threshold Tool is being used and whether you feel it is helpful, so please do not hesitate to contact us when you have had an opportunity to use it.

Kent CC Adult Safeguarding Referrals - As part of the new model for Adult Social Care a ‘Safeguarding Hub’ was implemented 4th March 2024 to manage all Safeguarding concerns for people new and known to Adult Social Care to ensure that the people we support get the right support at the right time, as well as making it easier for partners and professionals to contact us. You can view the guide and area contacts here.

For guidance on what makes a good referral please see this guidance from the Kent & Medway Safeguarding Adult Board

This KMSAB professional resources page also contains useful links and resources for safeguarding leads.

Published Safeguarding Adult Reviews can be viewed here These are helpful to build knowledge on previous concerns and actions taken

LGA/ADASS - Understanding what constitutes a safeguarding concern and how to support effective outcomes (local.gov.uk) (The flowchart on page 7 of their document sets out clearly the factors to consider when deciding whether to raise a safeguarding concern also refer to page 38)

Pressure Ulcers and Safeguarding  -       https://kmsab.org.uk/assets/1/final_kmsab_local_guidance_-_pressure_ulcers_and_safeguarding.pdf 

When Adults At Risk abuse each other - KMSAB Protocol When Adults at Risk Abuse Each Other

Useful Links:

Care Act 2014

Care and support statutory guidance - GOV.UK

Kent and Medway Threshold Tool

How to raise an adult safeguarding concern about yourself or someone else - Kent County Council

Making safeguarding personal - Kent County Council

Tell us about an adult safeguarding concern - Kent County Council

Why the content of any Referral is so important

Kent and Medway Safeguarding Adults Board (KMSAB) - Kent & Medway SAB website (kmsab.org.uk)

KMSAB Protocol - When Adults at Risk Abuse Each Other

Kent County Council - Report abuse - Kent County Council

NICE Guideline - Safeguarding adults in care homes

LGA/ADASS - Understanding what constitutes a safeguarding concern and how to support effective outcomes (local.gov.uk)

Please see below the area contact details should you require them for any queries in respect of existing/outstanding safeguarding concerns you have already raised.  

Tell us about an adult safeguarding concern - Privacy notice - Kent County Council.

Team

Email addresses

Towns covered

 

Ashford Canterbury Coastal

SafeguardingadultsAC@kent.gov.uk

Ashford Canterbury Herne Bay and Whitstable, Community Team

Thanet South Kent Coast

SafeguardingadultsTSKC@kent.gov.uk

Thanet Dover Deal Shepway and Hythe Community Team

North Kent

SafeguardingadultsNK@kent.gov.uk

Dartford Gravesend Swanley and Swale Community Team

West Kent

SafeguardingadultsWK@kent.gov.uk

Maidstone Sevenoaks Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge Community Team

Sensory Services

Sensoryservices@kent.gov.uk

Countywide

The presentation from the Safeguarding Provider Network Meeting on the 9th September, 2025 can be obtained by sending an email to KentRegisteredManager@kent.gov.uk

Leadership and Management Training

There are five locality registered Manager Network Meetings, held quarterly and supported by Skills for Care. Each meeting is chaired by a registered manager and provide managers with an opportunity to network with peers, hear from guest speakers, share local information etc.

If you would like to attend your local meeting, please contact pia.rathje-burton@skillsforcare.org

Available to all social care providers, E-Learning for Health enables you to access many mandatory, health and clinical on-line courses.

The national Learning & Development Support Scheme (LDSS) is available to support managers with funding their development and includes the following Skills for Care Programs for managers;

DIGITAL

1) Level 5 Digital Leadership Program - £525 cost recovery from the LDSS Fund and available from training providers.

2) Skills for Care Digital Modules - 
The modules can form part of the new managers induction, part of upskilling a deputy manag ser or could be used if there are particular skills you want to enhance for your own CPD.

Each module is between 4-60 minutes long and you can just choose to do one module or all of them. They cost £40 individually but Adult social care providers can claim back the cost of purchasing the modules via the new Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS). Also 10% discount for organisations with a ASC-WDS account.

The 11 modules cover the following:

  • Module 1: Leading and managing in adult social care
  • Module 2: Supporting and developing teams (Part 1)
  • Module 2: Supporting and developing teams (Part 2)
  • Module 3: Regulation and governance
  • Module 4: Effective communication
  • Module 5: Working with partners
  • Module 6: Leading a person-centred service
  • Module 7: Safeguarding and mental capacity
  • Module 8: Making decisions
  • Module 9: Managing resources
  • Module 10: Learning and innovating
  • Module 11: Personal development and wellbeing

For the full detail of this offer, please visit  dedicated web page for the modules.

 

LEADERSHIP - The following 4 programs are only available through training providers holding current licences issued by Skills for Care

‍1) Leading Change Improving Care (5 Modules) £525 cost recovery from LDSS fund.

  • Leadership – a shared understanding
  • Sources of Change - looking inwards
  • Motivations to Change - looking around
  • Creating a Climate for Change - looking sidewards
  • Sharing Leadership Impact Project Initiative and embedding change for future impact - looking outwards

2) CPD Module - Understanding Performance Management £135 cost recovery from LDSS

3) CPD Module - Understanding Self-management Skills £135 cost recovery from LDSS

4) CPD Module - Understanding Workplace Culture £135 cost recovery from LDSS

 

SUPPORTING CQC INSPECTIONS

Skills for Care on-lineSeminars to support with CQC Inspection £40 cost recovery from LDSS fund)

  • Preparing for CQC assessment - This interactive seminar will help you to be best prepared for your CQC assessment. You will learn about successful ways to prepare your service to meet or exceed CQC expectations.
  • Improving your CQC rating – This interactive seminar is for services who have fallen below CQC standards and are looking for practical ways to recover. You will learn about tried and tested ways to successfully implement improvements.
  • Delivering Outstanding Care If you’re working towards an Outstanding CQC rating—or want confidence in sustaining one—this focused three-hour session provides the clarity, insight, and practical tools to help you achieve it.

This LDSS funded Skills for Care program is delivered by local endorsed training providers in Kent and nationally.

Skills for Care Lead to Succeed program - is for deputies and aspiring managers It complements the Manager Induction Standards and Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership and Management in Adult Social Care. It covers;

  • successful behaviors for leaders and managers
  • developing a positive culture
  • effective supervision
  • leading and managing the process of change
  • leading and managing the inspection process.

Currently available from the following Skills for Care endorsed training providers;

  • SEK - Offering fully funded courses using Skills for Care Workforce Development Fund. To enquire about the next course please email info@sekgroup.org.uk or tel; 01227 469970
  • eTraining (part of the Twin group)- Offering fully funded Lead to Succeed courses using Skills for Care Workforce Development Fund. To enquire about the next course please email shelley.wiffen@etraining-uk.com
  • Flourish (national) online course dates and claim information is on their website or you can email  adultcare@flourish.co.uk

Other Skills for Care endorsed training providers in Kent can be viewed here.

This LDSS funded Skills for Care Well Led program is delivered by local Skills for Care endorsed training providers in Kent and national providers.

Skills for Care Well Led program

  • Day 1 Know Yourself - Looking Inwards
  • Day 2 Leading a Successful Service - Looking Around
  • Day 3 Leading High Performing Teams - Looking Sideways
  • Day 4 Leading in and Beyond the Boundaries of Your Service - Looking Outwards

Currently available from the following Skills for Care endorsed training providers in Kent.

SEK - Offering fully funded classroom sessions utilising Skills for Care Workforce Development Fund. To enquire about next course dates please email info@sekgroup.org.uk

eTraining (part of the Twin group) - Utilising Skills for Care Workforce Development Fund, Well Led, Lead to Succeed (for deputies) and Individual Management modules can be provided. To enquire about next course dates please email shelley.wiffen@etraining-uk.com

Other Skills for Care endorsed training providers in Kent can be viewed here.

Flourish (national provider) - online dates can be found on their website or you can email adultcare@flourish.co.uk

 

group of hands

6 Free online courses from the Kings Fund for managers, deputies, team leaders and those aspiring to move into a management role. All accessible here

Care Skills Academy – Free to Access On-line Training Portal (funded for providers by KCC)

KCC has Funded Free Access to the Care Skills Academy for all Kent providers!

We are pleased to announce that following the closure of the previously funded Scils.co.uk site, KCC has now funded free access to the Care Skills Academy training site for all providers and their workforce.

Care Skills Academy is a 5* rated online platform endorsed by Skills for Care, is CPD accredited and a member of the Care Learning coalition and they are fully compliant with the requirements of the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Free access continues for providers until May 2027 and includes:

  • Access to over 90 training sessions including mandatory topics and specialist sessions (see attached list of topics)
  • Ability for managers to have an organisation account and allocate specific courses to their workers using the Learning Management System (LMS) to keep track of training progress
  • Individuals can set up their own log on, so suitable for independent workers such as personal assistants
  • Access to Expert HR & Employment Law Advice helpline

Access is open to Kent based services and personal assistants supporting people in receipt of a KCC Personal Budget.

Sorry, this is not open to Medway based services.

To request a free log on please complete this link: https://forms.office.com/e/pn5RQSQ4Ws

Care Skills Academy will then send you log on details.

Course List

Health and Clinical Skills

The Tissue Viability Training course, provided by Sarah Gardner, Wound Care Specialist, is 4 x ½ day modules delivered virtually over a few months.

Time of all virtual sessions is 9am to 1.30PM & CPD Certificate provided.

Choose from three different date options – Group 1, 2 or 3. Attendance at all 4 dates in the group you book is required.

In addition, once you complete your virtual sessions you will be offered the opportunity to register for a Practical Leg Ulcer session (choice of two different dates)

New dates out soon.

If you’re still deciding whether RESTORE2 is suitable for you and your setting, or are not entirely sure what it’s all about (don’t worry, we know that there are so many things you need to be involved in, and how hard it can be to keep across all initiatives) then here’s a quick overview:

RESTORE2 is a physical deterioration and escalation tool for care/nursing homes based on nationally recognised methodologies including early recognition (Soft Signs), the national early warning score (NEWS2) and structured communications (SBARD).

It is designed to support care homes and health professionals to:

  • Recognise when a resident may be deteriorating or at risk of physical deterioration
  • Act appropriately according to the resident’s care plan to protect and manage the resident
  • Obtain a complete set of physical observations to inform escalation and conversations with health professionals
  • Speak with the most appropriate health professional in a timely way to get the right support
  • Provide a concise escalation history to health professionals to support their professional decision making.

Resources and information

The Kent Surrey Sussex Patient Safety Collaborative continues to offer their training via Teams. New dates are being added all the time, so please do check back soon if they appear to be booked up.

If you’ have any questions or still deciding whether RESTORE2 is suitable for you, please contact the Program Manager sean.farran@nhs.net

You can access our Wound Care session which provides ISTAP Best Practice Document, Presentation Booklet and the new England-wide multi-professional framework published 09 June 2021 by the National Wound Care Strategy Programme to standardise wound care across all health and care roles and settings, improving healing rates and patient outcomes.

React To is a series of training resources specifically designed for care home staff and other healthcare professionals. The training has been produced by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Bassettlaw CCG and Crocodile House Ltd. 

Resources and information

28th April Presentation 2021 to Domiciliary Care Providers
Please find attached documents below as mentioned at this Bitesize event, provided by Paul Johnson at URGO. Unfortunately, we do not have a video recording of this session.

“This framework sets a standard for all levels of the multi-professional workforce involved in wound care in developing and providing evidence of their knowledge and skills, enabling the highest standards of practice, as well as providing a structure for career and role development within wound care.” - Baroness Watkins of Tavistock, Chair of the NWCSP Board

Developed collaboratively by senior workforce consultants, Health Education England and a multi-professional team from across the health and care sector, the National Wound Care Core Capabilities Framework for England has been designed to be a single, consistent, and comprehensive foundation that will underpin the highest standard of wound care, no matter the setting or location.

Society of Tissue Viability – freefundamentals education sessions

The Innovation Delivery Team would like to highlight some free on-line session to support pressure ulcer care, wound assessment and lower limb care. Please follow this link for the dates of free on-line education sessions from the Society of Tissue Viability

All Other Training

slavery is closer than you think

Come along to this informative 1hr session to;

  • introduce social care staff to modern slavery legislation
  • describe the different elements and types of modern slavery and human trafficking
  • raise awareness of spotting the signs of modern slavery
  • what to do if you have concerns or suspicions that someone is being exploited.

Also covered - Cuckholding;

  • Cuckolding is part of criminal exploitation/forced labour, so awareness will be raised of this issue.

* Currently closed but new dates out soon

Last updated: 04/06/2026