Whether you’re looking to develop your career, learn something new or attend the latest Connected Leadership sessions, be in the know with our round-up of the latest staff training and information sessions.
Corporate Courses
The Council’s Learning & Organisational Development team corporate course dates for 2025 are published on the Sharepoint Booking System. If the course you are looking for doesn’t have a date schedule yet you can still be nominated for it, which means you will get notified when new course dates become available. Nominating couldn’t be easier, you simply need to complete the Learning & Development Course Nomination e-form.
Absence Management courses (delivered via Teams for Line Managers) – NEW!
As part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to improving Absence, HR are launching a How To: Absence Management Series designed to take it back to basics and help Line Managers to manage employee absences effectively. Find out more and save the dates via the Latest News article.
Care at Home recruitment events
A number of Care at Home recruitment and information event have been scheduled. You can view an up-to-date list of all of our upcoming events on the NAHSCP website, where you will also find links to an online application form and the role profile.
The Care at Home service currently has a variety of positions available throughout mainland North Ayrshire and Arran. If you know anyone who is interested in applying for a role in care, please encourage them to come along to one of the events, where they can find out more about the current available roles. Staff will be available to assist with application forms.
MCR Pathways Mentoring information sessions – NEW!
MCR Pathways has teamed up with North Ayrshire Council’s Connected Communities and Youth Services teams to offer online information sessions for NAC-contracted staff who are interested in becoming a volunteer mentor to one of our young people attending a North Ayrshire secondary school.
By dedicating just one hour per week, you can positively impact the lives of local young people. You don’t need any special skills or prior experience with young people; all you need is commitment, empathy, and the determination to make a positive impact. Click on the relevant link below if you’d like to sign up for a session and find out more:
For more information about becoming a mentor, visit the MCR Pathways website.
Open Day for unpaid carers – NEW!
Our Moving and Handling Team is holding an open day for unpaid carers on Wednesday 11 June, from 10am to 3pm at the Castleview Hub, 97 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan. The event will showcase the support available to carers from a wide range of organisations, including dementia support services, Scottish Fire & Rescue, SP Energy Networks, AILN, Lemon Aid, and many more.
No booking is required, just drop in on the day at a time that suits. Free refreshments will be available. If you’d like any additional information, please contact hscpmovingandhandling@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
A reminder that we’re also running additional Moving and Handling information sessions for families and carers on Thursday 1 May at the Castleview Hub. A morning session will take place from 9.30am to 12.30pm, with an afternoon slot running from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
Places are limited, so booking is essential. If you know someone who would be interested in attending, they can book a place by emailing hscpmovingandhandling@north-ayrshire.gov.uk with their name, contact details and preferred time slot.
Pre-Retirement course (delivered via Teams) – NEW!
Our online Pre-retirement course, delivered by Affinity Connect encourages a positive and realistic approach to help you make informed choices about your retirement plans and is aimed at employees who are considering retirement within the next 5-10 years. The next session is on Monday 9 June 2025 – 9.30am until midday – Secure your place via our Booking site.
Skills Network training for HSCP staff – NEW!
As part of our Learning and Development Strategy 2023-28, we stated that we are committed to making sure that NAHSCP staff are supported to ‘Be the Best They Can Be’. As part of this commitment, we are delighted to say we have been working in partnership with The Skills Network to develop free learning opportunities for our staff. These courses are funded through the Scottish Funding Council and delivered via distance learning, providing you the opportunity to learn at a time that suits you.
You can browse the wide range of available courses online. To enrol on a course, select ‘View Course’ then ‘Apply Now’. Please note that this is a personal development opportunity to be facilitated in your own time and no study time will be provided during working hours.
Latest Moving and Handling Information sessions – NEW!
NAHSCP are running additional Moving and Handling information sessions for families and carers on Thursday 1 May at the Castleview Hub, 97 Glasgow Street, Ardrossan. A morning session will take place from 9.30am to 12.30pm, with an afternoon slot running from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Places are limited, so booking is essential. If you know someone who would be interested in attending, they can book a place by emailing hscpmovingandhandling@north-ayrshire.gov.uk with their name, contact details and preferred time slot.
Peace of Mind programme combatting social exclusion – NEW!
Peace of Mind is an innovative programme aimed at reducing social exclusion and isolation as a result of a disability, impairment or long-term health condition, with a particular emphasis on people who do not receive statutory services but still need support.
The service is holding a drop-in information event on Tuesday 29 April from 1pm to 4pm at The Training Station, Glencairn Street, Saltcoats, where anyone can go along and find out more about how it works, pick up some leaflets and learn how to get involved. Refreshments will be provided.
The social enterprise has also recently had a successful application confirmed through the Ayrshire Rural and Islands Ambition (ARIA) IT Equipment Fund, which will be used to promote Peace of Mind through marketing, presentations, podcasts, and hands-on training for group members to help them gain experience and access social media.
Trauma Skilled Level 2 training – further dates open for booking – NEW!
For those who have not already booked a place, a reminder that further dates are available for Trauma Skilled Level 2 training. This training course is aimed at anyone who has direct and/or substantial contact with individuals who may be affected by traumatic events, whether or not the trauma is known about.
Level 2 Skilled training covers the basic principles of understanding the impact of trauma and can be used as a starting point on furthering your knowledge about the impact of trauma – or as a refresher session for staff members who already have a knowledge base and would then be going on to complete Level 3 Trauma Enhanced training.
Dates and times of the extra sessions are follows:
- Thursday 1 May: 9.30am to 4.30pm, Cunninghame House (Irvine & Kilwinning & Three Towns)
- Tuesday 13 May: 9.30am to 4.30pm, Cunninghame House (Irvine & Kilwinning & Three Towns)
- Tuesday 24 June: 9.30am to 4.30pm, Cunninghame House (Irvine & Kilwinning & Three Towns)
- Wednesday 9 July: 9.30am to 4.30pm, Cunninghame House (Garnock & North Coast)
- Thursday 24 July: 9.30am to 4.30pm, Cunninghame House (Garnock & North Coast)
You can book a place on the course online (please consult your line manager before booking). Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. If no dates are showing on the booking system, this means that the dates are full. Please keep an eye out for further communication once more dates are available.
Suicide prevention courses – spaces available
There are currently spaces available on most of the April to June Suicide Prevention courses. Please click here to view the dates and book the training. The training is free to attend and is open to staff and volunteers working in Ayrshire and Arran.
External sessions…
Bitesize learning – sign up for 2025
‘Bitesize’ is a leadership development programme designed specifically for staff in NHS Ayrshire & Arran and the three Ayrshire health and social care partnerships. The programme is for anyone from any team, at any level, who wants to learn, grow, lead and participate in building our vision, Caring for Ayrshire. It focuses on the importance of everyone’s role in initiating and driving forward improvement and change, developing ideas and working with others to build our future.
Sessions are online and will run once a month for one hour from January 2025 to November 2025. If you’d like to find out more, contact aa-uhb.daringtosucceed@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
Child Protection training calendar
The North Ayrshire Child Protection Committee Training Calendar has now been updated to include the courses on offer between now and the end of June. The workforce levels for training have been redefined this year, and the team have added a section to the calendar explaining these so you can decide which course is right for you.
Support in our Communities…
Digital support for over 50’s
CLASP (Community Led Action & Support Project) is a charity based in Stevenston. Its HOPE Goes Digital project provides six free sessions on essential digital skills for anyone aged 50 plus living in North Ayrshire – using their smartphone, tablet or laptop – which will be held in local venues.
Alongside digital skills sessions, HOPE Goes Digital offers telephone befriending, 1-2-1 befriending in the Three Towns area, digital groups, lunch clubs, arts and crafts, health and wellbeing activities and social outings. People can be referred for digital skills sessions and come along to activities. For more information, contact Salena (Digital) or Jim (Activities) by calling 01294 602 711 or emailing info@clasps.org.uk.
Free online course on medicine-related needs for older people with a sensory impairment
A free, online course around impaired sight or hearing has been launched by the University of Strathclyde. This four-week course will teach attendees about the medicine-related needs of older people with a sensory impairment and how best to support those needs. If you’re interested in finding out more, visit the Alliance website, where you will also find a registration link.
Grief Resources by Healing Hearts in Irvine and Kilwinning
Grief support groups are currently operating in Irvine and Kilwinning. Anyone is welcome to go along for free community support for those who are grieving. The friendly Healing Hearts groups can also help people with new skills who want to understand how to better support someone following a bereavement. The Irvine groups operate at Irvine Library (Mondays 11am-midday) and Trindlemoss Day Opportunities (Thursdays 4-6pm). For Kilwinning, the sessions take place on Fridays at Kilwinning Library in the morning (10.30am -midday) and as the afternoon is fully booked (12.30pm-2.30pm).
Pan Ayrshire Tobacco-Free Alliance
NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s Public Health team is looking to set up a Pan-Ayrshire Tobacco Free Alliance as part of the Smoke Free Scotland Strategy. If you are interested in getting involved in the project, please contact: Yvonne.Miller2@aapct.scot.nhs.uk for further information.
Support sessions for visually impaired parents
Blind Parents UK offers a range of free support services for visually impaired parents across the UK, as well as providing advice for professionals who support parents with a vision impairment. To find out more about the services provided, including information on how to get in touch, click on the link to the organisation’s leaflet on the NAHSCP website.
Support to stop smoking
NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s ‘Quit Your Way’ is a free service that can support staff and members of the public to stop smoking through face-to-face support, drop-in sessions and support over the phone, including free nicotine replacement therapy if required.
North Ayrshire Quit Your Way clinics for October are being held as follows:
| Area | Location | Time and Day |
| Dalry | Dalry Health Centre, Vennel Street (for practice patients only) | Mondays, 9.30am to 11.30am |
| Largs | Largs Medical Practice, Brisbane Road (for practice patients only) (telephone support) | Mondays, 10am to 12pm |
| Kilbirnie | Kilbirnie Health Centre, Kirklands Road (for practice patients only) | Tuesdays, 10am to 1pm |
| Irvine | Outpatients, Horseshoe Building, Ayrshire Central Hospital (appointment required – call 0800 783 9132 to book) | Tuesdays, 1pm to 5.30pm |
| Saltcoats | Saltcoats Group Practice, Raise Street (for practice patients only) (telephone support) | Wednesdays, 9.30am to 11.30am |
| Saltcoats | Argyle Community Centre, Donaldson Avenue (drop-in session – no booking required) | Wednesdays, 11.45am to 12.45pm |
| Kilwinning | Townhead Pharmacy, Pennyburn Road (appointment required – call 0800 783 9132 to book) | Thursdays, 2pm to 5pm |
You can find further information, including how to refer or self-refer to the service, on the NHS A&A website.
Support is available from CAAST team
The Child and Adolescent Specialist Substance Team (CASST) works with children and young people (aged five to 21) who are affected by alcohol and/or other drug use, whether that be their own use or that of a parent, carer or another member of the family. CASST provides an intensive support service to young people and their families by delivering a tailored programme based around their needs, as identified during an initial assessment. Anyone can refer to CASST, so if you are aware of a young person who could benefit then please get in touch by calling 01294 468213 or emailing CASST@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
If you are delivering training or have an upcoming information session you would like to promote in Staff Latest News or our weekly News In Brief, email: communications@north-ayrshire.gov.uk for help with internal promotion…