When the Trust Taplins Childcare and Learning Centre opened two years ago, it was one of the first of its kind in the country. Based at the Western Community Hospital in Southampton, it provides a range of health and childcare training courses, as well as creche facilities which enable parents to leave their children in safe hands
while they undertake training.
The 2.3m resource centre is funded by a combination of its local PCT, West Hampshire Trust and the Southampton Universities Hospital NHS Trust, the Outer Shirley Regeneration Project, the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative and Sure Start. It was opened in May 2004 by former children's minister Margaret Hodge and has gone from strength to strength.
Flexible hours
A large part of the building is taken up by a 100-place nursery. Nursery manager Sam Hollins explains how the nursery places are allocated. 'Trust Taplins is NHS-run with staff employed by the Trust. We have 100 places available in the nursery, with half allocated to children whose parents work for the NHS, and half for families living in the local community.
Currently the opening hours are from 7am until 9.30pm Monday to Friday, with Saturday opening an option in the future if required.'
Many of the parents using the nursery work shift patterns so they might only require childcare for part of the day. These parents benefit from paying an hourly rate, subject to a five- hour minimum.
Along the corridor from the nursery is the Learning Centre, consisting of two training rooms and an IT resource room. Each room has a television and video, overhead projector and multi-media projector.
The focus is very much on childcare and health training, for NHS staff developing their careers, and members of the local community looking to access training for careers in health and social care, and childcare.
For the nursery staff, the training centre is an ideal resource to have so nearby. Sam Hollins says, 'Staff have regular access to the computers in the training centre and also attend courses which I book through the local EYDCP. This includes courses such as Promoting Health and Hygiene, Developing Role Play, Birth to Three Matters training and Communication, Language and Literacy training.'
For members of the community, these may last anything from a few hours to 12 weeks. Ceri Connor is the staff and community development manager for Southampton City Primary Care Trust. Her job, she says, 'has two parts: working with staff within the Trust, assisting in their career development needs, and overseeing community development work.'
Steps to employment
Ceri and her team are there to ensure that the residents of Millbrook and Outer Shirley areas of Southampton are aware of the training Taplins can provide them. In an area of regeneration, many people need assistance to access the workforce.
She explains how they engage the local residents. 'We work with those parents who access Sure Start facilities in Millbrook, Redbridge and Maybush. Also we have close links with local agencies, who will refer clients to us. Aim Higher has funded a community development worker who has built relationships with local colleges and employment agencies.'
Once training needs are assessed, Taplins does everything to ensure this is simply the first step to full-time employment. 'Many people attending courses at the centre will go on to attend further courses here,' says Ceri. 'Several of our courses are taster sessions, designed to lead on to other courses, and to tempt people back to learning. Some may also go on to do NVQs outside the centre, or go back to full-time education.'
Demand for the training centre is high, as it is also hired out to other organisations such as the local authority, other NHS Trusts, and community groups.
For local mothers, childcare courses are always popular, and the local EYDCP has nominated trainers for the Taplins courses with different people coming in depending on the course running.
Vital necessity
For many out-of-work mothers the creche is a necessity, and a facility the centre could not do without. 'Many of the people attending courses during the day will already have their childcare organised,' says Ceri. 'But for unemployed members of the community the creche is the first thing they ask about. The creche is a very important part of the centre, and most members of the community would not be able to attend courses without it.
'The courses are free but unfortunately the creche isn't, so for people struggling to pay we try to access funding.'
Because demand for the creche varies it only has one full-time member of staff, its manager. However, there is a bank of staff who can be called in, and the creche also makes use of the floaters in the nursery at busy times.
For many young mothers in this part of Southampton, Taplins has helped them decide their future. Ceri says, 'Quite a few have gone on to do nursery nursing or childminding. Others have found jobs as pre-school or classroom assistants, youth work, or counselling.'
'Trust Taplins Childcare and Learning Centre is a vital part of the community, enabling residents who need a helping hand to access information on health, social care and childcare careers to achieve their goals.'
Case study: Nicky Slater
Eighteen months ago Nicky Slater was a young mother interested in a change of career. She attended an open day at a local hotel, where she found out about Taplins and what it had to offer. While still working, she attended the Making Choices orientation course, which ran one evening a week for six weeks. Each week a speaker from a different area of childcare - childminders, nursery nurses, and playworkers - came to give a talk and to provide an insight into their jobs.
Nicky then went on to attend two further courses at the centre, called A Question of Play and Take 5 for Play. It was during this time that Nicky began working at the nursery at Taplins. She started with holiday cover, and was offered a permanent position when it came up.
Nicky had her own children's care sorted when she began the courses, but she does occasionally use the creche facilities when required.
