Training Centre

In early 2019 My Choice developed, refurbished and opened a brand-new Independent training centre. The training centre is located near our Head Office in Haywards Heath West Sussex.

The training centre facilitates all training sessions for employed staff. We allocate all staff at My Choice to courses that run during the year.

The centre has a large training space, with TV screen for trainers. Two other large rooms for meetings and other training sessions. There is a separate Diploma Office and learning area equipped with computers for staff to access. The Diploma office and training area is also a base for the company’s learning and Development Manager/Diploma assessor.

The training centre has kitchen space, toilets and large storage space.

All training sessions booked are co-ordinated and facilitated by external trainers’ who are specialist in their field.

My Choice Children’s Homes provide Child Protection courses for staff working in Residential Child Care, CSE facilitated by the Wise Project, Care of Medication by Opus Pharmacy, First Aid, Food Hygiene, Health and Safety to name a few.

My Choice works with Lifetrain Uk who facilitate the Therapeutic Practitioners Award (TPA) and the Advanced Award. All staff have access to the TPA and must complete this award before progressing to the Advanced course.

Please see the ‘About Us’ and ‘Training’ option to see a full list of training provided at My Choice.

We provide other courses specific to our services and to support the staff to ensure they have excellent standards in knowledge to provide the best possible care to our young people.

My Choice Diploma’s

At My Choice we recognise that every learner and their needs will differ, we therefore aim to build a bespoke training and support package to accommodate the various styles and abilities in learning.

It is our aim to use a wide range of diploma assessment methods to support learning both at the centre, the workplace and at home. We look at collating evidence with a holistic approach.

Our Diploma Assessor will identify learning styles and work with the candidate to gather evidence in its simplest form and support any additional needs or considerations that the learner may have.

We understand that many of our learners will have external factors that will contribute to the progression of their portfolios such as family, friendships, personal circumstances, learning abilities, levels of understanding and confidence and we aim to work with them to offer support, guidance and advice, allowing them to complete their Diploma’s in a SMART approach.

The assessor will gather information following attendance on one of our training courses, workbooks and questionnaires will be completed following these courses. Diploma candidates will use their own written assignments, projects, and witness testimonies. Our assessor will visit staff members at their place of work and complete holistic observations to ensure practice is observed and feedback received. The assessor will support this process.

All portfolios are e-portfolio based via VQ Manager. Staff members registered on the Diploma will be provided with a log in and all assessment process is undertaken on this site.

We do however accept paper-based portfolio’s if this suits the learning style of the staff member. The Diploma centre has secure cupboards for storing all paper based folders and other information for example application forms.

My Choice Training Centre has been approved by CACHE & NCFE awarding body to deliver a range of qualifications in Children & Young People Services including Management (Level 3 and Level 5). The centre will be extending access to qualifications to both My Choice employees and external agencies.

There is a centre handbook accessible to all who are registered on an award. This is annually reviewed with updates and is designed to provide information regarding all the qualification areas provided by My Choice and to act as a guide for those working in the centre including assessors and internal quality assurers (IQAs)

Qualifications Offered:

The qualifications that have currently been approved for delivery are;

Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare England
Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare England
CAVA- assessor award
Level 4 in learning and Education
Early Years diploma courses

My Choice Independent Training Centre are currently considering the range of qualifications we will deliver in the future and will include these once they have been approved.

At this time My Choice will only offer qualifications that are Level 3 and above due to the requirements set out by Ofsted and legislation requirements when acting as a support worker in residential childcare however should the need arise this will be reviewed and changes made.

For those staff who already hold a nationally recognised qualification in care, to a minimum of level 3, My Choice also offer a Bridging Award which focusses on attachment, trauma entering care and safeguarding.

Please contact Lisa and Laura for further information on: MyChoiceCACHEDiplomaCentre@my-choice-homes.com

Head of Department and lead IQA- Lisa Lawrence. l.lawrence@my-choice-homes.com

Lead Assessor – Laura Thornley. l.thornley@my-choice-homes.com