Staff Training and Development
Our Commitment to Learning
At Handcrafted, we believe that excellent support work is built on continuous learning, reflection, and professional growth. Our training programme is aimed at equipping you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to deliver person-centred, trauma-informed support that reflects our values and strategic vision.
Induction Programme
New staff members begin with a structured induction programme designed to give you the foundations you need to work safely and effectively from day one.
Your First Week During your first week, you'll complete essential administrative setup, receive access to all our systems, and begin engaging with our core policies and procedures. You'll watch our foundation video series covering person-centred practice, safeguarding, confidentiality, risk assessment, and lone working. You'll also meet your immediate team and begin to understand how Handcrafted operates.
Your First Month In your first month, you'll complete compliance training through short online courses, including fire safety, Prevent, and suicide awareness. Support workers will also complete additional modules on safeguarding topics including child and adult exploitation, self-harm, and self-neglect. You'll visit all our hubs and services, shadow experienced colleagues, and meet senior managers—building a picture of the whole organization and how your role contributes to our mission.
Your Induction Half-Day Within your first few months, you'll attend a half-day induction session delivered by our management team. This brings together everything you've learned so far and provides essential training on record-keeping standards, professional wellbeing and boundaries, and how to access ongoing support. It will be a good opportunity to ask questions and get to know more about Handcrafted. You'll also be introduced to professional development and begin mapping your personal development journey.
By the End of Your Probation Within six months, you'll complete First Aid training, have your first Personal Development Review (PDR), and confirm that you've achieved all the foundational competencies needed for your role.
Wednesday Morning Training: Continuous Development
Every Wednesday morning from 8:45-9:45am, we run Staff Training Sessions in-house that keep your skills sharp and your knowledge current. These sessions cover everything from safeguarding and trauma-informed practice to motivational interviewing, conflict management, and specialist topics like neurodiversity and addiction recovery.
Training is delivered primarily by our in-house trainer, with contributions from senior managers and external specialists. Sessions are designed to be interactive, practical, and directly applicable to your daily work.
Monthly Support Worker Support Groups provide a dedicated space on the first Wednesday of each month for peer support, case consultation, and shared learning. These sessions are facilitated but staff-led, creating a community of practice where you can bring challenges, celebrate successes, and learn from colleagues' experiences.
Hub-Based Team Time gives local teams regular opportunities to focus on service-specific development, local practice issues, and team cohesion.
Blended Learning Approach
We use a mix of learning methods to ensure training is accessible, engaging, and effective:
- In-house sessions deliver Handcrafted-specific content and practical application
- External online courses cover compliance and regulatory topics
- External partners provide specialist training and accreditation opportunities
- Internal videos offer flexible, self-paced learning on core topics
- Practice-based learning through supervision, shadowing, and reflection
Your CPD Portfolio
Every staff member maintains a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio that tracks your training, captures reflective practice, records supervisor observations, and documents your professional growth. This portfolio supports your annual PDR and helps you recognise how far you've come.
External Training Opportunities
Where appropriate and aligned with organisational needs, we support staff to access external conferences, specialist courses, and formal qualifications. Discuss opportunities with your line manager during supervision or PDR conversations.
Support for Your Learning
Learning doesn't happen in isolation. Throughout your journey at Handcrafted, you'll have:
- Monthly supervision to discuss practice development and learning needs
- Support Worker Support Groups for peer learning and consultation
- Annual PDRs to review progress and set development goals
- Access to the Training and Development Lead for guidance on learning pathways
- A culture of curiosity where questions are welcomed and mistakes are learning opportunities