Learning & Development

Ark strives to promote a learning culture in every aspect of our organisation by empowering our employees to continue to learn, innovate, solve problems and share knowledge. Our commitment to learning and development is essential to ensure we keep up to date with the latest legislation, procedures and best practices so that our employees can effectively care for our supported people.

Professional Qualifications

All our care employees have (or are undertaking) the relevant professional qualifications in line with the National Care Standards and Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) regulations. We have a dedicated in-housing Learning and Development team to support employees in obtaining these qualifications. Ark has been approved as a Training Centre by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to deliver Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ’s) in Health and Social Care. To maintain these qualifications, care employees participate in continuing professional learning (CPL) throughout their careers.

Core Training 

We base our core training on legislation, best practice, statutory guidance, professional standards and recommendations. It ensures that our employees have the skills and knowledge needed to provide the right care and assistance to our supported people.

For all new Ark employees, we have an induction programme that includes core training regardless of the position they hold. This is important to ensure that we all understand and follow Ark’s Code of Conduct, which is firmly rooted in our values and the SSSC Code of Conduct.

Examples of other core training at Ark include:

  • Risk Assessment in Social Care
  • Health and Safety
  • Infection Prevention and Control
  • Person Centred Planning
  • Positive Behaviour Support
  • First Aid
  • Food Hygiene/Handling
  • Administering Medication

In our service areas, our managers have a key role in providing core training to employees. We also have dedicated Learning and Development Training Officers as well as external providers who also deliver training and support to employees.

Additional Training

When required to meet the individual needs of a supported person, we provide additional, bespoke training for our employees. We can provide training for personal development too if this is agreed with employees line or manager. Additionally, as a learning organisation, we encourage our employees to take advantage of further training opportunities. Working in collaboration with SSSC, NHS Scotland, local councils, and other private and public organisations, we can provide access to a range of fully funded courses, certificates and other training opportunities. Many of these count toward continuing professional learning (CPL) for the SSSC but are also beneficial for personal growth and development. 

Corporate Services 

We can support you to undertake additional training and/or qualifications for your role in areas such as Finance, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Housing & Asset Management, Compliance & Improvement and ICT.

We allocate budget annually to learning initiatives to ensure that our teams are equipped with the skills and knowledge to be the best they can be.

Learning Networks

Our employees bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience and Ark continues to create opportunities to share this across the organisation. We have established forums which range from formal practice development to informal social learning opportunities. We also provide ways to connect with Ark through social media, newsletters, and meetings including Speak Out, Ark Voices, and Ark Working Group. Additionally, we work with other organisations to bring best practices to Ark. This includes forums, community organisations, and working groups. We encourage you to join in!