Case Study

Pat Leng from Rotherham recently attained 100% in the Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect (Core) course that she has undertaken as a learner under the Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board umbrella, who are members of the Safeguarding Children e-Academy (part of Virtual College).

The Virtual College course was recommended by Sheffield Council to Pat’s employers the Home Farm Trust, a national charity that supports people with learning difficulties. Pat has worked at their Sheffield base for nineteen years.

"I was 'thrilled to bits' to have achieved 100% pass mark and couldn’t believe it at first" said Pat, a former residential social worker, part-time youth worker and, for a time, a reporter for the Star newspaper in Sheffield. Pat is married to Bruce, a retired clergyman, who she says is busier than ever since he retired five years ago.

Asked if she found it difficult to find the time to do the course, with her work commitments and being the wife of a busy clergyman, Pat replied "Not at all. I liked the fact there was no time limit and I could dip in and out of the course as time allowed. I went through the course slowly and carefully, taking time to print out some of the material and make sure I understood it before moving on. The concept of online learning was very new to me but after some initial help setting me up from work colleagues, I sailed through most of the course at home. I found the course extremely interesting and didn’t just see it as a task to be completed."

Pat is now looking at the possibility of undertaking the course Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults (POVA), also available as an online course from Virtual College and says she would highly recommend the experience to others.

Pat is pictured holding her certificate.

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