As the development of the Learning Hub’s private beta environment progresses the team is continuing to engage with stakeholders to focus on identifying and collating those resources to be contributed to the Learning Hub for the public beta release. Access to the public beta environment is scheduled for May 2020 when learners will have access to the first release of the platform which will continue to be developed with additional functionality being added regularly.
The ability for users to share content forms the cornerstone of the Learning Hub and it is important that there is a diverse range of resources that reflect the broad spectrum of engaged stakeholders and users from across the health and care system.
The types of resources that will be contributed include e-learning, videos, podcasts, documents (e.g. lesson plans, articles and presentations), information on physical equipment, such as that used in simulation-based education approaches. The Learning Hub team is currently developing guidance and top tips to support stakeholders that are contributing resources in collating and providing good quality metadata, optimising the accompanying information and searchability in the Learning Hub.
The following stakeholders are committed to contributing resources for the public beta release of the Learning Hub.
Academic Health Science Network, UCL Partners’ Simulation Network will be sharing content to test the utility of the Learning Hub.
Lucy Brook, Multi-professional Lead for Education and Simulation, UCL Partners, said: “In the first instance, we want to make use of the Learning Hub as a platform for sharing programme resources such as lesson plans, scenario designs and videos of simulations and debriefs. We’ve wanted a platform with these capabilities for a long time and are really pleased to be contributing to the creation and fine-tuning of the Learning Hub.”
Louise Murphy, Programme Manager, Stop Look Care, said: “Sussex Health and Care Partnership recently launched an 18-month project to roll the Stop Look Care booklet out across a small number of targeted care homes, NHS and social care providers and voluntary sector organisations within our local area.
“The Stop Look Care booklet gained national recognition after winning a Nursing Times Award in 2018 in the ‘Care of Older People’ category and has been well received by home care providers, staff, service users and carers where it is in use.
“We now want to build on this success and introduce the booklet across a number of homes and other organisations to further support the delivery of high standards of care, support our caring workforce with the skills they need and, above all, support local residents who receive services to maintain their health and wellbeing. The project has strong links to and is supported by Health Education England and social care workforce development teams across the Sussex Health and Care Partnership with a view to embedding training in the Stop Look Caremodel and its use across our local workforce.
“Stop Look Care is delighted to be a stakeholder in the Learning Hub, we view being part of the platform as essential in spreading innovation, generating conversations and continuing to improve the services we offer to our local residents.”
The Stop Look Care booklet will be available to access on the Learning Hub.
Pia Bruhn, Advanced Health Improvement Specialist, West Yorkshire and Harrogate Wider Workforce Development, said: “The West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership ‘Person Centred Skills Development Network’ project welcomes the development of the Learning Hub. This will create an opportunity to access e-learning and development from one central point, including resources such as training, toolkits, podcasts, good practice guides and articles that support our work. We are delighted to be involved at the Beta testing stage to ensure that the Learning Hub is responsive to the needs of our workforce.”
The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) has produced four reports on the value of occupational health: Occupational health: the value proposition; Occupational Health: The Global Evidence and Value; The Value of Occupational Health Research, and The Value of Occupational Health to Workplace Wellbeing. We have also produced guidance leaflets for company directors and commissioners of services, line managers and HR professionals, and workers and their representatives. All these materials will be available to access from the Learning Hub.
The SOM also has a number of mental health and wellbeing resources, which will also be shared via the Learning Hub: What could make a difference to the mental health of UK doctors? A review of the research evidence (a report on nurses will be launched spring 2020; a suicide postvention report is in the early stages); The Future of Occupational Health: building wellbeing into organisational life; Mental health and the workplace, and Looking after your mental wellbeing: A Guide for Occupational Health Practitioners.
Towards the end of 2019, the Society launched a Work and Health area on their website, which collates resources for employers and healthcare professionals, including a section on the menopause and work. A link to the Work and Health area will be available on the Hub.
SOM CEO, Nick Pahl, said: “SOM is pleased to support the Learning Hub. By sharing our resources on this new digital platform, we hope to enhance understanding and knowledge of occupational health among the health and care workforce. We are excited to collaborate and share information with other specialties, and to take part in the forums and networks that will be created.”
The Learning Hub team would like to hear from organisations with resources they wish to share and contribute to the platform. Please email tel@hee.nhs.uk, to begin discussions in readiness for the Learning Hub’s launch.
For more information about the Learning Hub follow us on Twitter: @HEE_TEL, visit: telblog.hee.nhs.uk to read blogs about our journey so far or visit: www.hee.nhs.uk/tel.