Pictured above: Dawn Cooke, Service Delivery Manager at LHA-ASRA

State-of-the-art satellite technology is beaming TV training programmes directly to staff working in care homes and nursing establishments in the East Midlands.

LHA-ASRA housing and regeneration group - which is active in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire as well as Greater London - believes it is the first care provider in the midlands to have signed up to the Aged Care Channel (ACC).

The fast-growing satellite service has been developed by an award-winning team which includes leading international experts, and it is claimed it could revolutionise the way care home staff are trained.

What sets ACC apart is its shared learning philosophy which brings staff together in the safe, familiar environment of their own care home, working closely with in-house facilitators to achieve specific objectives.

They are then encouraged to immediately put into practice what they have learned.

Programmes cover a range of areas where on-going training is essential, from first aid and fire precaution measures, to the care of patients with diabetes, and providing 'dignity in care' for residents.

Dawn Cooke, Service Delivery Manager at LHA-ASRA said: "This is an exciting and positive move for LHA-ASRA, and will help us to continue to improve the quality of service provision within our residential care homes.

"Programmes meet the essential standards set by the Care Quality Commission, which means we have highly trained staff within our care environments."

ACC films real life situations in UK care homes, cutting live coverage with pre-recorded footage which addresses key issues.  Care workers can also quiz experts during live telephone Q&A sessions.

As with any TV channel, programmes can be recorded and replayed to staff as often as required, creating a library of training materials in the process.  Topics can be followed using learning aids downloaded from the ACC website.

ACC Director Andrew Ricker said: "We are growing fast.  ACC started in July 2009 with just 50 members and have now trebled that number.  We anticipate rapid growth in the next few years."

Dawn Cooke added: "There are considerable benefits to this kind of training.  It means everyone can be gathered together in the same place - on site - to receive their training, and there are no additional costs, such as travel expenses and overnight stays.

"It also removes the requirement to find replacements for staff who are away on courses," she added.