Elsie Rodas

14-05-2025

How UK healthcare providers built internal training teams

Image by GeorgeRudy via Envato Elements

Practical case studies showing how organisations created agile, compliant, and cost-effective internal training models

In regulated sectors such as healthcare and social care, training is more than a statutory requirement - it's a vital safeguard for quality, safety, and accountability.

A well-trained workforce has a direct impact on patient outcomes, regulatory compliance, care standards, and staff retention. However, as many NHS Trusts, private hospitals, and care providers across the UK have found, relying solely on external trainers or generic e-learning solutions can no longer meet the increasing demand for speed, scale, or specificity in training delivery.

To overcome these limitations, a growing number of healthcare providers are turning inward - investing in their people and building internal training teams equipped to lead statutory, mandatory, and role-specific learning.

In this blog, Elsie Rodas explores how UK healthcare organisations successfully developed internal training teams using blended learning models. We examine what drove the shift, what worked (and what didn’t), and what practical lessons other providers can apply.

Why healthcare organisations are investing in internal trainers

Healthcare environments are dynamic and heavily regulated, with constant shifts in policy, practice, and patient needs. Standards such as those from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), Skills for Health, and local safeguarding boards demand consistent, up-to-date training across frontline teams.

Traditional training models - ad hoc workshops, external consultants, or one-size-fits-all e-learning - often fall short in three critical areas:

• Responsiveness - Training needs evolve quickly due to new clinical guidance, infection control procedures, or incident investigations.
• Relevance - Generic training fails to capture the specific risks and nuances of local services, client groups, or settings.
• Retention - Learning is rarely retained unless it's reinforced by peer coaching, on-the-job relevance, or ongoing reflection.

By building internal training capacity, healthcare providers can deliver tailored, responsive, and embedded learning experiences led by people who understand the work, because they do it.

From external dependence to internal strength

At The Mandatory Training Group, we’ve supported hundreds of UK-based healthcare organisations in their transition from relying on external training to developing internal capability. Here are three examples of how it works in practice:

Case study 1 - A Midlands NHS Trust

The challenge

Inconsistent staff inductions, repeated issues flagged in CQC inspections, and excessive reliance on agency staff and external trainers.

The solution

The Trust identified three high-priority training areas - Moving and Handling, Basic Life Support, and Infection Control - and selected 12 experienced clinical staff to complete MTG’s CPD-accredited Train the Trainer programmes. Each new trainer was mentored by a senior nurse leader and supported with trainer packs and ongoing quality assurance.

The impact

The Trust reduced external training spend by 38% within six months and dramatically improved training agility. During a sudden shift in COVID-19 PPE guidelines, internal trainers were able to revise and redeploy sessions in under 48 hours - something previously impossible.

Case Study 2 - Private mental health provider (South East England)

The challenge

Rapid organisational growth led to inconsistent onboarding across sites and gaps in safeguarding knowledge among new staff.

The solution

With support from MTG learning consultants, the leadership team mapped out a standardised induction framework and identified five team leaders to train in-house using our blended Train the Trainer pathway. These trainers then delivered live onboarding and helped create mirrored digital sessions via the ComplyPlus™ learning platform.

The impact

Onboarding time was reduced by 25%, and 90-day retention improved by 17%. Staff surveys showed increased clarity on safeguarding protocols and confidence in raising concerns. The organisation also reported a decrease in safeguarding incidents during the same period.

Case Study 3 - Domiciliary care provider (Greater Manchester)

The challenge

CQC inspections flagged poor record-keeping and insufficient evidence of staff competency, especially in personal care and medication management.

The solution

The organisation introduced a competency-based training framework aligned to Skills for Care standards. Care coordinators were upskilled as assessors via our CPD-certified Train the Trainer courses and were supported with observation tools, competency checklists, and ComplyPlus™ tracking dashboards.

The impact

Training compliance rose from 64% to 92% in four months, and the organisation achieved a ‘Good’ rating at its next inspection. Staff feedback highlighted improved support, clearer role expectations, and greater engagement in training.

Five practical lessons from the field

Across these case studies and many others, we’ve observed five critical factors for success:

1. Select the right people

Choose internal trainers who are respected, enthusiastic, and grounded in practice. Clinical credibility builds trust and relevance in the training room.

2. Equip trainers with the right tools

Beyond certification, ensure your trainers have structured lesson plans, competency checklists, demonstration videos, and feedback templates.

3. Use a blended learning approach

The most effective programmes combine e-learning for foundational knowledge and in-person or virtual delivery for practical skills and discussion.

4. Build quality assurance into the process

Observe sessions, collect feedback, and monitor learning outcomes. Training should be continuously refined, just like any clinical practice.

5. Connect training to strategic goals

Practical internal training supports broader initiatives, including regulatory compliance, service improvement, onboarding efficiency, and staff well-being.

Internal training as a strategic asset

Organisations that thrive in today’s healthcare landscape don’t treat training as a reactive process. They build systems that support continuous development, compliance, and service excellence.

Internal trainers are not just facilitators - they’re change agents. They bridge the gap between strategy and frontline delivery, helping embed new policies, reinforce best practices, and respond swiftly to emerging needs.

Having worked across NHS Trusts, private hospitals, and community care settings as both a registered nurse and L&D consultant, I’ve seen how transformative internal training teams can be. When training reflects the realities of practice, it becomes not just informative but empowering.

Build the future of training with the right trainer

At The Mandatory Training Group, we help healthcare providers develop in-house training teams that are agile, compliant, and aligned with frontline realities. Through our accredited Train the Trainer programmes and powerful ComplyPlus™ platform, organisations across the UK are transforming how they deliver workforce training.

Our support includes:

• Blended learning models combine e-learning, classroom sessions, and hands-on practice
• Tools and templates to support trainers with planning, delivery, and assessment
• Ongoing guidance to embed quality assurance and track performance.

Explore our accredited Train the Trainer courses and discover how ComplyPlus™ can help you build training teams that deliver lasting impact.