About
We specialise in advancing the competencies and careers of healthcare professionals. Our mission is to provide enriching, high-standard, cost-effective learning experiences that go beyond traditional methods, ensuring every healthcare provider and individual we work with is empowered to deliver exceptional care.
Our team are immensely proud to have successfully supported over 400 nurses through OSCE and provide clinical education to many other locally and internationally educated care home teams and individuals from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and organisations. We believe that each learner should be treated with respect and supported as an individual, not just for OSCE but for all healthcare learning and development.
Our learners and clients have expressed consistently positive feedback across all our programmes, with learners attending our OSCE training having worked extremely hard to achieve a current overall OSCE success rate of 100%. Care providers and learners report that our flexible, individual, supportive approach and clear, sensitive, constructive communication sets us apart.
“One size does NOT fit all”, especially when it comes to training and support; we will communicate in a timely manner, with honesty, compassion, and sensitivity, updating our programmes regularly to maintain our high standards. We will work in collaboration with learners and providers to deliver cost-effective learning, to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Our Team
Olivia Turner
Owner
Bio
Learning & Development Consultant/Director
Olivia Turner, our esteemed Learning & Development Consultant and Director, is the heart of our operations. With over two decades of experience as a registered nurse, healthcare assistant and clinical instructor, Olivia brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her role.
Pauline Ilagan
Instructor
Bio
Pauline- a wonderful person, highly experienced senior nurse and clinical educator.
Pauline’s contributions, vast experience, variety of skills, lived experience and unique perspective are so reassuring, boosting learner confidence and competence at such a crucial time. She has worn the OSCE t-shirt, AND the uniform, supporting 100’s of nurses at all stages of the OSCE journey, both in the classroom and in a variety of long-term care settings.
About The Company
Avant-Garde Learning & Development, a Northern Ireland-based provider of comprehensive learning & development solutions, designed to aid healthcare providers in effectively integrating, educating, and supporting their teams. We offer a range of standard and bespoke programmes and have a specialist interest in collaborating with care home providers seeking out information and guidance to support internationally educated staff with integration, OSCE planning, group or individual OSCE practical preparation and post NMC registration/preceptorship. We also offer services for individuals or organisations seeking out learning & development support with specific requirements e.g. post inspection, incidents, NMC/NISCC referrals or specific upskilling.
Our team are experienced healthcare/learning & development professionals, having gained extensive experience supporting care providers with nursing/care teams and wider team learning & development. We understand the unique complexities and opportunities presented to employers, their teams, and each individual learner. Our mission is to empower organisations to continue providing a nurturing and inclusive environment for internationally educated staff and wider team learning & development, maximising the opportunity for successful integration and long-term retention of all team members into the care home workforce.
We are highly motivated to support others to provide the highest quality care to clients. This is achieved with individualised learning & development following the latest practice and regulatory guidelines, completed within a supportive and inclusive environment.
Using a variety of learning delivery methods enables us to maximise the potential understanding of all the information and skills shared to our learners. We do not believe in “tick box” training and strive for our sessions to be interactive and meaningful, with learner involvement throughout. We are committed to successful, meaningful, individualised learning & development and achieve this maintaining a ratio of 1:4 at all times for OSCE preparation groups and low instructor/learner ratios for our range of programmes. We seek out, take note of, and react accordingly to client and learner feedback, to keep our sessions client/learner relevant and up to date with UK current guidelines and NI regulations.
Our team recognise the challenges faced by providers and team members with limited resources, many still recovering after the devastation of the pandemic, alongside other challenges for our industry. We believe that every team member should be valued for their unique experience and skills, with regular opportunities available for quality training, support and ongoing learning and career development.
Our Philosophy
We believe in learning that resonates. Our approach is hands-on, engaging, and deeply rooted in real-world application. We eschew the ‘tick-box’ mentality in favour of a rationale-based learning method that encourages critical thinking, reflection, and active participation.
Company History
Avant-Garde Learning & Development has evolved from a vision to a leading provider of specialised learning solutions. Founded on the principles of excellence and inclusivity, we have expanded our services to meet the dynamic needs of healthcare professionals across the UK.
Professional Affiliations and Credentials
As a testament to our commitment to quality and professional excellence, Avant-Garde is associated with respected organizations and adheres to the highest standards set by regulatory bodies like the NMC. We are continuously enhancing our programs in line with the latest guidelines and feedback from our community.
Professional Affiliations and Credentials
As a testament to our commitment to quality and professional excellence, Avant-Garde is associated with respected organizations and adheres to the highest standards set by regulatory bodies like the NMC. We are continuously enhancing our programs in line with the latest guidelines and feedback from our community.
