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Welcome to Acorn!
NEW Visible Leaders Programme Dates for Cohorts 3 and 4 (click on the green banner after logging in).
To Contact Learning and Development:
We are based in the Education Centre in the Verulam Wing of Hemel Hempstead Hospital.
Call us on Hemel Hempstead Extension 2666 (33122666 if calling from Watford or St.Albans; 01442 213 141, ext 2666 if calling from outside the Trust).
Email us on:
westherts.training@nhs.net - For all queries related to Acorn and Mandatory Training
westherts.development@nhs.net - For all queries related to developmental courses and leadership programmes
westherts.ldcoaching@nhs.net - For all queries related to the Trust Coaching Service.
To Contact the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) Training Team
The EPR Training Team is based in the EPR offices in Shrodells at Watford.Telephone Watford Extension 3198 (33113198 if calling from Hemel Hempstead or St. Albans) or 07855 963 688
Or email westherts.eprtraining@nhs.net
Acorn's automated reminders come from the email address whht.acorn@nhs.net - do NOT reply or write to this email address, there is no inbox at the other end. Use the appropriate email address above instead.
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Learning and Development and EPR Training Updates
24/9/2024 - Acorn Messages Regarding Insulin Courses. Some staff will have received messages regarding enrolment into the "Safe Prescribing and Administration of Insulin Course." This was a as a result of background work to set up for a course that will become mandatory shortly, however the messages were not intended to go out today. Nevertheless (if you received the message) you are welcome to complete the course anyway, and it will count as compliance once the course does become mandatory.
Additionally, some managers may have received notifications for their staff being enrolled into this course for staff that are no longer here. This was due to an administrative error on our part which has now been fixed. Any such messages may be ignored.
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2/7/2024 - The Food Safety Course must now be refreshed every three years. Staff who have this as a requirement will now see the target on their Acorn home screens. Please note that re-targeting is based on having done this course previously. As such you can ignore the re-targeting requirement if (e.g.) you have changed roles since you did it the first time.
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1/7/2024 - The Visible Leaders' Programme is now open to applications. This is the new programme for top level leaders and managers (8c/Consultant and above, but applications accepted from and some spaces reserved for exceptional 8b/Senior Registrar/SAS grades). Developed and taught in partnership with the King's Fund, this course will give you their experience in what makes a great healthcare sector leader and manager right now. You can obtain course information and an application form from the green banner after logging in. Application deadlines are 31 August for Cohorts 1 and 2 and 30 September for Cohorts 3 and 4.
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14/5/24 - EPR training has moved
to Acorn. All substantive
staff EPR legacy training records have been migrated to Acorn. Users can now
use the new “EPR Training” dashboard to search the EPR training catalogue, view
their training record, complete assigned learning, self-enrol for further
learning, declare interest in classroom training and monitor compliance.
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22/3/24
New Coaching Guide Now Available
A guide to Coaching Services available in the Trust is now available from Acorn's home screen and green banner once you have logged in. This guide covers obtaining coaching for yourself and your staff, getting coaching development for leadership and how to become a Trust Coach.
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22/3/24
Ignite Leadership Coaching Courses for 24/25 now available to book.
Search for "Ignite" in the course search after logging in. Dates available are 30&31 May, 28&29 October and 7&8 November. Remember to book both days. (Please enquire with L&D first if Band 6 or below).
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25/1/24 - A HUGE Variety of Work-Life Balance and Effective Budgeting Courses now available through our partnership with the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. Download a flyer and booking instructions from the green banner at the top of the screen (after logging in) for more details.
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8/1/24 - New Required Course for All Midwives - Intelligent Intermittent Auscultation in Labour
This new e-Learning course is required for Midwives - please click through on the target link that will now appear on your homepage to complete it.
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12/12/23 - NEW Leadership, Management and Coach Development Brochure for 2024-2025
Find Learning and Development's new brochure of exciting opportunities for next year on the home-page of Acorn after you've logged in, or from the green banner at the top of every page. A further booklet covering dates for leadership programmes is now also available. Please feel free to email us with any enquires on westherts.development@nhs.net or call us on Hemel extension 2666.
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Trust Coaching Service: if you would like (1:1 or group) coaching for yourself or your staff then please email westherts.ldcoaching@nhs.net
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Mandatory Training Requirements changed on 1 September 2023
For the new Frequency Timetables (rule sets) click here (within the Trust).
Four new subjects were added to mandatory training requirements (and two removed) on 1 September. The new subjects are:
- Oliver McGowan (Neurodiversity and Learning Disabilities Awareness)
- Patient Safety
- Freedom to Speak Up
- Smart Evacuation
Your Acorn targeting will have changed already, everything you now need to do will be on your homepage.
If you are having problems accessing the new training due to pop-ups being blocked, you will find a link to instructions on how to fix this on the Acorn home page after you have logged in and in the green banner at the top of every Acorn screen once you are logged in.
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Accessibility of our Classrooms and Courses: If you have any accessibility requirements with regards to any mandatory or non-mandatory classroom event that you are booked on, then please let us know on westherts.training@nhs.net as soon as possible after booking. Examples of requirements include (but are not limited to) step-free access to a room, dyslexia-friendly handouts (or slides in advance), being assigned a specific seat to aid hearing or a requirement for breaks specific times (e.g. for blood glucose control). We will accommodate any requirement that is within our ability to do so.
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Women's and Children's Lockdown Training - All members of the WaCS division are now required to complete a short piece of e-learning on lockdown procedures for the WaCS building in the event of a missing child or other serious threat. If you are targeted for this you will now see the target on your home-page. Click through the target to reach the course. If you are not a member of the WaCS division but work frequently in their buildings you are also encouraged to complete this training (though you will not be targeted. Search for "WaCS Lockdown" in the course search to find the course.
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Maternity and Obstetrics staff required to complete BadgerNet training will start to see it appearing on their Acorn front page targets.
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The homepage shows your Point of Care Training compliance (in blue) underneath your mandatory training compliance. If nothing is shown (if all three numbers are 0%) then you have no POCT requirements.
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Mask wearing and distancing is not required in education offices, classrooms, lecture theatres and libraries. Masks may still be required in Simulation and Life Support training venues, as directed by those leading the sessions. Masks are still required in the corridors of Medical Education at Watford, but not in the Admin Block, the Hemel Hempstead Education Centre or the St Albans Education Centre.
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Time taken for completion of Mandatory Training counts as regular working time. All staff and managers are reminded that study leave is not required for completion of mandatory training and that time taken to do it counts as regular working time. This applies to both classroom and e-learning mandatory subjects. Staff should be released from normal working to complete this training wherever possible and, if this is not possible, time off in lieu must be given where staff are required to complete it in their own time.
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Classroom Locations
Watford
Practical Skills Room - First Floor of the Admin Block
Ground Floor Training Room - Ground Floor of the Admin Block
Taylor Room - Second Floor of the Admin Block
Lecture Theatre 1 - First Floor of the Medical Education Building
Lecture Theatre 2 - First Floor of the Medical Education Building
Hemel Hempstead
Seminar Room - Education Centre, Ground Floor Verulam Wing
Seminar Room 2 (Formerly the Library) - Education Centre, Ground Floor Verulam Wing
Jubilee Room - Second Floor, Jubilee Wing
St Albans
Lecture Hall - Postgraduate Centre, Second Floor Moynihan Wing
Seminar Room - Postgraduate Centre, Second Floor Moynihan Wing
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How to reset your password
1) Click on the Forgotten Username or Password link below the log in button.
2) In the search box, type in your 8 digit payroll number or username.
3) A password reset link will be sent to you within a few seconds.