Induction Training Calendar
Eighteen training days. Every Day 2 and Day 3 date runs twice, a morning and an afternoon session, giving fourteen Day 2 and fourteen Day 3 sessions. Each pair of cohorts takes Day 2 online and then the Day 3 practical. There are also three full-day Oliver McGowan Tier 2 workshops held every other month (November, January, March), and one catch-up day. All sessions are paid working time and recorded on the training matrix.
October – December 2026
| Date | Topic | Delivery | Time | Trainer | Cohort · Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 14 Oct | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory Theory | Online · Teams | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 1A (AM) + 1B (PM) · Teams |
| Thu 29 Oct | Day 3 — CSTF Practical Skills | Face to face | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 1A (AM) + 1B (PM) · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) |
| Wed 4 Nov | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory Theory | Online · Teams | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 2A (AM) + 2B (PM) · Teams |
| Thu 12 Nov | Day 3 — CSTF Practical Skills | Face to face | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 2A (AM) + 2B (PM) · Basepoint, Shoreham-by-Sea |
| Wed 25 Nov | Day 4 — Oliver McGowan Tier 2 | Face to face | 09:30–16:30 | Stella Camara + co-trainers | Tier 2 · Run 1 · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) |
| Thu 10 Dec | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory Theory | Online · Teams | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 3A (AM) + 3B (PM) · Teams |
| Wed 16 Dec | Day 3 — CSTF Practical Skills | Face to face | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 3A (AM) + 3B (PM) · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) |
Summary: Day 2 × 14 sessions (7 dates, AM + PM) · Day 3 × 14 sessions (7 dates, AM + PM) · Day 4 (Oliver McGowan Tier 2) × 3 full days · Catch-up × 2 sessions
January – March 2027
| Date | Topic | Delivery | Time | Trainer | Cohort · Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 7 Jan | Day 4 — Oliver McGowan Tier 2 | Face to face | 09:30–16:30 | Stella Camara + co-trainers | Tier 2 · Run 2 · Basepoint, Shoreham-by-Sea |
| Tue 26 Jan | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory Theory | Online · Teams | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 4A (AM) + 4B (PM) · Teams |
| Thu 4 Feb | Day 3 — CSTF Practical Skills | Face to face | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 4A (AM) + 4B (PM) · Basepoint, Shoreham-by-Sea |
| Thu 18 Feb | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory Theory | Online · Teams | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 5A (AM) + 5B (PM) · Teams |
| Tue 23 Feb | Day 3 — CSTF Practical Skills | Face to face | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 5A (AM) + 5B (PM) · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) |
| Wed 24 Feb | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory Theory | Online · Teams | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 6A (AM) + 6B (PM) · Teams |
| Thu 25 Feb | Day 3 — CSTF Practical Skills | Face to face | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 6A (AM) + 6B (PM) · Basepoint, Shoreham-by-Sea |
| Fri 26 Feb | Catch-up — Day 2 or Day 3 | By demand | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Catch-up AM + PM · Set by topic |
| Tue 23 Mar | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory Theory | Online · Teams | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 7A (AM) + 7B (PM) · Teams |
| Wed 24 Mar | Day 3 — CSTF Practical Skills | Face to face | AM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Stella Camara | Cohorts 7A (AM) + 7B (PM) · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) |
| Thu 25 Mar | Day 4 — Oliver McGowan Tier 2 | Face to face | 09:30–16:30 | Stella Camara + co-trainers | Tier 2 · Run 3 · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) |
| Fri 26 Mar | No training — Good Friday | — | — | — | Good Friday bank holiday. This date was offered but is removed from the calendar. |
Bank holidays: none of the offered dates falls on one except Fri 26 Mar 2027 (Good Friday), which is removed. The festive period falls between the 16 Dec and 7 Jan sessions, so no sessions are lost to it.
Month by month
October 2026
| Wed 14 Oct | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory TheoryTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 1A (AM) + 1B (PM) | Online · TeamsAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | First Day 2 of the calendar. Priority: new starters since September and staff whose Day 2 has expired. |
| Thu 29 Oct | Day 3 — CSTF Practical SkillsTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 1A (AM) + 1B (PM) | Face to faceAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) | Completes Cohort 1. Delegates must have completed Day 2 and attend the same session (AM or PM) they did for Day 2. The trainer signs off practical competency. |
November 2026
| Wed 4 Nov | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory TheoryTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 2A (AM) + 2B (PM) | Online · TeamsAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Day 2 for Cohort 2 and anyone who missed 14 Oct. |
| Thu 12 Nov | Day 3 — CSTF Practical SkillsTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 2A (AM) + 2B (PM) | Face to faceAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 · Basepoint, Shoreham-by-Sea | Completes Cohort 2. Sussex run: Brighton and Sussex staff book first. |
| Wed 25 Nov | Day 4 — Oliver McGowan Tier 2Trainer: Stella Camara + co-trainers · Tier 2 · Run 1 | Face to face09:30–16:30 · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) | Oliver McGowan Tier 2. Tier 1 e-learning must be completed beforehand. Co-delivered with experts by experience. |
December 2026
| Thu 10 Dec | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory TheoryTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 3A (AM) + 3B (PM) | Online · TeamsAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Day 2 for Cohort 3. |
| Wed 16 Dec | Day 3 — CSTF Practical SkillsTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 3A (AM) + 3B (PM) | Face to faceAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) | Completes Cohort 3. Last session before the festive break. |
January 2027
| Thu 7 Jan | Day 4 — Oliver McGowan Tier 2Trainer: Stella Camara + co-trainers · Tier 2 · Run 2 | Face to face09:30–16:30 · Basepoint, Shoreham-by-Sea | Oliver McGowan Tier 2, Sussex run. Tier 1 e-learning must be completed beforehand. |
| Tue 26 Jan | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory TheoryTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 4A (AM) + 4B (PM) | Online · TeamsAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Day 2 for Cohort 4, including winter new starters. |
February 2027
| Thu 4 Feb | Day 3 — CSTF Practical SkillsTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 4A (AM) + 4B (PM) | Face to faceAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 · Basepoint, Shoreham-by-Sea | Completes Cohort 4. Sussex run. |
| Thu 18 Feb | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory TheoryTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 5A (AM) + 5B (PM) | Online · TeamsAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Day 2 for Cohort 5. Their Day 3 follows on Tue 23 Feb. |
| Tue 23 Feb | Day 3 — CSTF Practical SkillsTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 5A (AM) + 5B (PM) | Face to faceAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) | Completes Cohort 5. Start of the February training week. |
| Wed 24 Feb | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory TheoryTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 6A (AM) + 6B (PM) | Online · TeamsAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Day 2 for Cohort 6; Day 3 the next day. |
| Thu 25 Feb | Day 3 — CSTF Practical SkillsTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 6A (AM) + 6B (PM) | Face to faceAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 · Basepoint, Shoreham-by-Sea | Completes Cohort 6. Sussex run. |
| Fri 26 Feb | Catch-up — Day 2 or Day 3Trainer: Stella Camara · Catch-up AM + PM | By demandAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 · Set by topic | Two sessions (AM + PM), for Day 2 or Day 3 depending on who is outstanding. Managers submit names by Fri 12 Feb. |
March 2027
| Tue 23 Mar | Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory TheoryTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 7A (AM) + 7B (PM) | Online · TeamsAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 | Start of the March induction week: Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4 on consecutive days. |
| Wed 24 Mar | Day 3 — CSTF Practical SkillsTrainer: Stella Camara · Cohorts 7A (AM) + 7B (PM) | Face to faceAM 09:30–12:30 · PM 13:30–16:30 · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) | Completes Cohort 7. |
| Thu 25 Mar | Day 4 — Oliver McGowan Tier 2Trainer: Stella Camara + co-trainers · Tier 2 · Run 3 | Face to face09:30–16:30 · Croydon head office (CR0 2LA) | Oliver McGowan Tier 2. Cohort 7 new starters join after their Day 3; Tier 1 e-learning must be done first. |
Fri 26 Mar 2027 (Good Friday) was offered but is a bank holiday, so no session is booked.
What each day covers and who must attend
Day 2 — CSTF Mandatory Theory
CSTF-aligned mandatory theory: Health and Safety (including RIDDOR and COSHH), Information Governance and GDPR, Fire Safety, Safeguarding Adults and Children, Conflict Resolution, Lone Working, and Equality, Diversity and Human Rights (Equality Act 2010).
Who attends: All new starters, plus existing staff whose Day 2 is due. Day 2 is renewed every year. Runs twice a day (AM and PM) on each Day 2 date.
Day 3 — CSTF Practical Skills
CSTF-aligned practical training: Basic Life Support for adults and children with AED use (Resuscitation Council UK guidelines), Moving and Handling (Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992), and Infection Prevention and Control. Delivered as a 3-hour practical session, twice a day (AM and PM). Each delegate is signed off as competent by the trainer. Groups are kept small so every delegate is assessed hands-on within the time.
Who attends: All new starters after their Day 2, plus existing staff whose Day 3 is due. Day 3 is renewed every year. New starters cannot work unsupervised shifts until Day 3 is signed off.
Day 4 — Oliver McGowan Tier 2
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, Tier 2: a face-to-face workshop, co-delivered with an autistic person and a person with a learning disability as experts by experience, with Unicare autism and learning disability awareness. Required under section 181 of the Health and Care Act 2022.
Who attends: All staff who have not yet completed Tier 2. Tier 1 e-learning must be finished first. Completed once; it does not renew.
How managers use this calendar
- Morning and afternoon sessions. Every Day 2 and Day 3 date runs twice: morning 09:30–12:30 and afternoon 13:30–16:30. Split your team across the two sessions so the service stays staffed. Staff on a long day or night shift should be booked into the session that fits their rota. They must not attend straight after a night shift.
- Book Day 2 and Day 3 as a pair. Each cohort takes Day 2 online and then the Day 3 practical that follows it. Where possible, keep people in the same half of the day (AM or PM) for both. Book new starters onto both days at the same time, and send names to the Training team at least ten working days before the Day 2 date.
- Choose the nearest venue. Day 3 and Day 4 alternate between Croydon head office and Basepoint, Shoreham-by-Sea. Book Surrey and South London staff into Croydon runs and Brighton and Sussex staff into Shoreham runs. Day 2 is on Teams.
- Oliver McGowan Tier 2. Runs on 25 November, 7 January and 25 March. Staff must complete the Tier 1 e-learning before attending. Give priority to staff who work directly with autistic people or people with a learning disability and have not yet done Tier 2.
- Renewals. Day 2 and Day 3 renew every year. Use the training matrix to book existing staff onto a cohort before their certificate expires. Day 1 and Day 4 are completed once.
- Catch-up day, 26 February. Managers submit names and the outstanding day for all non-attenders by 12 February. The morning and afternoon sessions can cover different days, so both Day 2 and Day 3 can be caught up on the same date.
- Paid working time. Every session is paid working time. Plan rota cover in advance. Attendance is not optional for staff you have booked.
- Recording. Registers go back to the Training team on the day. Completions are logged on the training matrix within five working days, and certificates are issued from the Training Manager.
This calendar is reviewed at the end of March. The April – September 2027 calendar is issued by 12 March 2027, once the trainer has confirmed her availability.