TRAINING specialists in Worcestershire have been recognised nationally for their expertise in equipping health and social care workers with the skills to look after vulnerable and elderly people.

Options Training, the healthcare division of county-based eResponse Group, has received the certificate of endorsement awarded by Skills For Care, a mark of quality for the adult social care sector and recognising training that improves standards for people who rely on professional carers. It means Redditch-based Options Training is a nationally recognised training provider for care workers in an industry that is going to grow in importance as the population ages.

Melissa Ralphs, business development manager of Options Training, said: “This is a huge endorsement of our trainers and their hard work has paid off. Going for this award was about us putting our heads above the parapet and saying to Skills For Care that we were ready to show what we are made of and prove what we have known for a long time, that our standards and our training really are the very best. I am very proud of everyone involved. More and more of us are living longer. But with that longer life means more people will one day come to rely on professional care. Our job is to make sure the people looking after mum and dad are trained to the highest standards. And that’s what this certificate proves.”

Options had to go through a rigorous series of processes to prove its training was of the highest quality, including showing its positive impact on care home residents themselves. The firm had to gather case studies and provide testimonials from its clients, who were more than satisfied with the standards of training. It will face an audit every year to ensure it remains up to the levels required by Skills For Care.