HEALTHCARE provider Castlebeck, which runs hospitals in the North-East, has joined forces with a provider of online learning to design an induction programme for its staff.

Creative Learning Media (CLM) specialises in multi-media training for healthcare industries.

Due to the project's success, Castlebeck and CLM are developing a range of courses in line with the Government's Skills for Life strategy.

Castlebeck, which has its head office in Enterprise House, Valley Street North, Darlington, has nine units in the North-East.

It has four in Darlington, one each in Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland and Hartlepool and two in Hexham.

Online sessions were chosen because the company recognised that shift patterns and the need to provide 24-hour care made it difficult for training to be delivered through traditional methods.

Chief executive David Cole said: "We have achieved everything we wanted quicker than we thought and have reached almost 100 per cent staff compliance across ten units in less than six months.

"Despite having a workforce that had, in the main, not experienced online learning before, the overwhelming view was they had enjoyed the experience and it would make a significant difference to their work."