The Union Learning Zone
A unique partnership between Mersey Care NHS Trust and the Prison Officers Association (POA) is creating a huge range of learning opportunities for employees, their families, service users and carers and the wider community.
The Union Learning Zone, based at Mersey Care’s e-café, on the Maghull site, is a regional centre for POA learning and the only centre of its kind based within an NHS Trust. Funded through the Union Learning Fund as part of the POA’s national project, it supports staff learning within both Mersey Care NHS Trust and the Prison Service – more than 300 learners currently use the centre on a regular basis.
“We have an exciting creative vision for learning in Mersey Care that is inclusive and participatory,” explains Union Learning Zone Manager Lorraine Lewis. “We recognise that in today’s world things are constantly moving and that, in order to flourish, we too must continually adapt, reflect and ‘learn as we go’.”
In exploring how best to support people on their learning adventure, the team has studied contemporary ideas and research from learning theory, organisational psychology/effectiveness and action science.
“In addition to learning a skill or gaining the knowledge necessary for our jobs, and learning how to be effective as a team or an organisation, it is also important to our health and well being that we are continually learning.” said Lorraine.
The Union Learning Zone is a UK online centre and part of a national network of POA learning centres committed to improving the quality of lives for people by giving them skills, training and confidence to learn online.
This approach has been successful in engaging local people, who come into the Zone to learn basic IT skills, such as using mobile phones, email and Skype. Some use their new found skills to stay in contact with family and friends abroad, while for others the programmes are a much more valued opportunity to engage with others. One local man, a supporter of Everton Football Club, now enjoys a post-match conversation with a fellow fan in Australia, while a scrabble enthusiast has been linked up with a dentist in South Africa.
“UK Online has always been about improving the quality of life through IT and new technology,” says Lorraine. “We use tools such as the myguide online resources that are aimed at getting people started on the internet. They have an email account and can sign up for free bite sized computer courses, from basic keyboard and mouse skills and email and internet safety, through to online shopping, banking, job hunting and even digital photography and music. These are lifelong skills that enhance the quality of life for individuals.”
Personal Assistant Christine Frawley had not taken an examination for 35 years. “I was very hesitant about going back to learning but at the Zone I found the most helpful and supportive people,” she says.
"I felt fairly confident in English but struggled with Maths,” says one of the prison officers. “Completing my Level 1 seemed to take me forever and I went into Level 2 knowing the maths was going to get harder; knowing I had the support of the staff at the learning centre made the difference.”
Janet Hussein-Ali , Head of Learning and Development at Mersey Care NHS Trust, says: “We recognise that our workforce is the key to our success, so we are committed to investing in their learning and development. Our successful partnership with the unions and unionlearn has helped us fulfil that commitment.”
