Voyage Care

Voyage Care work with The Open University (OU) to complement its own internal training programmes.

Voyage Care is England’s largest provider of specialist support within social care for adults with learning disabilities and complex needs.

They employ over 11,000 people, with around 9,000 full time members of staff, supporting 3,450+ adults and children. Services range from residential care homes and supported living to providing support in people’s own homes and the community.

Allison Pemberton, Head of Learning and Development, Voyage Care, explained: “Operating across the country, one of the key factors is the geographical spread that can be covered by opting to work with a digital training provider like the OU, particularly when it comes to providing specialist training and higher-level qualifications, such as the Chartered Management Degree Apprenticeship. That ability to access training across the country is really important.”

In addition to management training, Voyage Care have taken advantage of the OU’s specialist education. Employees new to the sector have been able to enrol on the Health and Social Care Certificate, giving them a strong grounding in social care to help them drive their careers forward.

Recipients of training say that learning opportunities give them a wider understanding, skills and knowledge, which they can apply directly to their day job.

This flexibility and ability to apply learning straight away has had a positive impact on retention, with Voyage Care enjoying relatively low turnover for the sector, as a result of their training initiatives.

Staff feel invested in and repay this with their loyalty. In addition to this, it also allows talented employees to have multiple careers within the organisation, move to different areas and pursue their passions whilst remaining in the social care workforce, which has proven so vital in supporting the nation throughout COVID-19.

Allison Pemberton
Head of Learning and Development, Voyage Care

In the wake of the pandemic, Voyage Care have come to further value the benefits of online learning, having adopted digital training almost entirely over the last year, apart from critical learning (for example essential clinical training). The user-friendly online delivery has been a key priority.

Allison added: “Alongside the partnership with the OU, a development team is constantly working on redesigning the training platform, having adapted to the new ways of working, and the ability to quickly meet further changes on the horizon.”

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