Why safeguarding matters to High Ridge Training Group
High Ridge Training Group comprises three specialist training providers dedicated to delivering tailored apprenticeship and adult education programmes for young people and adults aged 16 and over. These include Reach4Skills, which focuses on training in early years, education, business and management; Cedars Training Academy, which offers expert training in hair and beauty; and Valkyrie Training that specialises in engineering and manufacturing training.
The ‘problem’
Anna Smith, High Ridge Training Group’s Head of Training and Group Designated Safeguarding and Prevent Lead, was in search of safeguarding training that prioritised the safety and well-being of both its learners and her team and ensured all her staff who interacted with learners could handle any safeguarding concerns confidently and effectively, while also following safeguarding procedures and meeting their legal safeguarding obligations within their specialist training areas.
Why Smart Horizons?
Anna explains why they chose Smart Horizons online safeguarding training:
“There were a number of reasons why we decided to opt for Smart Horizons’ online safeguarding training courses and learning platform. The first was that their safeguarding for training providers course content was highly tailored for educational training providers. Not only did the training course address the key safeguarding challenges faced by educational training providers but it also provided practical and realistic safeguarding scenarios that training providers may encounter.”
Anna continues:
“We knew that the safeguarding for training providers course content covered all the important safeguarding compliance topics we required, such as enabling our staff to recognise and be aware of signs and indicators of abuse, implementing important safeguarding procedures and processes and ensuring they could report concerns correctly. This would help our staff feel prepared and confident in handling any safeguarding challenges that may arise in their day-to-day roles. The well-designed courses, which are regularly updated to reflect current legislation and best practice, meant that we were confident we were fully compliant with our safeguarding obligations.”
The benefits of online training
Anna also highlights the advantages of using online training courses and a digital training platform:
“The online courses allow staff to complete training at their own pace and at a time that suits them, which is important as our tutors can fit training flexibly into their busy work schedules. For me, as the Group’s Head of Training, I can use the easy-to-use Learning Management Platform to track my staff’s training records in one central place. It has saved me a lot of time, as I have replaced the manual spreadsheets I previously used to track and manage the status of all our staff’s training. This has allowed me to roll out the team’s training efficiently, track their progress and follow up with anyone who has yet to complete their training. I am also able to quickly demonstrate compliance during any formal meetings.”
The result
High Ridge Training Group was so impressed with the safeguarding training course and Learning Management System (LMS) that they now purchase all their compliance training courses from the Smart Horizons suite, including safer recruitment, health and safety, fire safety and workplace first aid training. This has enabled them to reinforce their commitment to developing their staff’s skills and knowledge and ensuring they follow industry best practices and legislative guidance as well as valuing their learners’ safety and wellbeing and delivering outstanding education and training opportunities.
Are you a training provider and interested in our online safeguarding training?
You can purchase our online Safeguarding for Training Providers course or any other online training courses from our portfolio or request a free trial of an online course of your choice.
Contact our friendly customer support team if you need assistance in discussing your safeguarding training options.
