Steward and safety reps complete distance learning

With all face-to-face reps’ training cancelled due to the pandemic, the CSP Employment Relations and Union Services (ERUS) training team developed two new induction courses to enable reps to receive training on their role.

The courses covered activities on the role of the steward and safety rep, legal rights, supporting members and accessing support from the CSP and were a mixture of self-pacing learning and a series of Zoom events. Both courses are fully accredited by the National Open College Network and the TUC, meaning that reps will receive nationally recognised credits for their studies.

Louise Walker, head of training, ERUS said: 'It is essential, that despite Covid-19, CSP stewards and safety reps are still able to access training and support from the CSP. The new distance induction courses means that reps can still gain the essential knowledge to enable them to carry out their role.'

Gwion Pugh-Jones a steward at Bronglais Hospital, Hywel Dda Healthboard said: 'The whole course was beneficial in understanding our role as a steward. I felt it developed my knowledge of policies and the application of these policies within certain situations within the workplace.

'I gained valuable skills and methods to respond to the requirements on my role and how to carry out stewards’ tasks such as developing a local membership database and working with managers. By making the content paper-based, it helped me reflect on the topics learned and refer to these as required. Additionally, the group Zoom calls were beneficial to solidify learning and answer any questions.'

Joshua Meadows, safety rep at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Trust said: 'The resource manual and workbook were fantastic. The fact the CSP turned around an online course in the middle of a pandemic was brilliant.'

Due to the success of the new courses, a further two courses will be taking place in the autumn and a Moodle distance learning course is being developed which will allow students to access the induction courses digitally via the CSP Learning Hub.