Unpaid Learning

[RATTER15]

I work as a carer in a residential home, we are constantly being pushed to do more courses to improve our care skills etc, these courses can take up to 12 months to complete, we sometimes are doing more than one course at a time and also required to do overtime at work, we are required to do these courses at home and unpaid, is this right, do we have no say in this or can we ask for some kind of payment or pay increment. Whilst in general we arent against doing these courses but we really dont have time for a private life at times, what is the legal stance on this please? The NVQ lvl 2 is a legal requirement to a degree in as much as a percentage of the staff in the home must have an NVQ lvl 2, I have completed mine. The other courses are lengthy courses that take a lot of our personal time and not legally required.

[Androcles]

Ask what kind of reward you will get for passing the course, either a cash award or a promotion. See what answer you get!

[bushbaby_de]

You could refuse to do them, but then they may say you are not sufficiently qualified for promotions etc. Some people would be thrilled to have someone paying for courses for them.

[RATTER15]

We dont get any reward and promotion for most concerned is out of the question, I was really just wondering if we are legally bound to do these courses. Dont get me wrong, we are gratefull to have these courses supplied but its the pressure we are put under to complete these courses in short periods of time when we are short staffed and only getting one day off a week and working 60+ hours a week in many cases. It would be nice to have a life outside of work sometimes lol :)

[ummmm]

Hiya Ratter...hope you and carakeel are well....

Sorry I don't know the answer but seems excessive.

[RATTER15]

Hi Ummmm, Carakeel and myself are fine ty and eventually engaged to be married :) hoping you are well.

[dondons]

Are you in a UNION? See what they have to say...and if you're not in one I would join one asap

[RATTER15]

Thanks for all your answers, dondons, I would never join a union! I remember the 70s when unions brought the country to its knees!! If I cant resolve the siutaion myself I can leave the company, I would never hold any company to ransom either. If I was the employer and my employees tried holding my company ransom through a Union I would rather shut the company down, I would never be dictated too my anyone! but ty for your answer :)

[brenda]

RATTER15-- it wasn't the unions who brought the country to its knees in the 70's , it was the pig headedness of Margaret Thatcher, who was prepared to break the unions at any price.

[boxtops]

Ratter, it's not uncommon for many people to have to study in their own time - those of us who work full time don't get any choice about it most of the time. We might get a bit of time in work - for instance for the NVQs you will have to do some of it in work time as you will need to gather work-based evidence and you couldn't do that at home, the assessors need to see you in your workplace. If holding the NVQ is a requirement of your job and is in your job description, then you may find that you are putting your job at risk if you're not working towards it. I know it's hard to find time but courses for care workers (in the NHS and in the private and voluntary sector) are important to ensure patient safety, to make sure everyone is working at the necessary standards.

[RATTER15]

Boxtops, im fuuly aware of all that and I have completed my NVQ2 years ago, my question was about the legal stance on this issue, like I said, im more than happy to do all of the courses and I have undertaken and completed and passed 17 courses in the past 12 months but some of us also have a life, I agree that most of these courses are required its just the time scale that we are given to complete these courses, I am a senior carer and love my work, I dont need a lecture on the rights and wrongs.

[Whoever]

I think you'll find it's fairly common in many fields to be expected to study to update your skills. Doctors are required to do it regularly to maintain their competence, so are dentists and other professionals like chiropractors, osteopaths, etc.
Caring techniques are changing all the time so it's only right that those who are are the receiving end of your ministrations (and paying for it) should expect the highest level of care and competence possible.

[RATTER15]

Whoever, I agree they are important and I have no objection to doing them but you didnt read the question!!