SOUTH YORKSHIRE SKILLS BANK SUPPORTS TARGET HOUSING'S TRANSFORMATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMME

Published 21 November 2024 at 10:44am

South Yorkshire Skills Bank supports Target Housing’s transformational training programme

South Yorkshire Skills Bank is delighted to have provided £20,253 in grants to support Target Housing’s recent and ongoing investment in leadership and team training. Target Housing, a charity dedicated to providing supported living and housing services for disadvantaged individuals has launched a groundbreaking initiative, ‘Creating…Space’, to enhance the capabilities of its team leaders, service managers and to strengthen the organisation’s ability to deliver high-quality projects, improving lives across South Yorkshire.

South Yorkshire Skills Bank provides grants of up to 60% towards the cost of training programmes designed to enhance skills and drive growth. The fund’s goal is to empower the region’s organisations to invest in their workforce, helping them to achieve sustainable success.

Empowering improvement through bespoke training

The Creating…Space’ training programme, developed by Sensus Coaching and Ultimate Learning Resources and tailored for Target Housing, was designed to empower the team leaders, service managers and support teams of Target Housing’s LIFT project by clarifying their roles, improving strategic focus, and enhancing overall service quality. The LIFT project provides specialist support to those who live with severe and enduring mental illness and those living with a learning disability. With the support of South Yorkshire Skills Bank, 25 project staff have successfully completed the programme, leading to significant improvements in leadership dynamics and operational delivery.

“We’re delighted with the outcomes of the ‘Creating…Space’ programme,” said Maria Halliwell, Head of Human Resources at Target Housing. “Our LIFT project team leaders are now better equipped to manage their teams, allowing service managers to focus on strategic growth and collaboration with key stakeholders. It has also resulted in more cohesive and effective service delivery from our support teams, directly benefiting the vulnerable individuals we support.”

Expansion plans: Extending the success of ‘Creating…Space’

Encouraged by the positive impact of the initial ‘Creating…Space’ programme, Target Housing plans to extend the training to other teams within the organisation. The next phase will focus on the Sheffield Complex Needs and Doncaster Complex Needs teams, comprising 26 staff members. These teams work with people who have experienced multiple disadvantages, and the tailored training will ensure that they continue to provide the highest level of care and support.

Future training initiatives: Building resilience and consistency

Target Housing is also exploring further training opportunities to support its growing services. One such initiative is the new Growth Project, which focuses on working with women who have had children removed from their care. Given the complex and emotionally challenging nature of this work, Target Housing recognises the importance of training to support its staff with emotional resilience and elastic tolerance to prevent vicarious trauma.

The organisation plans to offer the same level of bespoke training to the Growth Project team that has been provided through the ‘Creating…Space’ programme so far.

Furthermore, Target Housing is scoping out a tailored training programme for its Senior Leadership Team. This initiative aims to ensure that senior managers fully understand and embrace the ‘Creating…Space’ ethos. By fostering a consistent approach to leadership across all levels of the organisation, Target Housing seeks to further enhance its inclusive and transparent management style.

Continued support from South Yorkshire Skills Bank

Target Housing is but one example of the multi-level funding Skills Bank can offer to empower organisations to invest in their workforce, with grants towards training aligned with business resilience and growth, helping them to achieve sustainable success. It is part of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s (SYMCA) vision for a stronger, greener, and fairer region. Any business that has been operating for over 12 months and is based in South Yorkshire can apply.

“Target Housing’s commitment to developing their leadership and operational teams through the ‘Creating…Space’ programme is truly commendable,” said Fliss Miller, Director of Skills at SYMCA.

“We are proud to have supported their training initiatives through Skills Bank funding, and we look forward to continuing our partnership as they extend these critical programmes across their organisation. By investing in their workforce, Target Housing is not only enhancing their service delivery but also contributing to inclusive growth and overall resilience of our region. We are excited to support their future endeavours as they continue to expand and innovate.”

For more information about the support provided by South Yorkshire Skills Bank, please go to www.skillsbank.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk.

About Target Housing:

Target Housing is a registered charity and social landlord providing supported housing and community care services for individuals facing significant challenges, including ex-offenders, victims of domestic abuse, asylum seekers, and those with mental health issues or experiencing homelessness. Target Housing is committed to delivering high-quality care and support to help individuals reintegrate into society and improve their quality of life.
https://targethousing.org.uk