Learning and Development

Page updated: 22/08/2024

Most of you, that responded to the survey, said that you are able to access learning opportunities in your preferred language; and, in terms developing new skills, many of you told us that you are encouraged to learn and grow and that you had been given the opportunity to do so during the last year. However, it is clear from some of the responses received, that not everyone has the same experience, so based on your valuable input, we committed to taking the following actions to further improve your experience of working for us:

 

Earlier this year, we rolled out our new Policy, now available for download on the Learning and Development page of our Intranet. This policy is all about ensuring that everyone working for us has equal access to learning and development opportunities. We encourage all staff to explore the resources and boost their skills.

We began the phased rollout of our new Learning Management System, Thinqi, in April 2024. Since then, over 3,000 user accounts have been activated, providing staff with access to our 11 priority eLearning modules (Essential Learning) and an extensive library of content. Later this year, even more accounts will be activated, ensuring that school staff and those without email addresses can access their required learning and development. Additionally, managers can now effortlessly track their team’s learning progress.

Our innovative Leadership Academi offers tailored development pathways for our leaders and managers. The second cohort kicks off this autumn, and you can find all the details on our Learning & Development intranet pages. Additionally, the Leadership Academi is supported by a wealth of resources available on Thinqi Sirgar. We encourage you to explore these resources and begin your leadership journey.

We’re working on a new handbook for managers that covers everything you need to know about being a manager at Carmarthenshire County Council and the support available to help you succeed. We’ve got a draft ready and will be sharing it with some new managers soon to get their feedback. Stay tuned for more updates.

In addition to prioritising our Essential Learning modules, we’re creating a suite of Health & Safety learning resources for staff to access through the new Learning Management System, Thinqi Sirgar. Our team is hard at work developing content that will allow Health & Safety events, like Fire Safety Awareness and Office Safety, to be managed seamlessly through the system. This will include compliance learning, updates, and refresher training to keep everyone up-to-date and safe.

Between November 22, 2023, and January 12, 2024, we conducted a Digital Skills Survey. Check out the ‘next steps’ tab on the Digital Skills Survey Results to see all the key priorities. In addition, the skills framework has been developed and will be published this autumn. Stay tuned for more updates.

We have continued to offer comprehensive training for all our volunteers. Our Health and Wellbeing Champions receive in-depth training on key topics like nutrition, physical activity, and mental health. Additionally, our mental health first aiders can earn formal external qualifications. Our health and wellbeing coordinators provide regular updates and ongoing support to ensure everyone is well-equipped and informed.