Courses and qualifications
Training can take many forms, from formal classroom training, online training, seminars and conferences to work shadowing and secondment opportunities.
Personal Learning Account
Personal Learning Accounts provide a flexible and fully funded learning entitlement to support employed individuals earning under the median income of £29,534 as well as those whose jobs are at risk. The courses are available across Wales through 13 Welsh colleges and are specifically designed to address
vocational training in sectors where there is a skills shortage to ensure the future needs of the economy are met. You can apply for this funding direct with the college. If you do need any further advice, please email hrdirect@denbighshire.gov.uk.
Who is eligible?
Welsh residents who are aged 19 or over and want to gain skills and qualifications in priority sectors will be eligible for the courses if they meet at least one of the following criteria:
- they are employed (including self-employed) and earning under £29,534 per annum
- they work on a zero hours contract or are agency staff
- they are at risk of being made redundant
- are currently an offender on day release
Below you will find some useful information on various qualification and courses that are available for our employees to take advantage of.
Training courses 2022 / 2023
We have worked in partnership with all the main trade unions (GMB, UNITE and UNISON) in the last 12 months to gain funding through the Wales Union Learning Fund (WULF), which is focussed on improving the learning and skills of employees. By working with trade unions on developing learning and skills, we will be able to encourage wider participation in training, support bespoke workplace training and continue developing our employees.
Take a look at our varied programme for the year ahead, but also please note that we may add any additional topics throughout the year.
You do not have to be a specific union member to take advantage of this training. All courses are delivered virtually through either Microsoft Teams or Zoom, and if you wish to book a place please please search for the course in the Learning section on iTrent Employee Self Service or contact hrdirect@denbighshire.gov.uk.
February 2023
February 2023
Aspiring manager programme
- Module 2: 3 February 10am to 12:30pm
- Module 3: 8 February 10am to 12:30pm
For employees who have not yet undertaken their first management role but wish to prepare themselves for developing their career in this direction. A course of 3 sessions covering the key steps that you need to consider in your development journey to be able to aspire to the new level of managing people.
You must be able to attend all 3 modules and ensure you book all 3 dates in iTrent.
This course is fully booked
Coaching others to achieve higher potential
6 February: 1pm to 3pm
Coaching has become an essential ingredient of leadership required to produce the best teams in the workplace. This interactive and engaging online coaching skills programme is designed to help managers, team leaders and designated coaches to achieve greater results through effective coaching and mentoring practice.
This is a highly practical programme concentrating on giving live tips and techniques to support managers/supervisors in coaching effectively.
This course is fully booked
Effective time-management skills
8 February: 1:30pm to 3:30pm
This session will look at where your time is going, identifying the ‘time bandits’ and creating actions to arrest and reform them. By understanding our individual approach and how we view time differently will create a meaningful action plan that you will commit to doing.
This course is fully booked
Focus on your finances
9 February: 9:30am to 11am
Do you know how to protect savings from future tax? How to utilise workplace benefits to make your money go further? Or even how small financial changes could potentially reduce your mortgage by years?
During the course you'll learn how to:
- manage different types of debt
- save and invest with confidence
- budget
- take steps to financial freedom
Book a place on the Focus on your Finances course (external website)
Developing resilience in times of change
13 February: 12:50pm to 3pm
This programme is for individuals wanting to develop their personal resilience and sense of wellbeing at work when managing change and challenging situations.
This is a highly practical programme concentrating on giving live tips and techniques.
Ask and act group 2
16 February: 10am to 12:30pm
A half day course to; increase confidence and understanding of early identification, making a targeted enquiry and knowing referral pathways. This is a mandatory course for anyone working in a front facing role.
Aims and objectives:
- recognise the signs and symptoms of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence
- understand the purpose of and demonstrate an ability to undertake targeted enquiry
- demonstrate knowledge around data protection and the duty of confidentiality
- understand the purpose of risk identification in relation to some forms of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence
- be able to implement the targeted enquiry care pathway
This course is fully booked
Self-confidence and assertiveness
27 February: 10am to midday
Aims and objectives:
- define assertiveness and self-confidence
- describe the types of negative thinking, and how one can overcome negative thoughts
- utilise methodologies for understanding your worth - and the use of positive self-talk
- to review how your personality impacts on the way you interact with others and the results you may achieve
- to review what is assertiveness and why it is so important
- identify the of communications styles and when best to use them
- define the importance of goal setting, and practice setting SMART goals for assertive behaviour
- to gain a range of tips and techniques to support assertiveness
Ask and act group 2
28 February: 10am to 12:30pm
A half day course to; increase confidence and understanding of early identification, making a targeted enquiry and knowing referral pathways. This is a mandatory course for anyone working in a front facing role.
Aims and objectives:
- recognise the signs and symptoms of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence
- understand the purpose of and demonstrate an ability to undertake targeted enquiry
- demonstrate knowledge around data protection and the duty of confidentiality
- understand the purpose of risk identification in relation to some forms of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence
- be able to implement the targeted enquiry care pathway
This course is fully booked
March 2023
March 2023
Making a difference - influencing and personal impact
1 March: 1:20pm to 3:30pm
This webinar will explore the issue of personal impact and the different ways we try to influence others. Clarifying the impact, we have on colleagues and customers is fundamental to be able to communicate and influence effectively.
Managing for the first time course
- 2 March: 1pm to 3:30pm
- 7 March: 10am to 12:30pm
- 14 March: 1pm to 3:30pm
For employees who are new to the area of managing people or who are supervising people but have had no formal training. A course of 3 sessions giving tips and techniques to support managers/supervisors to work effectively with their teams in the future.
You must be able to attend all 3 modules and ensure you book all 3 dates in iTrent.
Suicide awareness
6 March: 9:30am to midday
This course provides participants with the tools to understand suicide and self-harm, understand the risk factors of what will make people vulnerable to suicide or self-harm, discuss how to effectively respond to suicidal ideation and self-harm and how to offer support and alternative coping strategies as well as creating safety plans.
This course is fully booked
Effective time-management skills
8 March: 1:20pm to 3:30pm
This session will look at where your time is going, identifying the ‘time bandits’ and creating actions to arrest and reform them. By understanding our individual approach and how we view time differently will create a meaningful action plan that you will commit to doing.
Ask and act group 2
9 March: 10am to 12:30pm
A half day course to; increase confidence and understanding of early identification, making a targeted enquiry and knowing referral pathways. This is a mandatory course for anyone working in a front facing role.
Aims and objectives:
- recognise the signs and symptoms of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence
- understand the purpose of and demonstrate an ability to undertake targeted enquiry
- demonstrate knowledge around data protection and the duty of confidentiality
- understand the purpose of risk identification in relation to some forms of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence
- be able to implement the targeted enquiry care pathway
This course is fully booked
Bereavement and loss
13 March: 9:30am to midday
This course aims to give a greater awareness of the impact of bereavement and grief. This awareness can then inform how to respond and support bereaved people, whether they are colleagues, clients, customers or friends and family. It will reflect on the grieving process and gain an understanding of current models that help us all understand grief and bereavement, becoming aware of the impact of loss on families, the skills which will improve how we communicate with bereaved people and develop an awareness of support and how and when to refer individuals for further support, including an understanding of the boundaries.
This course is fully booked
Safeguarding Young People from computer games and gambling harm
23 March: 1pm to 2:30pm
The awareness session will look at identifying the warning signs and symptoms of problem gambling. Looking at modern ways young people are now gambling including how they are using computer games to legally gamble online and what help and support is currently available immediately and where we can turn to for help. CPD accredited 90 minute course.
Ask and act group 2
30 March: 1:30pm to 4pm
A half day course to; increase confidence and understanding of early identification, making a targeted enquiry and knowing referral pathways. This is a mandatory course for anyone working in a front facing role.
Aims and objectives:
- recognise the signs and symptoms of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence
- understand the purpose of and demonstrate an ability to undertake targeted enquiry
- demonstrate knowledge around data protection and the duty of confidentiality
- understand the purpose of risk identification in relation to some forms of violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence
- be able to implement the targeted enquiry care pathway
This course is fully booked
April 2023
April 2023
Coaching skills
12 April: 9:50am to midday
Coaching has become an essential ingredient of sharing knowledge and supporting people in the workplace. This interactive and engaging online coaching skills programme is designed to help you to support others to develop themselves to achieve greater results.
Managing difficult conversations
17 April: 9:50am to midday
Aims and objectives:
- to understand how as an individual to effectively deal with difficult situations
- to understand why we find conversations challenging
- to review the impact of conflict on ourselves, the department and organisation
- to understand the impact of different conflict management styles and how to ensure that the right style and strategy is deployed
- to be able to recognise different kinds of behaviour and how to manage this within the conflict process
- to review and practice a variety of techniques to support the interaction with all parties concerned and explore a template for future challenging conversations
E-learning
We do have various courses that are delivered by E-Learning and these can be found on the E-learning page. These can be specific to Denbighshire but there are also various other courses available from the All Wales Academy.
Academi Wales
As a local government employees you will become a member of Academi Wales (external website), who provide a huge amount of training and resources that you can take advantage of. These are all free and some of the courses are excellent ways to develop your skills and experience and an opportunity to network.
We work closely with local Colleges and Universities to deliver recognised qualifications and training courses for our employees. Some may be funded through the apprenticeship levy, department funded or funded by other means.
Over the recent few months we have seen employees start and successfully complete management qualifications in, ILM Leadership & Management Level 2 and 3, ILM Coaching & Mentoring Level 3 and 5, Project Management Diploma Level 4 and Human Resource Management to name a few.
If you are interested in any courses or qualifications you will need to speak to your manager in the first instance, who may then speak to the Organisational Development team to arrange a discussion with the provider. You may also see various awareness sessions being advertised and held throughout the year which may be of interest to you.
There is also a full range of other department specific training and qualifications that our employees can undertake and we are working continually to develop the offer to our employees, these include Health & Safety and Social Care training, Advice and Guidance, ICT and Social Media and Digital Marketing.
We can also offer bespoke training for departments as and when there is a specific project / need and can tailor the training to suit specific service needs. Look out for various training opportunities and if you would like more information or interested in any qualifications and training please contact hrdirect@denbighshire.gov.uk.
Dedicated union learning opportunities
If you are a member of the union you may find other qualification and courses that you may be able to attend or be able to apply for. Please see their dedicated learning pages below: