Centre Accreditation for McCrudden Training

McCrudden Training has recently secured centre approval with Laser Learning Awards, the south east regional office of the Open College Network (OCN).

This major step forwards for McCrudden Training will enable the award-winning training, coaching & consultancy company to offer clients accredited training that equates to valuable CPD points.

Our centre approval will enable us to:

• kite marked programmes that provide reassurance that our training is a quality course

• offer accreditation for our bespoke courses

• provide qualification units within our training

Initially we'll be offering training programmes at Level 2 and Level 3, and we've already begun the process of accrediting our existing workshops.  And in future any client wanting training tailored to their own needs, will be offered the opportunity to develop it as an accredited programme.

T.O.A.D. - Know the signs!

Scientists have recently diagnosed a new disorder that affects an individual's ability to successfully complete tasks.  Total Overload (of) Activities Disorder, or TOAD for short, occurs when a person fails to complete a single task because they take on too many things simultaneously.  As a consequence, their conscious mind is unable to focus.

One overloaded sufferer describes a typical day in their life below:

"One Monday I decided to get to work earlier to tidy my desk before too many people got into the office.  As I walking into the building I saw Saturday's post on the floor, and decided that I should sort through that first.  As I flicked through the letters I noticed several were for my colleagues.  I decided to drop them off with intended recipients before I opened my post.

On the way to drop off the post, I noticed that the printer was flashing a red light.  Knowing that I needed to print something later on, I decided to fix the problem before I dropped the letters off.

The printer was out of paper, so I put down the letters and decided to go and get some paper from the cupboard.  Half way down the corridor I remembered the paper cupboard is right next to one of the offices that I had letters for.  So I went back for the post.

On the way back, I bumped into my colleague who'd just arrived.  "Ah", he said "I was hoping I'd see you - do you have the notes from last week's meeting?".  "Of course" I replied, "they're on my desk, I'll get them for you".  "No hurry" he said "any time today will do."

I decided to do it there and then so I didn't forget.  I went to my desk, where I found I'd left my coffee mug dirty on Friday night and it was starting to go mouldy.  I decided that I'd better clean that out whilst I thought about it.  As I headed to the kitchen, a plant caught my eye - it was desperately in need of water.

I walked to the kitchen with the dirty mug and the plant, and noticed my reading glasses next to the sink - I'd been looking for those all weekend.  I must have left them there on Friday night.

I decided I'd better put them in my coat so that I didn't forget them again, but first I thought I should put boiling water in my mug.  So I put my glasses down and filled my mug with washing up liquid and hot water.

Then I remembered the plant - so i tried to pour some water into the pot, but missed and managed to spill some on the floor.  I had to mop that up quickly in case someone slipped over.  So I got a mop and cleaned the mess.  I headed back down the corridor, trying to remember what I had been doing.  Then more of my colleagues arrived - asking me about my weekend.

By lunchtime my desk was still a mess, I hadn't given out the post, or opened my letters, the printer still didn't have any paper, I hadn't given my colleague the meeting notes he wanted, my coffee mug was still soaking, the plant was still dry and I couldn't find my reading glasses again.

And to cap it all, I couldn't find my car keys now either!

I tried to work out why I hadn't gotten anything done - I knew I hadn't stopped all morning!  I knew that I had a problem managing my time, so I went on the internet to try and find some help or advice.  Then a message popped up saying I had a new email, so I decided to look at that first....."

Sound familiar?  If it does, then why not join our free taster of our "Achieve More: Introduction to Time Management" session

27 September, 6-8pm, The Afton Hotel, Eastbourne.

Although the session is free - booking is essential.  Click here to reserve your place!

First Aid Newsletter - August 2011

Any foreign object that gets stuck in the throat can cause muscle spasms in the airway - choking.

Each year hospitals treat around 16,000 people for choking.  Most people choke on food, and choking is usually more common in older people, although each year around 2,600 children choke.

Read more: First Aid Newsletter - August 2011

First Aid Newsletter - July 2011

Eye injuries can occur more easily than you might think - in the UK DIY and sport are both common causes of damage to the eyes.  Although eye injuries are not usually life-threatening, they can easily be sight-threatening.  And delays in recognising and treating injuries can increase the chances of serious injury.

Read more: First Aid Newsletter - July 2011

Training Journal Awards 2011 - Finalists

National recognition for McCrudden Training!

A training partnership between Eastbourne-based McCrudden Training Ltd and the local NHS has been shortlisted for a national training award in the Training Journal Awards 2011.

Following a merger of NHS organisations, McCrudden Training was commissioned by the NHS Learning and Development teams to design and deliver a leadership programme for local NHS staff. Learning and Development Managers wanted a programme to help develop one united approach to leadership after bringing together 4 different NHS Trusts. The programme designed by McCrudden Training did just that. It included 4 sessions each with a different focus. Staff attending the programme learnt about a wide range of topics including the national strategic context of the NHS, a range of leadership styles and their uses and how best to support, communicate with and develop their teams.

Over the last 2 years, McCrudden Training has trained nearly 100 front line NHS staff from physiotherapists and district nurses to commissioning staff. The programme itself steadily gained critical acclaim among staff, and contributed to savings in the Trusts by increasing staff retention and ensuring the staff were well equipped to support the staff they manage. Podiatry Manager Adam Cooper-Lloyd was one of the staff who attended the programme, “the training took me out of my comfort zone a few times, which really did me good”.

“The industry magazine Training Journal has been running these awards for 6 years and they attract some really prestigious entrants” says McCrudden Training’s Director Nicky McCrudden. “I’m absolutely thrilled that our work with the NHS has received this national recognition. Particularly in the Training Partnerships category, that we know is the most hotly contested of all the categories and this year they had well over 30 entrants for that category alone”.

The local team is one of 6 shortlisted candidates in their category, alongside national names such as Lloyds Banking Group and Middlesex University, HSBC Bank Plc and Twinnings Tea.

Representatives from McCrudden Training and the NHS will be heading up to Training Journal’s London offices next month to be interviewed by the judges as part of the next round of judging. If they are successful, the awards presentation will be presented at a gala dinner in the capital in November.