Online Courses
General PA Training and Approaches
PA Training: The Essentials
- Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance
This series of four modules is ideal for Personal Assistants (PAs) who are new to the role or looking to refresh their knowledge. Designed and delivered by individuals with significant care needs, this training course covers a wide range of key topics, including working in someone’s home, supporting your employer’s preferences, maintaining and respecting privacy, and fostering positive working relationships.
PA 1: There's Someone in my House
- Tuesday 19th November, 6pm - 7pm
A module designed to train PAs in what it’s like to be a disabled person who requires PA support. It will get them thinking more about the experience of dependence on PAs and how PAs can facilitate their employer’s life better with a clearer understanding of their needs.
PA 2: Doing It My Way
- Tuesday 26th November, 6pm - 7pm
Supporting your employer in the way they prefer. This is a module designed to educate PAs on the importance of doing things in the way their employer prefers. It explores time and tasks, specificity, communicating why things need to be done in specific ways, and helping PAs to understand this in the context of their role.
PA 3: It's Private
- Tuesday 3rd December, 6pm - 7pm
Developing boundaries maintaining your employer’s privacy – from work emails to personal care. This is a module designed to educate PAs on how to support their employer while maintaining their privacy and dignity. This is particularly valuable where a PA may be supporting someone with all their files and communication, and whilst it discusses and explores navigating these elements of dignity in personal care, it’s more concentrated on privacy and independence in a wider context.
PA 4: Relationships
- Tuesday 10th December, 6pm - 7pm
Inside your employer’s relational life. This is a module designed to train PAs in how to support their employer around other people, from their partners, friends and family to work colleagues and strangers. This reflects some of the themes in our existing training but is more focused on how the PA might be required to support the disabled employer in very obvious ways and more subtle ones. It can be challenging for PAs and PA employers to navigate social spaces and relationships, and this is designed to give PAs the skills to address this confidently with employers, understanding and meeting their needs.
Understanding the Role of a PA
- Warrington Disability Partnership
- Tuesday 4th March, 10am - 12:30pm
This FREE workshop based training, held via Microsoft Teams will enable participants to understand the role of a Personal Assistant (PA). These training sessions will ensure that PA’s and Employers are clear about their respective roles and their duties and responsibilities.
Each training session will cover:
- Boundaries and expectations of the employer and employee relationship
- Employer and employee responsibilities and legal requirements
- Skills development, what is available locally?
- Record keeping
Person Centred Care Training
Half-day session that will explore the key features of Person-Centred Care.
Course Aims:
- Review current CQC, NICE and CCA standards for person centred care planning
- Indicate how personal choice and collaborative working can improve the care planning process
- Identify how a care plan should be organised and structured including the need to plan for crises and contingencies
- Signify how a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely) approach towards care planning might improve the process
- Consider the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities Threats (SWOT) of person-centred care planning and from this analysis complete a personal action plan for implementation
- SILC
- Wednesday 15th January, 1pm - 4pm
Personal Assistant (PA) Training
- D.A.D
- Thursday 13th February, 10am - 2:30pm
Training focused on everything you need to know to be a brilliant Personal Assistant!
Whole Family Approaches
- The CBF
- Tuesday 26th November
Our whole family approaches workshop is developed for professionals who would value the opportunity to engage in a reflective and practical course to improve practice around family centred approaches. Participants have the opportunity to explore how embedding family-centred approaches enhances a strengths-based approach to collaborative working with families.
Dignity and Privacy Training
- Ruils
- Self-paced, End date 11/08/25
The course will start by defining dignity and privacy within the healthcare sector, and will explain how the two are quite often linked. It will then go on to give you a range of useful professional tips about setting up the right working relationship with your clients, and discuss some of the issues that can arise when dignity and privacy are not respected. This is an online self-paced course. You will recieve an invite for this course via email.
Challenging Behaviour
Responding to Behaviours That Challenge Training
This course is designed to support staff who deal with potentially disruptive and assaultive behaviours. It enables staff to understand what factors may increase or decrease the likelihood of anger and aggression occurring in work settings. It will consider some strategies and good practice in relation to managing potential angry and aggressive situations.
Course Aims:
- The focus of the course to on preventing incidents of disruption and aggression by:
- Raising awareness of non-verbal communications and its effects on the anxiety level of an individual
- Identifying different stages of defensive behaviour
- Organising staff members thinking about escalating behaviours in crisis situations
- Helping staff develop strategies to safely and effectively respond to the behaviours being exhibited
- SILC
- Friday 21st February, 9:30am - 12:30pm
Communication and Challenging Behaviour
- The CBF
- January, TBC
This practical workshop is an introduction to the links between communication and behaviour. This workshop is aimed at anyone who wants to understand how to improve communication with individuals with severe learning disabilities and in turn improve their quality of life, choice and behaviour.
Positive Behaviour Support
- The CBF
- Friday 17th January & Friday 7th February (set 3)
This is a two-part workshop set about Positive Behaviour Support. The workshops facilitate partnership working, to enable staff and families to work together to identify appropriate individualised behaviour support strategies that can be used consistently in all settings.
Awareness Training
Pica Behaviour (eating inedible objects)
- The CBF
The CBF’s Pica Awareness workshop is specifically designed for professionals, support staff and family carers who are supporting children, young people or adults who have severe learning disabilities and display Pica behaviour (eating inedible objects) and/or polydipsia (drinking fluids).
Learning Disability with Dementia Awareness Training
- SILC
- Tuesday 17th December, 9:30am - 12:30pm
This course explores both Learning Disabilities and Dementia and how Dementia can affect people with Learning Disabilities uniquely. It will look at person centred approaches with Dementia and Learning Disabilities combined.
The course will take place via Zoom and a Zoom link will be emailed to you prior to the event.Learning Disability Awareness Training
- Ruils
- Self-paced, End date 11/08/25
This course will start by giving you an overview of some of the common types and causes of learning disabilities and how they affect people. It will touch on how a person centred approach to care will get the best results and look at how best to work with someone with a learning disability. I will also discuss overcoming the stigma attached to learning disabilities and much more. This is an online self-paced course. You will recieve an invite for this course via email
Health and Safety Awareness Training
This is a half-day session that will aim to provide a more in-depth understanding of Health and Safety in relation to the workplace.
Course Aims:
- Provide a more in-depth understanding of Health and Safety in relation to the workplace
- Staff and Managers roles in relation to Health & Safety
- COSHH
- Fire procedures in Adult Social Care establishments
- Personal safety and lone working
- Share information on the importance of accurate and up to date Risk Assessments The course will take place via Zoom. An email with the link will be sent to you prior to the event.
- SILC
- Friday 24th January, 10am - 1pm
Dementia Awareness Training
- SILC
- Tuesday 18th March, 10am - 1pm
This course will explore what we mean when we say someone has dementia. The course will challenge you to think more about how we can best care for and support people with dementia.
Course Aims:
- What do we mean by ‘dementia’ and most common causes of dementia
- The individuality of the experience of dementia
- Understanding behaviour and emotional distress
- Cultural difference in dementia & communicating with people with dementia
Diabetes Awareness Training
- SILC
- Monday 24th March, 10am - 1pm
This course explores ‘What is diabetes’ and the basic anatomy and physiology of what happens to cause diabetes.
Course Aims:
- What is diabetes
- Types of diabetes
- Common indicators of diabetes
- Treatment of diabetes
Autism Awareness Training
- SILC
- Saturday 15th March, 10am - 1pm
This course explores Autism and the current body of thinking and knowledge about Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
Course Aims:
- How ASD is displayed and why
- Explore the range of abilities found within ASD
- Provide information, practical strategies and promote a positive understanding to enable people to work more effectively with people with ASD.
Understanding Autism
- GMT
- Thursday 7th Novemeber, 10am - 12pm
- Wednesday 4th December, 10am - 2pm
This online training will equip you with valuable insights and strategies to better support individuals with autism. Emphasis is given on how our understanding of autism has evolved and how more current approaches inform our understanding and practices. It focusses on discussing the main areas of difference for autistic people and provides a range of autistic perspectives to enhance understanding and support good-practice.
If you’re a personal assistant interested in learning more about autism, this event is perfect for you. Join us for an interactive session filled with practical tips and knowledge. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to broaden your skills and make a positive impact!Autism Awareness
- Independent Lives
- Friday 29th November, 10am - 12pm
- Friday 1st November, 10am - 12pm
Autism awareness training is essential in moving towards a more supportive community for autistic individuals. This training will increase understanding and knowledge of autism as well as reducing misconceptions and misinformation. This can lead to more compassionate and supportive attitudes and interactions.
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What will be covered?
- • What autism is.
- • Signs and indicators.
- • Adult and child perspectives.
- • Social interaction.
- • Repetitive and restrictive behaviours.
- • The senses.
- • Meltdowns and shutdowns.
Trauma Awareness – understanding and responding to family trauma
- The CBF
The workshop facilitates professionals’ understanding on the experiences of families navigating health, social care and education systems and the layers of trauma they experience throughout this. It explores the factors that contribute to traumatic experiences and encourages professionals to reflect on how their service can prevent or mitigate any further trauma to families.
Mental Health Awareness Training
- Ruils
- Self-paced, End date 11/08/25
This course explains the difference between mental health and mental illness. It covers the symptoms of a number of the most common mental illnesses so you will know what to look out for or what to expect if you are working with someone with one of these conditions. As well as providing some practical advice on how you can work effectively with those affected by these conditions. This is an online self-paced course. You will recieve an invite for this course via email.
Mental Health Awareness
- Independent Lives
- Wednesday 13th November, 10am - 12pm
This course offers a comprehensive foundation in understanding mental health needs and using this information to deliver effective, person-centred care. Throughout this training, you’ll learn about various mental health conditions, tailoring your care approaches, and promoting overall wellbeing for individuals you support, as well as yourself.
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What will be covered?
- • What mental health is
- • Understanding the mental health continuum
- • Having knowledge of your own stress container
- • Understanding your own frame of reference and how this may affect how you support someone.
- • Awareness of a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression
- • Recognising some of the early indicators of ill mental health
- • Self-help strategies and helpful resources
Disability Awareness
- Independent Lives
- Monday 28th October, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
- Monday 11th November, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
- Monday 9th December, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Join us for disability awareness training as we challenge preconceived notions, break down barriers and work towards a more understanding and compassionate society. This training will equip you with the knowledge and perspective to champion disability awareness and make a lasting, positive difference in your community.
What will be covered?- • The definition of disability.
- • Hidden disabilities.
- • The different models of disability.
- • Barriers faced by disabled people and how we can overcome them.
- • Tyler’s story – a short film about disability.
An overview on how to support and communicate with D/deaf and deafblind people
- Deaf-initely Women
- Thursday 20th February, 10am - 4pm
Training includes:
- Define deafblindness, discuss terminology and myths/misconceptions
- Discuss common causes, implications and identify individual needs
- Understand communication issues and learn different methods to overcome them
- Discuss how to improve accessibility through support and communication
Moving, Medication, Eating and Drinking
Safe Administration of Medication Training
- SILC
- Monday 17th February, 10am - 1pm
The Safe Administration of Medication training is designed to enable healthcare workers to perform their duties safely and effectively when assisting clients with their medication. In addition to the Medication Awareness, learners will cover:
- The ‘Rights’ of medication administration
- Practical assessment of medication administration
MAR sheets, including Controlled drugs - Recording procedures
All online training will take place via Zoom. If you register for a course, the Zoom link will be emailed to prior to the event.
Medication Support & Administration
- Independent Lives
- Thursday 31st October, 9:30am - 12:30pm
- Thursday 28th November, 11:30am - 2:30pm
- Thursday 12th December, 9:30am - 12:30pm
When it comes to medication, safety is paramount. Our training focuses on teaching you best practices for safe administration, reducing the risk of errors and ensuring you have the information and expertise required to excel in your PA role. Once completed, this training should be refreshed annually.
What will be covered?- • Your roles and responsibilities when administering or supporting someone with medication.
- • How to prepare medication safely.
- • How to document the use of medication.
- • How to store and dispose of medication in a safe way.
- • The 8 rights and guidelines of administration.
- • What to do if an error is made and why they happen.
- • The types of medication.
Assisted Eating and Drinking Training
- SILC
- Thursday 13th February, 10am - 1pm
It is important that everybody who works in the care environment recognises the signs of potential eating and drinking difficulties and is able to support service users to eat and drink. This course combines both theory and practical sessions to equip those who work in care settings with this knowledge.
Course Aims:
- Define Dysphagia
- Identify the main parts of the human mouth and pharynx
- Recognise signs and symptoms of aspiration
- Know when to refer a service user
- Recognise good positions at mealtimes
- Experience food textures and being fed in different positions
- Management responsibilities
Safeguarding
Safe Guarding Adults and Children Level 1 Training
- SILC
- Monday 6th January, 10am - 1pm
This course looks at the potential indicators of abuse and fulfilling your duty to pass on any disclosures or allegations as well as the feedback you can expect after making an alert. It covers how to address and immediate safety or protection needs of the alleged person at risk and the recording of the incident.
Course Aims:
- Personal values and beliefs that underpin safeguarding adults and children
- Recognising and responding to abuse disclosures and suspicions
- Establishing a shared understanding of best working practice and offering support
- Understanding procedures in line with the Care Act when reporting abuse and procedures after an alert All online training will take place via Zoom. If you register for a course, the Zoom link will be emailed to you prior to the event.
Safeguarding
- People First
- Thursday 23rd January, 9am - 2pm
Group work, looking at case studies, theoretical work and personal reflections. Guidelines and procedures within the course are intended to give health and social care workers the tools to recognise issues related to the mistreatment and abuse of at-risk adults. Half day course. On completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate to demonstrate learning.
Safeguarding
- Inependent Lives
- Wednesday 13th November, 9:30am - 11am
- Wednesday 27th November, 2pm - 3:30pm
- Wednesday 11th December, 9:30am - 11am
This training is designed to help you recognise and respond to concerns or risks related to the welfare and safety of adults and children at risk. The primary goal of this training is to prevent and address abuse, neglect, or harm and to ensure the well-being of the people you support. Once completed, this training should be refreshed every 2 years.
- What will be covered?
- • What safeguarding is.
- • Your responsibilities.
- • What to do if someone is in danger.
- • Making safeguarding personal.
- • The types of abuse and how to recognise these.
- • What to do if you suspect abuse.
Laws and Acts
The Mental Capacity Act (Level 1) Training
- SILC
- Thursday 16th January, 1pm - 4pm
- Thursday 6th March, 10am - 1pm
This session will provide you with a working knowledge of the existing legal framework for protecting adults.
Course Aims:
- What is the Mental Capacity Act & why do we need it?
- The Five Key Principles (What is it founded upon)
- Triggers & how to assess capacity & what happens if capacity is lacking?
- Best Interests & Acting Lawfully
- Restraint & Liberty Protection Safeguards
- How it links into Lasting Powers of Attorney, Court Appointed Deputies, Advanced Decisions, Court of Protection & The Office of the Public Guardian
- New criminal offences of ill-treatment & willful neglect
Mental Capacity
- Independent Lives
- Thursday 31th October, 2pm - 3:30pm
- Tuesday 12th November, 9:30am - 11am
- Thursday 28th November, 2pm - 3:30pm
- Tuesday 10th December, 9:30am - 11am
This training is essential to ensure that individuals who may lack capacity receive appropriate care and protection of their rights. This course will cover real world examples to give you the best possible chance of safeguarding those you support.
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What will be covered?
- • The Mental Capacity Act and what it is.
- • Why the act is so important.
- • The 5 principles of the Mental Capacity Act.
- • The two-stage capacity assessment.
- • Real word examples.
Understand your rights as a Direct Payment user/employer
- Deaf-initely Women
- Tuesday 14th January, 10am - 2pm
Training includes:
- Understand their rights on how to access Direct Payments
- Learn how Direct Payments can be made to work for them
- Learn their rights to challenge refusals or reductions of Direct Payments
- Learn how to overcome other Direct Payment problems
Equality and Diversity
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Independent Lives
- Monday 28th October, 1pm - 2pm
- Monday 11th November, 1pm - 2pm
- Monday 9th December, 1pm - 2pm
The goal of this training is to create environments where all individuals are treated fairly, with dignity and respect, regardless of their background, characteristics, or differences. In a world that thrives on diversity and inclusivity, understanding and appreciating the unique differences of individuals is paramount.
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What will be covered?
- • The definitions of equality, diversity and inclusion.
- • The 9 protected characteristics.
- • The Equality Act 2010.
- • The definitions of harassment, discrimination and victimisation.
- • Unconscious bias and stereotypes.
Disability Equality
- Warrington Disability Partnership
- Wednesday 12th February, 10am - 12:30pm
This workshop based training, held via Microsoft Teams will enable participants to understand key disability legislation and support the learner in recognising and meeting the needs of disabled people.
Each training session will cover:- Creating a more inclusive environment for all by removing barriers.
- Understanding attitudes and how they have changed over time.
- Highlighting the importance and value of the social model.
- Awareness of respectful language and etiquette.
D/deaf and Deafblind Equality
- Deaf-initely Women
- Wednesday 5th February, 10am - 4pm
Training includes:
- Learn about barriers D/deaf and deafblind people experience
- Understand out duties under the Equality Act 2010 and Bristol Sign Language Act 2022
- Learn how to empower D/deaf and deafblind people to live a more inclusive life
- Discuss the range of communication support and technology available for the D/deaf and deafblind community
Training for Employers
How to support a Personal Assistant and your role as an employer
- GMT
- Friday 8th November, 10am - 12pm
- Friday 6th December, 10am - 12pm
This online training is for parent carers who employ or wish to employ a PA to support their loved one. It will cover how to find and recruit a PA, what duties to expect a PA to support with. We will also explore different methods of sourcing support and how to access training for a PA via Individual Employer Funding via Skills for Care.
Independent Employer Training: The Essentials
- Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance
This series of four modules is specifically designed for PA employers who are looking to enhance their skills, refresh their teams, or navigate the complexities of employing PAs for the first time. Managing a successful team of PAs can be challenging, but these modules offer essential tools and strategies to help create a balanced and effective employer-PA relationship. Developed by individuals with complex needs, the content is grounded in real-world experiences, making it practical, relevant, practical, and highly applicable. Whether you’re an experienced employer or new to the process, these modules will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to build and maintain a successful PA team.
PA Employer 1: Recruitment and Onboarding
- Thursday 21st November, 6pm - 7pm
This module will guide PA employers through the process of creating and sharing job adverts. It will cover the art of writing an effective advert, selecting appropriate platforms for posting, and tailoring it to communicate the employer’s unique needs. It will also include strategies for smooth and effective onboarding, ensuring a good start for new PAs.
PA Employer 2: Training PAs and Sharing Information
- Thursday 28th November, 6pm - 7pm
In this module, employers will learn how to train their PAs effectively, ensuring they understand the essential details about their employer’s preferences and needs. The module also covers the importance of sharing up-to-date information, documentation and knowledge where appropriate, and how to communicate expectations to ensure PAs are well-informed and aligned with their employer’s requirements.
PA Employer 3: Using Technology to Support Admin and Management
- Monday 2nd December, 6pm - 7pm
This module introduces PA employers to various technical tools, such as Google Suite and Todoist, that can streamline administrative tasks. It covers managing employment records, handling files, tracking timesheets, and organising information, all aimed at simplifying the management of a PA team.
PA Employer 4: Managing a Successful Employer Relationship
- Thursday 12th December, 6pm - 7pm
This module focuses on helping PA employers develop the communication skills needed to maintain a positive and productive employment relationship. It covers strategies for effective communication when things are going well and, importantly, when challenges arise. Employers will learn techniques to become proactive managers, anticipating issues before they escalate and fostering a supportive work environment.
Role of employers including boundaries and expectations
- Online
- Monday 17th March, 10am - 4pm
Training includes:
- How to become a good employer
- Understanding the role of employers’ boundaries and expectations
- Where to get advice, information and support on employing Personal Assistants
- Employment rights
- How to keep your PAs motivated and committed
This training is funded by Skills for Care
