The Buddy training has been based on the Care Certificate; this is the new minimum standards that social care and health workers have to demonstrate that they can work against. It was developed jointly by Skills for Care, Health Education England and Skills for Health.
To ensure that the training met the needs of the new role, some of the outcomes of the original certificate were altered or removed and new modules were designed. It was important that the Buddy received the same level of training that they would in a similar role outside of the Prison setting but the outcomes had to meet the role and regulations inside the Prison setting. This Induction package was developed by Devon County Council and the Devon Prison Cluster group, Channing’s Wood Prison, Dartmoor Prison, Exeter Prison. With grateful thanks across all three prisons to the Project Manager, Heads of Residence and Safety, Head of Learning and Skills, Safer Custody and Equalities Managers, Senior Officers, Wing Officers, Chaplaincy and the dedicated Buddy Support Workers who piloted, contributed to and evaluated this programme.
Specialist guidance and support from:
- Re-coop – resettlement and care for older ex-offenders and prisoners
- Dorset Healthcare NHS Trust
- Public Health team
- Probation Team
The training is split into different modules:-
- Understanding your Role and Personal Development
- Duty of Care
- Equality and Diversity
- Work in a Person-Centred way
- Communication and Advocacy skills
- Privacy and Dignity
- Fluids and Nutrition
- Safeguarding Adults, including Self Harm
- Health and Safety
- Handling Information
- Cleaning and Infection Prevention/Control
- Assisting someone in a wheelchair/using a stair lift
- Awareness of Mental Health, Dementia and Learning Disability
- Health and Healthy aging
The training is based on standards – in order to pass the certificate and gain employment they need to demonstrate that they have met all of the required standards, which include both an understanding and ability to put into practice.
Learning Support
- Identification of learning needs and support identified
- Group –classroom based learning session
- learning in the workplace
- workbooks guide for the Buddy to take away and reflect on
- another buddy to shadow and to be supported by
- lead officer to supervise and support
- support plans from Social worker/OT
- Support meetings
Assessment
- Vetting
- Interview
- Group sessions – attitude and values
- Workplace learning – attitude and values
- Observation in the workplace by tutor
- Witness observations by officers and clients
- Workbooks completed by learners
- One to one discussion around answers in workbooks
Quality Assurance
- Refresher/additional training
- Observations of work
- Discussions with individuals receiving support
- Support meetings
- Sampling of workbooks completed
- Audit of support given –support plans completed by Buddies and checked.
The training is reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that it reflects current practice and is currently being reviewed, evaluated and further developed with the existing Buddies and the individuals they support.