Extra Care Academy
Overview
We have launched an industry-first training academy for Care Workers with ambitions to one day progress to management level.
The Extra Care Academy aims to tackle misconceptions about careers in care, by providing a clear route and crucial training. The first cohort will finish the course with the training and qualifications required to pursue work at Care Manager level, with some roles available at Housing 21 at this level.
The two-year programme will offer successful applicants classroom and theoretical training to progress their careers. Ten applicants will be selected to form the first cohort of the academy, chosen from our top performing care workers who have successfully passed their probation period and demonstrated their skills through the short interviews and assessment process.
The academy offers classroom-based training led by industry experts leading to a Level three Social Care qualification, as well as time spent learning hands-on experience at one of our Centres of Excellence.
Covering best practices for management, finance, report-writing, how to lead a CQC inspection and interview techniques, the course provides life skills alongside the care-specific training and qualifications to become a Care Manager.
Pathway
Our Extra Care Academy provides the tools, training and qualifications needed for care workers to progress to management level.
For our first cohort of the academy, existing Housing 21 Care Workers who meet the application criteria (including passing their probation period) are invited to apply.
Workers can apply for themselves or managers can nominate people from within their teams. Applicants will be invited to an Assessment Centre to assess their abilities, as well as literacy and numeracy if required, before the successful cohort is chosen.
The first academy will start in September 2022, offering applicants the opportunity to select one of two pathways: to become either a Care Manager or Assistant Housing Manager.
Both paths cover the same core subjects, including best practices for management, finance training, how to write a report, how to lead a CQC inspection and interview techniques for future use, with differences in the role responsibilities reflected in the varying modules.
Qualifications
We want our Care Workers to get the most out of the two-year long course with the Extra Care Academy. We offer classroom-based training led by industry experts, as well as time spent learning hands-on experience at one of Housing 21’s Centres of Excellence.
The training will include coaching for confidence and leadership skills to help with managing a team, as well as report writing and interview techniques. Candidates will learn from experts in the sector - both from within Housing 21 and externally - offering key insights and teaching new skills.
Applicants are given the option to tailor the course to their career aspirations, whether they want to become a Care Manager, Housing Manager, Scheme Manager or even a Regional Manager.
At the end of the course our students will walk away with a Level Three Social Care qualification and will be given the opportunity to apply for job roles at management level while using the skills they will have acquired throughout the programme.
Eligibility
At Housing 21 we believe in empowering our people. For this reason, we want every one of our Care Workers to be given the opportunity to enrol in the Extra Care Academy and fulfil their career ambitions.
In order to qualify for enrolment, candidates will need to have a clean record and have completed their six month probation at one of our schemes.
Candidates can either be nominated by their line manager or put themselves forward for consideration.
Every candidate will then go through an assessment process during which they will need to demonstrate their literacy and numeracy skills as well as a series of short interviews.
We recognise the success of the business depends on our ability to hire the right people and to help them reach their full potential.
Centres of Excellence
We're committed to employee development, which is why we want to provide an environment in which our people can thrive, learn new skills and realise their career ambitions.
The successful candidates to be enrolled in the Extra Care Academy will spend time working at one of our Centres of Excellence, our most consistently high performing developments.
At these centres, training and support will be made available for all participants, with special emphasis on management development and leadership skills. All Care Workers enrolled in the academy will continue to earn a full-time salary during their time at the Centre of Excellence.
