Hospitality and Hygiene
Profile for NHS Gloucester
Within the Domestic Services at Gloucestershire Royal, and their achievements at gaining the Level 2 NVQ Cleaning and Support Services qualification with outside training provider Telford College.
Domestic services staff are a very important part of the Trust, working hard to achieve a high level of cleanliness throughout the Trust, working 365 days a year, 7 days a week and 24 hours a day.
A clean, comfortable and safe environment for everyone helps to improve confidence in our hospitals. This is particularly important in relation to environmental hygiene and organisational commitment to reduce the incidence of healthcare associated infection.
The NVQ is a nationally recognised qualification and relevant to the workplace. It proves competence and evidence that staff can do their job well and are trained to the required level. It brings out the best in staff and increases motivation among the workforce.
What Students and Staff say about our training
In September 2008, eight domestic staff formed part of a pilot group who undertook their NVQ Level 2 in Cleaning and Support Services Qualification. The college assessors, Terry Kingscott and Ruth Lowbridge, travelled down from Telford College every week to assess our staff in their workplace. The pilot went well resulting in further groups being enrolled into the programme. To date 58 staff have achieved their NVQ Level 2 with some of these staff also achieving the Skills for Life Numeracy and Literacy.
Dawn Hayward, Assessor
Dawn Hayward, Training and Development Co–ordinator, Support Services: “Evaluation of each group has been an important aspect of this new programme. Feedback has been extremely positive and encouraging which has gone a long way to ensuring the continuing running of this programme. For many this is the first qualification gained”
Anne Hemming, Student
Anne Hemming was part of the pilot group of the first Domestics to undertake their NVQ in Cleaning and Support Services.
“
I was one of the members of the pilot group for the Cleaning and Support Services NVQ. We were all extremely apprehensive as some of us had not studied for many years since
leaving school or college for a qualification. By achieving this qualification I now feel more in control as this has given my self esteem and confidence a huge boost.
It has also given me new confidence in carrying out my duties as a domestic. It demonstrates to others that we were flexible and enthusiastic to undertake and achieve this award.
”
Terry Kingscott, Assessor
“I have been working at Gloucester Hospital for over two years as an assessor for Telford College. During this time I have worked with many domestics to get them their qualification,
NVQ Level 2 in Cleaning and Support Services, also dealing with Literacy and Numeracy skills for life exams. We understand that some learners can be quite nervous but we put them at ease
by talking to them about how the qualification will run. We make sure that we are on site at times convenient to them, which has led to us working night shifts with Theatre staff
and we are currently working Saturdays and Sundays to include weekend staff.”
“During our time at the Hospital we have met many staff and have always been made to feel welcome”
For more information please email nancy.galashan@tcat.ac.uk or call 01952 642332.
