D.I.C.E utilises quality assurance systems. DICE uses the CPD quality assurance system and meets quality assurance standards and is a registered Open College Network and ASDAN centre. DICE is currently working towards the Training Quality Standards. As a voluntary organisation we are additionally working towards the ISO9 to ensure high company standards.
D.I.C.E ensures client feedback is obtained to check that the CPD/training provision meets the specified objectives, delivered the expected outcomes, was delivered in an appropriate and effective manner.
A mechanism is in place to respond to client feedback. D.I.C.E issues evaluation forms to all participants after the delivery. We follow this up three months after with a post evaluation form to measure impact of training. Participants have access to our complaints procedure should they feel grieved.
After the training we compile a trainers report that gives feedback regarding the participants, an assessment of learning through the training, determination of future training needs and observational comments.
Where appropriate clients and relevant sectors have the opportunity to be involved during the development of the CPD/training package through consultations held by D.I.C.E. This supports us to shape training to be responsive to the sector.
Subsequent to evaluation, courses are reviewed and approved on a yearly basis. Changes are made to publicity and learning plans as necessary. Accredited courses are reviewed every year and changes are made to the awarding body at the end of the course validation period.
- Suitably qualified and experienced trainers
Martin Goodwin is the lead trainer and is qualified with a BA HONS in Learning Disability Studies and is currently completing an MA in Youth and Community Development. Martin has CPD Registered Presenter Status and a CIPD Certificate in Training and Development.
D.I.C.E has a pool of associates who are recruited and selected using equitable processes that assess skill and capability in training. We additionally monitor and observe our associates to ensure that they deliver to set standards.
D.I.C.E Associates need to have a level 3 or 4 certificate in Learning and Development and a Degree or above in occupational area. We require that Associates have five years occupational experience within the field and a minimum of one year post qualifying training experience. We require all associates continue to improve their learning through ongoing CPD activities that they only supply appropriately qualified and experienced staff or associates.
D.I.C.E is an OCNWM centre. This means we can offer accredited learning routes for our learners that are nationally recognised.
D.I.C.E is working towards CPD Certifciation on all of our training courses. CPD Certification enables learners to demonstrate thier commitment to contuning their professional development and gain official points recognised by the GSSC
We offer a comprehensive range of training packages for front line staff and management on organisations who work with disabled children and young people in a range of universal and specialist settings such as play and leisure; short breaks; youth-work; education; community education; residential services; and advocacy.
D.I.C.E also designs and delivers specific training to meet the needs of organisations and communities.
D.I.C.E works with organisations to determine the learning needs of teams and creates training that responds to that need. We offer support in training needs analysis and meet with organisations to discuss and define learning objectives.
D.I.C.E training is mapped to national occupational standards that underpin qualifications such as NVQ and LDQ (formally LDAF).
Our training reflects the core values of social care training and development.
D.I.C.E believes that training should be interactive, fun and enable participants to explore issues and develop skills. We encourage the active participation of participants and value participants' experiences which enables them to develop professional practice.
D.I.C.E can provide pre-course activities and learning support after training. These can be accessed through the on-line D.I.C.E learning zone.
D.I.C.E will ask if participants have any special requirements with regard to accessing learning materials, training delivery and learning environment. Please supply any access requirements that participants may have when booking the course.
Handouts are provided and are included in the course fee. Some courses include lunch and or refreshments. Please see details.
Accredited assessment packages are also available to purchase on-line through the learning zone.
Certificates of attendance are issued for all courses.
Pre Training commissioning and support
D.I.C.E prides itself in it's services to organisations wanting to book training. Specification and accuracy is vital to ensuring responsive training and helping to ensure that trainig is cost effective and gives value to the organsiation. We support organisations by having a conversation regarding training needs through a simple form that identifies needs and the use of individual questionnaires for workers.
We additionally we offer consultancy around training needs analysis that includes targeted assessment of workers through observation in workplace and support the development of targets and learning that supports organisations to develop the workforce in a coherent fashion; avoiding duplication, gaps and overlaps.
Prior to the training we offer pre-learning activities.
D.I.C.E enables participants to have support after the training has been completed .
Organisations have a value added service through the learning zone that provides a space for participants to engage with a community of interest in the same training field, obtain links to resources, download D.I.C.E resources and apply for accredited learning opportunities that can be individually purchased or purchased on behalf of all participants by the purchasing organisation.
Organisations can purchase after training support options of the trainer coming into support the implementation of the training area through devising an action plan with staff and seniour managers in order to take the actions of the training forward.
D.I.C.E can additionally provide mentoring and coaching services that support workforce developement and often the 'hurdles' to inclusion to be overcome through ongoing support , guidence and advice.
D.I.C.E works towards eliminating barriers and addressing the attitudes towards disabled children and young people. DICE does this by supporting workers to challenge cultural, organisational, environmental, attitudinal, intellectual and physical barriers that dis-able children and young people who have impairment.
We work towards supporting disabled children and young people to feel comfortable with who they are, support them to build confidence and realise aspirations.
We ensure that staff are able to respond to the support requirements that disabled children and young people have. We support staff to challenge disablism and work to dismantle barriers so that disabled children and young people are supported to be in control of their lives.
D.I.C.E is skilled in achieving inclusion of disabled children and are experienced in supporting communication, interaction, participation, working with children who need behaviour, medical, personal care support and difficulties learning and understanding, as trainers are expected to have strong field experience, specialist knowledge and qualifications.
D.I.C.E focuses on including children and young people with severe, profound and complex impairments. We feel it is essential to understand the needs of people who are frequently socially excluded and are presented with a range of societal barriers and discrimination so that we can enable their inclusion within society. D.I.C.E ensures that our training and projects enable the provision of responsive services that support disabled children and young people with severe, profound and complex needs to have a meaningful and exceptional life. Whilst many barriers to inclusion can be challenged and removed, the impact of having a significant impairment means that individuals face challenges and their inclusion is threatened. Unless we focus on meeting the distinct needs of a group within society we risk further marginalizing, discriminating and ignoring the issues that disabled children with severe, profound and complex issues face. D.I.C.E focuses on ensuring that individual difference is valued, respected and people with the most significant, profound or complex impairments have equal rights and opportunities that are afforded to others in the way they require them.
D.I.C.E has a range of training courses that provide support to the workforce to improve their competence in working with disabled children and young people. Our training themes include Disability Equality and Inclusion, Working with Disabled Children, Supporting Skills, Advocacy and Self Determination, Early Years, Youth and Community Education. Our training support with issues such as inclusion, disability equality, rights and legislation, communication, creative activities, person centred planning, advocacy, choice and decision making, sex and relationships, inclusion within community.
D.I.C.E training focuses on the empowerment of disabled children and young people and services responsibility to enable effective communication through using augmentive and alternative communication. We enable workers to support disabled children to become more in control of their lives and build life skills through enabling choice and decision making, support them to communicate wishes and feelings, plan their lives, have fun by pursuing things they like and being involved in services. Our training ensures that workers can build relationships with parents that are supportive and respectful. Our training enables workers to work in partnership and involve families so that their children can be included.
D.I.C.E has a strong track record in providing training for universal and specialist services in areas such as play, youth, early education, after school services. D.I.C.E prides itself in understanding issues for frontline workers and managers of services that wish to include disabled children and young people. Our training ensures that is meaningful for participants, by addressing real issues and challenges they face. We provide participants with skills, underpinning knowledge to ensure inclusion is possible and practically support them to overcome hurdles to inclusion through training and consultation.
Once the organisation books the training, D.I.C.E has ‘conversation’ with learners and service managers who employ staff regarding learning needs and aspirations of staff, by sending out a pre training questionnaire. At this stage we ask learners to provide us with relevant monitoring information and any support requirements they have. If a person identifies that they require support or accessible activities, environment we would then contact the person to draw up a support plan where we would enquire how we can reasonably support the learner to have their requirements met and make every attempt to accommodate and support disabled people or individuals with identified learning needs. We have a Disability Discrimination Act Policy for Students. Learning needs and requirements are additionally met through the provision of materials made accessible. We differentiate our activities and facilitate diverse learning styles.
- Flexible training
D.I.C.E supports the workforce to be trained by providing training on a flexible basis that includes evening sessions (within Birmingham) and weekends so that training is available to fractional and sessional workers. D.I.C.E research on behalf of Birmingham City Council evidenced that this was highly required by providers but lack of flexible options for delivery exists among most providers
D.I.C.E is able to deliver cost effective delivery. Averagely, based on twenty delegates our training is delivered at a rate of £35.00 to £40.00 per person. Our daily training rate is therefore priced at around £700 – 850 depending on location and training subject. This price is inclusive of all trainer costs (apart from appropriate venue hire and refreshments).
D.I.C.E is able to offer excellent value on the basis of block bookings and prefers to build longer term partnerships with training purchasers and services. Our services are value added as through being a CIC our profits are used to further provide disabled children and young people with free advocacy services.
