Bitesized Training for Front Line Workers

Bitesized Training for Front Line Workers

Hope Centre Soft Launches Training Platform

Northampton Hope Centre in collaboration with Community Law Service, has soft launched a range of free bite-sized training courses for volunteers and front-line workers. Fully funded by West Northamptonshire Council, the scheme will upskill West Northamptonshire’s frontline workers and volunteers to support the community.

The newly named ‘Community Training Partnership’ provide courses that are designed to improve critical skills, build knowledge of referral pathways and create a space for building strong networks. Many front-line services across Northamptonshire are supported by volunteers and workers in face-to-face roles with people in communities struggling with complex issues including mental health, debt problems, rent arrears and financial hardship. The courses will teach delegates how to better recognise, communicate, and refer people to the services available to support them.

The courses are run by professionals and are available to people across West Northamptonshire. The courses cover a range of topics from understanding benefits systems like Universal Credit and how to encourage someone to seek support for mental health issues. Following the soft-launch, the courses were fully-booked within two weeks of launch, which is an indicator of the need for this service in the district.


Introduction to Universal Credit:

Introduction to Universal Credit

The course is designed for people who work with those who claim, or may need to claim Universal credit.

This workshop gives an overview of the benefit, giving frontline workers the ability to understand how a claim is made, how Universal Creid operates and what easements are available to support vulnerable residents. It also outlines situations where Universal Credit could, should or must be claimed.

The course will help delegates to understand the basics of how Universal Credit works and will enable them to understand how vulnerable claimants can be supported with their Universal Credit claim and payments.


Debt Advice

Debt Advice

This course is designed for frontline workers and volunteers who work with people struggling with debt. 

With the cost-of-living crisis and personal borrowing reaching higher and higher levels, debt advice services are experiencing higher demand than ever before and it’s anticipated this will continue. This course is designed to give delegates the tools to recognise a priority debt and will give an overview of the various options available to people in problematic levels of debt. It will also outline how to address emergency debt issues raised by clients such as bailiff enforcement.

On completion of the course, volunteers and community workers will have the tools to recognise debt issues and be able to refer to help resolve complex issues.


Key Conversations

Key Conversations

This course is designed to teach frontline workers and volunteers how to build trust and put people at ease through better communication.

Communication is at the heart of everything we do, and when correct, it can make all the difference in building trust and putting people at ease. Great communication is also vital to understand people’s needs and to help them to connect with the right people, communities and organisations, to improve their lives.

The course provides delegates with the information and guidance they need to develop their existing skills and use a variety of communication methods, including verbal, non-verbal communication and active listening. It will also teach frontline workers and volunteers how to overcome barriers to communication enabling them to become more confident, efficient and effective.


Mental Health

Mental Health

This course will give delegates the tools to recognise poor mental health and how to encourage someone to seek appropriate support.

People who work with others everyday, are likely to be in touch with someone who is experiencing periods of poor mental health. The aim of the course is early intervention. If someone is encouraged to seek appropriate support early on, we may be able to prevent it worsening.

The course gives an overview of what we mean by the terms ‘mental health, poor mental health and mental ill health’ and why using helpful language is paramount to a person’s recovery. It will increase understanding of how language impacts on communities and can prevent people seeking support, it will also give a basic awareness of the continuum of mental health, where early conversations can initiate better outcomes. It will provide the tools for delegates to understand where support can be accessed and how to access further training.

The courses launched through the soft-launch were fully booked within two weeks of opening. The full range of courses will be ready to book this coming Autumn.


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ctp@northamptonhopecentre.org.uk

Click HERE for access to the course portal.

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