NEYH REGIONAL EDUCATION

Andy Pearson - Regional Education Officer

 

Welcome!

We pride ourselves on flexibility in this region. We are open for face-to-face delivery and still offering day release and block courses to suit your needs. If however, you struggle to get to our offices throughout the region we will continue to offer a wide range of courses via our virtual classrooms on zoom.

For workplaces with larger numbers of representatives wishing to be trained together alternative provisions can be discussed. If you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Email: [email protected] 

or call: 0113 2364830 and ask for the education department.

In solidarity

Andy Pearson

NEYH Regional Education & Development Officer

Workplace Representative Training

As an elected Workplace Representative it is essential you access your initial training as soon after election as possible. It is best to book both courses at the same time to ensure you have a place reserved on each course.

Workplace Representatives Stage 1

Course description:

10 Day Course

This course is designed to be the core initial training for Unite workplace reps. The course covers the wide range of knowledge and skills needed by the new Rep including:

• Key skills for organising your workplace

• Handling discipline and grievance cases

• Communication skills

• Introduction to Employment Law Equality at Work

• Evaluating and assessing your experience since the Stage 1 course

• Understanding the concept of ‘good work’

• Understanding and dealing with Issues around Dignity and Respect in the workplace

• Problem-solving skills

• Bargaining skills

• Work-life balance• Building a strong workplace union

Workplace Representatives 1A

Course description:

5 Day course 

This course is designed to be the core initial training for Unite workplace reps. The course covers the wide range of knowledge and skills needed by the new Rep including:

  • Key skills for organising your workplace
  • Handling discipline and grievance cases
  • Communication skills
  • Introduction to Employment Law Equality at Work

 

Workplace Representatives 1B

Course description:

5 Day Course 

For reps who have completed Module 1A.

This course covers:

• Evaluating and assessing your experience since the Stage 1 course

• Understanding the concept of ‘good work’

• Understanding and dealing with Issues around Dignity and Respect in the workplace

• Problem-solving skills

• Bargaining skills

• Work-life balance• Building a strong workplace union

Workplace Representatives Stage 2

Course Description:

For reps who have completed Modules 1A & 1B.

The course covers:

• Improving confidence and knowledge in exploring, questioning, and using employment law

• Exploring research skills and developing the ability to find out how legal provisions impact on your member's rights in the workplace

• How changes to employment law impact your workplace rights

• Planning alternative solutions other than employment law to your workplace issues

• Working as a team to develop collective actions

• Rights to information

• Workplace Rights

• Collective Bargaining

• Agreements

• The Case for Collective Agreements

• Planning for getting an agreement

• Collective Bargaining and Negotiation

Environmental Reps

Who is the course for?

This is a new programme designed for any representative who has an interest in understanding the impact their workplace has on the environment and how to make things better.

Just as unions and employers work together to improve health and safety in the workplace through safety committees, union environmental (or ‘green’) reps can be elected to champion environmental issues. They can raise awareness and ensure that green issues are included in the negotiating or bargaining agenda at work. The main concern of a union green rep is to agree a joint approach to ‘greening the workplace’. The starting point, as always, is talking to union members about their ideas to change the way they work and the resources used.

What does it cover?

There are a range of topics covered including: - 

  • Environmental audits
  • Renewable energy
  • Transport and the environment
  • Campaigning on the  environment
  • making change in your workplace

 

Health & Safety Representatives Training

As an elected Health & Safety Representative it is essential you access your initial training as soon after election as possible. Your initial training consists of Module 1A and 1B. It is best to book both courses at the same time to ensure you have a place reserved on each course. 

Health & Safety Representatives Module 1A

Course description:

This course is the essential course for all new Unite Health and Safety Representatives. It is designed to help you build the skills, knowledge and confidence to organise effectively in order to carry out your work as a Safety Rep as well as to create understanding of how economic and others aspects affect the working lives, health, safety and welfare of working people.

The course covers:

• Understanding the role of a Unite Safety Rep

• The legal framework of Health and Safety

• Rights of Safety Reps

• Involving the members in Health and Safety

• Accident Investigations – Risk Assessments

Health & Safety Representatives Module 1B

Course description:

The course develops the skills and knowledge learned in Module 1A:

• Examining your workplace risk assessment and evaluating them

• Understanding health & safety audits and company accident statistics

• Appreciate health & safety legislation including aspects of criminal and civil law

Health & Safety Representatives Module 2A

Course description:

Module 2A of Unites Health & Safety training builds upon the knowledge learnt in Modules 1A and 1B.

The course covers:

• Assessment of workplace action plan

• Understanding COSHH and related hazards

• Carrying out a workplace audit

• Explore manual handing and ergonomic risks

• Creating a healthier work environment

Health & Safety Representatives Module 2B

Course description:

Module 2B of Unites Health & Safety training builds upon the knowledge learned in Modules 1A, 1B, and 2A.

This course covers:

• Assessment of workplace action plan

• Understanding accidents and finding the route cause

• Investigation techniques

• Managing risks and incidents

Union Learning Reps

Who should attend?

 

This course is designed to be the core initial training for all Unite Union Learning Reps (ULRs). It helps them develop the basic knowledge and skills needed as a new Rep, enabling them

to work with colleagues in the workplace to analyse training needs. The course forms a solid foundation for the new ULR to develop their skills and their own personal development.

 

What will I learn?

 

The course covers a number of topics to advance some of your key skills in your role as a Unite union learning representative. 

 

  • Understanding union structures in relation to learning
  • Taking action on learning issues
  • Understanding the support available to you
  • Consulting members on learning
  • Using learning as an organising tool
  • Promoting learning in your workplace
Equality Reps

Course description:

Designed to give all Unite Reps the confidence and knowledge to address equality and diversity issues, the course provides a comprehensive overview of equality in the workplace.

On completion of the course Reps should be able to:

• Recognise equality issues within the workplace

• Know what constitutes discrimination, harassment and bullying

• Challenge their perception of equality & diversity

• Understand the key points of new equalities legislation, measures and legal decisions

• Decide how best to support workers in response to new equalities legislation

• Use interviewing techniques to deal with individual and workplace equality issues• Develop equality policies and practice

Additional Courses

Who should attend?

This course is designed as follow on training for those Union Learning reps that have completed the stage one training for their role. 

Branch Officials

Course description:

The Branch Secretary is a key player in the Unite team. The concept of this course is to develop Branch Secretaries within Unite by providing them with the knowledge and skills, and nurturing their passion, to drive forward the ideology of our union, to develop our activist base and grow and strengthen our membership. This course is designed for all new Branch Secretaries, and for those who have not attended the course recently.

The course covers:

• The administrative role of the Branch Secretary

• How the union works

• How ‘lay democracy’ starts at local branch level

• Understanding organisation procedures

• Encouraging active participation within the Unite structure

• Branch Finance

• Understanding the ‘Strategy for Growth’ and the crucial role that the branch plays

• Setting out a local ‘strategy for growth’ for recruitment, retention and participation in branch life

• Branch Portal

• Chairing and Organising Skills

Pensions Stage One - 5 Day Block

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for all elected representatives who have an interest in, or a role as, a pensions representative on behalf of their members at work.

Mental Health Awareness

Who should attend?

This course is designed to introduce the topics of stress, anxiety and mental ill health. It will assist reps in promoting mental health and to understand the issues faced by members at work. We encourage all reps to attend the course.

Mental Health awareness covers

  • Raise awareness of mental health

  • Understand the importance of mental health

  • Mental Health terminology

  • How mental health can impact on you

  • Mental health and employment

  • The role of the employer

  • Creating mentally healthy workplaces

  • Supporting others

  • Looking after your own well being

Mental Health First Aider - 2 Day Block

Who Should Attend?

This course is open to those representatives who have completed the one day Mental Health Awareness course. Through this course you will gain valuable knowledge and skills that will enable you to identify the early signs of mental ill health, provide help to prevent mental ill health from getting worse and recover more quickly, and reduce the stigma of mental health problems.

The Course is accredited by Mental Health England. We can also deliver this training in your workplace at a cost to your employer. We would ask that you limit bookings to one representative per workplace for this course.

Mental Health First aid covers

On this two-day course, you will learn how to:

  • Identify the early stages of a mental health problem

  • Help someone who’s dealing with a mental health issue

  • Help stop someone from self-harming or hurting others

  • Help stop mental ill health from worsening

  • Help someone have a quicker recovery

  • Guide someone towards proper professional help

  • Break the stigma of a mental health problem

Changing your workplace - Practical Research Skills

Aims

This is a pilot course utilising a new format. The course is designed to assist reps develop knowledge and skills which will enable you to become a better rep.

Who is this course for?

To get the most from this course we suggest you have completed a stage two course either workplace reps, health and safety or ULR. We also encourage those who have attended national equalities courses to join us too. Applications for this course are particularly invited from BAEM, LGBT+, Women and Young Members'.

Course overview

You will  learn research methods and use one method to create really useful knowledge; you will work with other members in your workplace or branch to promote equality or organising through doing a research project; You will learn the principles of community based participatory research and how to apply them to your role as a rep.

Delivery format

9.30am – 11.30 on Zoom; afternoons spent in individually guided study on Litmos 12.30-4.30pm. To assist with release the course will be advertised from 9.30 - 16.30 so we suggest using the afternoon session to complete your self guided studies. If you have facilities time the course work should be completed during facilities time, otherwise it can be done at your convenience.

 

Mental Health First Aid Refresher

How often should MHFA England skills be refreshed?

Mental Health England recommend that Mental Health First Aiders and MHFA Champions attend a Refresher course every three years. Just like physical first aid, updating skills and knowledge allows people to perform this vital role confidently and safely.

 

The Refresher course will support existing Mental Health First Aiders and MHFA Champions by:

  • Renewing their skills 
  • Updating their knowledge of mental health supports 
  • Giving them the chance to practice applying the Mental Health First Aid action plan 

Enabling your Mental Health First Aiders and MHFA Champions to refresh their skills, the same way your physical first aiders do, is a great way to demonstrate your organisation’s commitment to treating mental health and physical health equally. Investing in the course will give you the confidence that your Mental Health First Aiders and MHFA Champions are performing their role safely and effectively.

Accredited Support Companions

Who should attend?

This course is designed for senior representatives to support other Unite members who are in workplaces without access to their own representative. Ideally you should have completed workplace representatives stage two training and be able to gain release from your employer easily.

What will I learn?

The course covers a number topics including

  • Understanding the rights of a companion
  • Suport companion protocols
  • Reporting and record keeping
  • Practical Case study training

Pre Retirement Seminar

Online Retirement Seminar Agenda


Our Online Retirement Seminar is a 2 ½ hour highly informative session
focussing on all aspects to do with retirement and later life planning. As well
as a detailed insight into different types of pension schemes and the various
retirement options, the session considers the health and longevity issues
surrounding retirement planning helping delegates to think seriously about
when and how to retire.

 

10:00 Session 1


• Introductions and Agenda Overview
• Seeking Financial Advice – A look at the different types of adviser services and their
costs.
• The Effect of Inflation – Considering how inflation will affect future finances and
living standards in retirement.
• Budget Planning – How much will I need to live off?


10:45 15 Minute Comfort Break


11:00 Start Session 2


• The Different Types of Pension Schemes – A look at how the State Pension works,
and the type of benefits provided by different Pension Schemes.
• Pension Scheme Options – Consideration of the various income options and ways
to maximise Capital and Income benefits Tax Efficiently; Ensuring other family
members are protected and the importance of seeking advice.


12:00 Start Session 3


• Investing Wisely – How to create a personalised Savings and Investment strategy to
diversify risk and maximise potential returns in a Tax Efficient manner.
• Later Life Planning – The importance of making a Will, Appointing a Power of
Attorney and the use of Trusts for effective Inheritance Tax Planning. Meeting
Funeral expenses.


12:30 Questions & Close

Stress Management and Wellbeing

Stress management and wellbeing are key issues for all our reps. Please come along and learn about what the union can do to help, and how you can monitor changes in your own and your members' stress and well being over time.

Note that this teaches you how to work with your employer to implement an organisational response to stress. It is not a course in mental health awareness.

Harmful Gambling

This short training session is designed to introduce students to the topic of harmful gambling.

The session will cover the following topics and more: - 

  • The Unite Gambling Charter
  • The effects of harmful gambling
  • Getting support

Neurodiversity and Autism awareness

This course is for all union representatives, equality officers and other members who want to find out more about autism (including Aspergers), neurodiversity and the workplace.

To gain confidence in promoting equality in the workplace for people who are neurodiverse.

Learning Outcomes

  • To evaluate myths about autistic people and others who are neurodiverse
  • To describe issues that affect autistic and other neurodiverse people at work
  • To describe how the law can be used to promote equality for people with autism in the workplace.

Autism in the Workplace Workshop

Course description:

This one day course will help you understand the needs of people with autism in the workplace and help you plan to make reasonable adjustments for them.

Who is this course by?

This course is by Britain's biggest trade union. We are experts in promoting good industrial relations and in helping employers make reasonable adjustments for those who need them.

Who is this course for?

This course is for employees or employers who wish to understand responsibilities to make reasonable adjustments for autistic people under the Equality Act 2010.

Accreditation:

This course is CPD certified for 2 hours. Learners who complete the course workbook will receive a certificate of completion.

Course delivery

The course lasts one day. The morning activities take place on Zoom, the afternoon activities may take place together on Zoom or individually on the Litmos VLE (Virtual learning environment).

Course Aims

To gain confidence in promoting equality in the workplace for people with Autism Spectrum Condition

Learning Outcomes

  • To understand people with autism including the triad of impairments
  • To describe issues that may affect people with autism at work and cause them stress;
  • To describe possible reasonable adjustments at work for people with autism.

Politics and You

Course description

 

This course is the first step to understanding why politics is Union business!

It is also a stepping stone to the regional residential schools and the national political school held in Durham each year.

 

Who is this course for?

 

This course is for everyone, and especially for women, BAEM members, LGBT members, the young, and the disabled.

Aims

  • To understand the link between political economy and trade unionism and how Unite members can become involved and influence politics at various levels.
  • To prepare members and activists for leadership roles in Unite and in the wider political arena.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course learners will be able to:

  1. Describe the impact of politics and economics on working men and women in Great Britain from 1918 to today.
  2. Describe the importance of climate change on workers' lives and the need for change in workplaces and society.
  3. Outline how decisions are made in your community.
  4. Evaluate the potential for change in power relationships in your community based on collective action.

Changing your workplace - practical Research skills - a course for advanced reps skills

Aims

This is a pilot course utilising a new format. The course is designed to assist reps develop knowledge and skills which will enable you to become a better rep.

Who is this course for?

To get the most from this course we suggest you have completed a stage two course either workplace reps, health and safety or ULR. We also encourage those who have attended national equalities courses to join us too. Applications for this course are particularly invited from BAEM, LGBT+, Women and Young Members'.

Course overview

You will  learn research methods and use one method to create really useful knowledge; you will work with other members in your workplace or branch to promote equality or organising through doing a research project; You will learn the principles of community based participatory research and how to apply them to your role as a rep.

Delivery format

9.30am – 11.30 on Zoom; afternoons spent in individually guided study on Litmos 12.30-4.30pm. To assist with release the course will be advertised from 9.30 - 16.30 so we suggest using the afternoon session to complete your self guided studies. If you have facilities time the course work should be completed during facilities time, otherwise it can be done at your convenience.

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