Accent Nene Rolls Out New Staff Development Initiative

Published by Mike Holland for Accent Nene in Housing and also in Communities

Peterborough-based housing association Accent Nene (www.accentnene.org) has introduced an innovative system of online learning to assist staff with training. The programme is presented in a series of online modules that staff can access via a personal ‘desk-top virtual college’ on their computers.

The introduction of ‘e-learning’ at Accent Group – the parent company of Accent Nene – is set to give staff greater accessibility and flexibility in fulfilling their training needs.

All staff are catered for. There are over 80 different modules at all levels from basic induction to management skills. The e-learning courses cover health and safety, customer care, workplace legislation and workplace skills.

All Accent Nene staff have already completed the health and safety course which covers all aspects of safety at work. It begins with an introduction to best practice and runs through to successfully managing stress at work and creating risk assessments to find ways to combat the problem.

The workplace legislation course contains modules on many aspects of employment law including diversity, discrimination and equal opportunities.

Workplace skills is the most comprehensive series of modules. It comprises both management and ‘soft’ skills in areas such as coaching, time management, listening and body language and effective interview techniques.

Accent Group training manager Susan Trinder said: “By adding e-learning to our group-wide training portfolio we will be able to offer a more efficient service with reduced travel and time away from the job.

“E-learning will not replace any of the traditional courses on offer but will give staff another option when balancing work, life and training. E-learning enables us to offer shorter, more specific learning opportunities in a safe learning environment with up to date information and consistent delivery.”

Users are provided with a set of headphones, directions showing them how to access the training and a username and password. To help them get started they are also allocated an e-champion – a member of staff who will help them use the system and get the best results from it.