VODG Learning and Development Professional Network Meeting | July 2025

Join the Learning and Development network meeting, featuring Heidi Walsh on digital accessibility tools and group discussions on AI experiences. Rachel Yates Hoyles will address delegated healthcare task issues.

Booking is now open for the next meeting of the Learning and Development professional network.

Many members have expressed their frustration with the system of delegated healthcare tasks, so we are please to welcome Rachel Yates Hoyles and Emily Pimm from Skills for Care to outline what the procedure should be, and what to do if that procedure breaks down. Their session will be supported by Sarah Woodhouse, Director of Policy and Influencing at VODG, and will include time for member feedback, so please come along prepared to share your experiences, good and bad.

In order to allow sufficient time for this session, the remainder of the agenda is subject to change. Any topics that are not covered at this meeting will be revisited at a future event.

In response to interest from network members, network co-chair Heidi Walsh, Head of Learning and Development at Sense, will lead a session around the digital tools available to help make content accessible. Heidi will be demonstrating some of these and will welcome contributions from delegates who have experience of other tools.

Continuing with a digital theme, members will next breakout into smaller groups to discuss their experiences with AI in a learning and development environment. What are your experiences, good and bad, of using AI? Have you found tools that are particularly useful? If you are already using AI, how is that working for you? If you are not, is anything preventing you from doing so?

Please book your place today.

Speakers

Heidi Walsh

Heidi Walsh

Head of Learning and Development, Sense

Rachel Yates Hoyles

Rachel Yates Hoyles

National Practice Innovation Lead, Skills for Care

Emily Pimm

Emily Pimm

National Practice Innovation Lead, Skills for Care

Draft Programme

14.00

VODG welcome

Sue Howarth, Membership and Marketing Officer at VODG

14.05

Introductions

VODG Co-chairs

14.10

Delegated healthcare activities

Rachel Yates Hoyles and Emily Pimm, National Practice Innovation Leads at Skills for Care and members

15.00

Break

15.10

Digital accessibility tools

Heidi Walsh, Head of Learning & Development at Sense and VODG co-chair

15.30

AI tools for learning and development

Breakout rooms and feedback

15.45

Future topics

Members

15.55

Final round-up

Sue Howarth, Membership and Marketing Officer at VODG

16.00

End

Accessibility  

Please note, should you have any accessibility requirements, we will do our best to make necessary arrangements to support you; however, we may require up to four weeks notice, so please list your requirements on the booking form. Closed captions are used as standard in online meetings. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Join the Learning and Development Professional Network

The L&D network provides colleagues a secure space to discuss pertinent issues and topics via our online forum, to upload documents and to view the lastest network events. 

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Learning and Development

Members (299) Discussions (90)

The VODG learning and development professional network welcomes L&D professionals from amongst our membership.

VODG Learning and Development Network Co-chairs

 Julie Plant

Julie Plant

Learning and Development Manager, Brandon Trust

Heidi Walsh

Heidi Walsh

Head of Learning & Development, Sense