Learning Award for UNISON
7 Nov 2007
UNISON, the Open University and health trust employers were awarded an Irish Congress of Trade Unions Union Learning award for the unique partnership around the K100 Understanding Health & Social Care course.
The award was presented by crime author Val McDermid at the ICTU Union Learning Works conference in November. Speaking at the conference, Therese McKernon from the Belfast Trust praised the collaborative partnership which has resulted in almost 300 UNISON members from the health service completing the Open University K100 Understanding Health & Social Care Course. Tanya Bull, a UNISON K100 learner from the Mater Hospital spoke about how the support from UNISON and her line manager was crucial to enabling her to complete and then progress onto the OU pre-reg nursing programme.
The initiative is unique in that the course is supported by release from the employer, a dedicated study skills programme and an exam preparation day, which has resulted in a retention and completion rate well above the UK average for that course.
In the photo - Therese McKernon (Assistant Director HR, Belfast Health & Social Services Trust), Tanya Bull (UNISON K100 learner), Fidelma Carolan (UNISON), Patricia McKeown (Regional Secretary, UNISON NI), Val McDermid (author), Catherine Bell (Department of Employment & Learning), Rosemary Hamilton (Regional Director, Open University), Clare Moore (ICTU
