Welcome to the December Learning and Development Partnership Officer newsletter. 

You will see there is a different look to this months newsletter with a new link at the bottom of the page giving you the option to 'open in your browser'.   This will allow you to share the link to others or include in your own newsletters.    However, it does mean that I needed start a fresh with a blank sheet, so my apologies if your articles were removed inadvertently and if so, please let me know and I can re-apply them. 

December's newsletter is a little thinner than usual, but with your contributions we will be back to normal in January.    Please send me any Learning and Development articles you'd like included.

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2025!

Nicci Stringer - Learning and Development Partnership Officer.    nicci.stringer@westsussex.gov.uk.    03302228074.   Mobile: 07739906065

Normal Working days : Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

Waiting Lists and Cancellations

We all know how frustrating it is when we want to attend a training event and the course is full and nothing else planned soon!    It is equally frustrating when people book on a course and  can't attend but don't cancel their place.    So please remember to cancel - even if it is very last minute as we might be able to fill your place!    If you see a course is full, please use the 'Wait List' for a last minute cancellation.   It also helps us look at demand for a course when planning future events.

Charging Policy

Learning & Development will be reviewing and resuming the cancellation policy (the policy is outlined on the L&D Gateway and users accept this when they create an account) from 1^st April 2025.  This was temporarily halted due to the Covid epidemic in 2020.   Learning & Development make this cancellation charge in order to recoup a proportion of the overheads incurred.  Late cancellation by delegates means that it is not possible to fill spaces on events in time and can impact the viability of an event actually going ahead.  If delegates don’t turn up to events they’ve booked or cancel within 10 days this impacts Learning & Development future provision of further events.

Respite Recommissioning for Lifelong Disabilities and Mental Health

West Sussex County Council are looking at how respite care services can better support adults with lifelong disabilities and mental health conditions, as well as their unpaid carers. Respite might mean support at home, day activities or residential stays, and we want to make sure these services meet everyone’s needs. Your views on how respite services could work better will help us shape our future plans and improvements.  

Have your say: https://yourvoice.westsussex.gov.uk/lls-mh-respite-recommissioning

Training to support people make plans for later life.

My Future Care offers free online training and ongoing support, enabling groups and organisations to help their members / patients / customers make plans for later life, future care and end of life, including free My Future Care Handbooks for each person supported. Training dates are now available for Spring 2025.  For further information see  https://myfuturecare.org/or email info@mycarematters.org.