What is Vida Academy?

Vida Academy is the way we support all our staff, from new starters right through to senior managers, to learn and develop in their role. Vida Academy promotes life long learning across the organisation and establishes our staff as dementia ambassadors.

What is Vida Academy?

The Vida Academy is the way we support all our staff, from new starters right through to senior managers, to learn and develop in their role.

What courses do you offer?

We start with the induction programme for our new starters and work through the Care Certificate and mandatory modules to specialist training courses and apprenticeships from Level 2 to Level 6.

Why would Vida Academy benefit me?

The Vida Academy offers you support in your learning journey from the start of your career right through your time working with the Vida family. We can offer individual coaching in specialist topics, access to internal and external learning opportunities and support networks for our specialist champions.

Do I have to be involved with Vida Academy?

You will automatically be involved with the Academy as this is the way we manage our staff learning and development but any additional training will be in discussion with your line manager.

Is it free?

Yes, Vida Academy is free to all employees.

How will it benefit my career?

The Academy will support you to continue learning and developing as a dementia specialist throughout your career. We can offer access to all levels of specialist dementia and health and social care learning opportunities.

What you can expect from Vida Academy

A revised and refreshed annual training plan with learning journeys specific for each role within the organisation.
A dedicated app with a news feed to inform and engage staff in all learning, development and training activity and opportunities as well as up to date with new research, development and best practice.
A bespoke Positive Interventions in Dementia Care (PIDC) programme.
Internally placed facilitators and instructors helping teams and residents through best interest decisions.
An Onboarding and Induction Programme delivered via live virtual platforms during Covid-19 to ensure our new staff remain engaged and committed with our values and ethos of care. We deliver several courses using this technology.
A robust and extensive Onboarding and Induction Programme to ensure our new staff are engaged with and committed to our values and ethos of care.
A comprehensive induction and probation programme supported by in-house mentors.
A proactive and response approach to PIDC and Moving & Handling referrals to ensure our residents are safe at all times.
A Mentorship Programme for staff who support our new starters.
A Professional Development Review toolkit including competencies and key performance indicators for staff.
A Supervision process with a supervision contract to ensure all staff are supported in their roles.
Registered Nurse CPD programme to support the clinical training and development needs of our nursing workforce.
The use of an online mandatory training programme.
A reinvigorated Care Certificate offer and registration of a record number of staff on Level 2-5 courses with accredited partners and providers.
Our Vida House Managers Development Programme and Aspiring Leaders Programme.
An offer to HEIs for student placements, including for Trainee Nursing Associates. Adult Nursing and Mental Health Nursing students and Physician Associates.
Fully funded qualifications to Level 5 and beyond.

MEET THE Vida Academy team

Arron BollandLearning, Development and Quality Manager

Arron is a qualified Registered Mental Health Nurse and joined Vida Healthcare in 2013. Arron has been a House Manager, Quality Assurance Manager and is now the Learning, Development and Quality Manager. With many years’ of experience in the care sector, Arron is passionate about the delivery of quality dementia care. Vida’s ethos of care focuses on quality throughout every aspect of our service and Arron’s role involves promoting the highest possible standards. Arron supports the Home Manager’s and care teams to ensure the highest quality standards are met in the delivery of care.

Terri SpruceClinical Development Lead

Terri has over 40 years experience working as a Nurse in the NHS. During the last 14 years Terri has worked in the role as Community Matron, this involved caring for patients in all settings across the community. Terri has studied at Degree and Masters level, enabling her to both diagnose and prescribe medications within her competency levels. Terri is the Clinical Development Lead across Vida Healthcare and works closely with the Nurses and House Managers.

Lesley McCreadyVocational and Experiential Lead

Lesley has worked in Health and Social care for over 22 years and joined Vida in 2013. With many years experience in the care sector and she is passionate about the delivery of quality dementia care. Lesley is also involved with Vida Academy, delivering training in positive behaviour support, oral hygiene, medication administration and infection control.

Vicky HullLDP Facilitator & PIDC Lead

Vicky joined Vida in 2020 as a Learning, Development & Performance Facilitator delivering Moving & Handling, Health & Safety, PIDC and the Care Certificate.
Vicky is an experienced carer and training facilitator and has worked throughout the UK delivering bespoke training. Previously Vicky worked as a Deputy Manager for three learning disability houses in Leeds. Vicky is now the Positive Interventions in Dementia Care Lead for Vida, working closely with the teams in all three homes supporting resident and staff needs. Vicky received the ‘In it together’ award from Vida Healthcare’s annual staff awards 2022.

László Somogyi LDP Facilitator

Laszlo joined Vida in 2013 as a Care Assistant; in 2018 moved to the Learning and Development Team delivering Manual Handling, Health and Safety, Fire Safety and First Aid training. In 2023 Laszlo achieved his Positive Interventions in Dementia Care Facilitator and Dementia Care Mapping qualifications. Laszlo is also experienced in emergency situations as a former SAR and ambulance technician. Laszlo works with all the teams in the Vida Healthcare group supporting residents and staff.

Anthony YoungLDP Facilitator

Anthony joined Vida Healthcare in 2020 as the Operations Manager at Vida Grange and in 2023 transferred to the Learning, Development & Performance team as a Training facilitator.
Anthony spent 26 years with the British Army and is a qualified and experienced instructor, who has delivered training in many different locations across the Globe.
Anthony delivers Moving & Handling, Health & Safety, Fire safety, Fire Marshal, and the Care Certificate across Vida Healthcare.

Hazel BellamySenior Learning, Development and Performance Administrator

Hazel Joined Vida Healthcare in 2018 as Home Administrator for Vida Hall, in 2021 Hazel moved to the newly opened Vida Court working as Home Administrator until February 2023 when she moved to Vida Academy as Senior Learning and Development Administrator.
Hazel brings a wealth of knowledge and experience having worked within the care sector for some 15 years prior to joining Vida as a coordinator of training for the health and social care sector.
Hazel makes a great addition to the training team, a caring and conscientious nature coupled with a high level of qualification in Business Administration and level 5 in Business Management, we believe the union will prove highly beneficial to the operations within the academy at Vida.

Vida Academy Success Stories

Vida has strong links with, and hosts clinical education placements for, Speech & Language Therapy and Dietetic students at Leeds Beckett University. The Physician Associate Studies programme at Leeds University and nursing students at Bradford University.
“We are delighted to partner with Vida Healthcare to promote clinical education. Together, we are training and developing the future healthcare workforce, for the benefit of residents and families.” Naomi de Graff, MSc, BSc (Hons), PGCAP, FHEA, MRCSLT, HCPC reg, Senior Lecturer and Placement Coordinator at Leeds Beckett University:

Leeds Beckett,