People working in health and social care across Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Kirklees and Calderdale are being given the chance to progress their careers by completing the lead adult care worker diploma level 3 qualification. 

The scheme will be delivered by one of the UK’s leading training providers Realise, in conjunction with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, as part of the government’s ‘Free Courses for Jobs’ scheme.

The aim of the ‘Free Courses for Jobs’ programme is to train support workers to enable them to take up leadership roles and deliver effective guidance and training at the frontline of care delivery. Sessions will be delivered both inside and outside of the candidate’s current working environment.  

The nine-month diploma is open to anyone working in health and social care over the age of 19 who doesn’t have a level 3 qualification. 

In order to make the course accessible for as many people as possible, Realise has created a level 2 ‘bridging programme’ which will support learners who may not be ready to undertake the level 3 qualification straightaway.  

The bridging programme is also fully funded and will equip learners with the skills they need to progress to the diploma. 

Gregg Scott, managing director of Realise, said: “There have been well documented recruitment issues in health and social care across the country and it’s important we take what steps we can to address that. 

“Part of the recruitment challenges in the sector is creating a career pathway for support workers and senior support workers to progress. The diploma we are delivering is designed to offer precisely that progression. 

“Not only will this provide opportunity for people working within health and social care to upksill but it will also help ease the pressure on health and social care settings from a recruitment standpoint. 

“Through other training programmes and schemes, we already have very strong relationships with many health and social care employers across West Yorkshire so we are perfectly placed to deliver this initiative.” 

Realise has become the prominent training provider delivering programmes across West Yorkshire. 

As well as delivering the adult education budget training courses across the region, Realise also launched a new ‘Route to Success’ campaign in August designed to train 400 new bus drivers in West Yorkshire.