you will have to enter a user name and password, and then click on Widening

Participation which is listed under my courses.  The user name and password

you will need to gain acces to the information are as follows:

User name: wpuguest          Password:  guestuser     

The Beeches Widening Participation Unit (WPU) was established in June 2006 as part of the Centre for Multi-Professional Education and Training, located at Clady Villa, Knockbracken Healthcare Park.  The Unit is headed up by Mr. Paul Donaghy and its aim is to work with health and social care organisations and other stakeholders to assist healthcare support staff onto the learning ladder.  Recently it held a successful 'Unleashing Talent' event on 27th May 2008 which launched the doucment entitled A Framework for Action.

It is estimated that some 20,000 HSC staff need up-skilling to level 2 qualifications and many have essential skills support needs. This has implications for key policy drivers within health and social care such as Clinical and Social Care Governance, Service Improvement and Health and Safety.  Paul is convinced that Widening Participation initiatives help increase the capacity of staff to deliver more – not by making them work harder – but through a smarter application of their skills and responsibilities.

The work of the Unit is supported by a Regional Advisory Group which is comprised of DHSSPS, BMC, Trusts and workforce representatives.  The key themes of the Widening Participation Unit strategy are built around;

“Getting In” – Supporting Trusts to promote a range of pre-employment initiatives which help link unemployed people and school leavers with careers in HSC.

“Getting Started” – Working in partnership with HSC employers and other stakeholders to identify and meet the foundation skills (including essential skills) needs of existing HSC support staff and

“Getting On” – Working in partnership with stakeholders to develop practical strategies to promote the skills escalator concept and evidence career pathways and progression.

The WPU facilitates these initiatives by building partnerships and brokering collaborative models of working together.  The further education sector complements the work of the Unit and others to help build learning capacity and capability for support staff.

The WPU has a Regional Widening Participation Group which provides a platform for discussion about evolving models of good practice around Widening Participation which can be shared throughout HSC.