Health and social care specialist training centre launched

A new specialisttraining facility has been launched in the North East to cater for growing employment in the health and social care sector.

The Ingeus Centre of Excellence for Health and Social Care is based in the Team Valley in Gateshead and is designed to offer multi-level training including apprenticeships.

The centre is aimed at servicing the needs for the health and social care industry which currently accounts for 16% of employment in the North East.

The centre will provide employees with training and nationally recognised qualifications as well as supporting jobseekers looking to start a career in the sector.

The Ingeus Centre is equipped with a domiciliary care suite, fitted out with professional industry equipment, beds and bathroom facilities which will enable trainees to learn in a ‘real work’ environment.

Students at the centre will train using mannequins which have been specially designed to represent the body weight of children, adults and infants.

Carolyn Smith, Programme Manager for Health and Social Care at Ingeus said, “Effective care makes a real difference to the quality of people’s lives, so it’s vital that staff in the sector have the best training available.

“Our new centre provides that by offering a full range of expert training, from entry-level all the way up to Level 5 qualifications and Higher Apprenticeships.

“ The facilities we have here enable learners to train in a realistic care environment ensuring that they are equipped with the skills they need to provide the very highest standards of care“.

The launch of the centre coincided with National Apprenticeship Week.

Jon Smith, Ingeus’s Head of Skills and Training, said, “Since our formation as Zodiac Training 16 years ago, we have grown to become the largest independent training provider in the region.

“Our recent acquisition by Ingeus further strengthens our position in the North East, which means we can offer local businesses a full range of recruitment and training services, across many industries including health and social care.

“The launch of our new Centre of Excellence, where care-focused businesses have access to training of the highest standard, is the latest example of our continued growth and our constant focus on providing the region with the best training services available.”
The Igneus Centre was co-funded by the Skills Funding Agency.

Regional Skills Director at the agency, Gillian Miller said: “Having a thriving and high quality health and social care sector is of such importance to all of us and our families.

“It provides a vital service to the population of our region but is also a major employer.

“There is a clear need for high quality training to support people who are already working in the sector and also to prepare young people and adults who want to pursue a career in care.

“That’s why the Skills Funding Agency is so pleased to have supported the creation of this great new training facility.”