St. Brendan?s Hospital has been granted approval to be a Centre of Learning for City & Guilds ? a top British awarding body which offers vocational qualifications.

The City & Guilds representatives awarded this status after surveying St. Brendan?s last week.

St. Brendan?s Hospital director Patrice Dill said: ?This is an important success for St. Brendan?s because it allows us to invest in our staff by providing a learning environment, which ultimately benefits our clients ? and that?s the reason why we?re all here.?

Initially, 28 staff will take the programme to obtain certification to care for learning disabled clients.

The programme will begin on February 8 and last 18 months.

With its Centre of Learning status St. Brendan?s will also be able to participate in other certification courses offered by City & Guilds.

In order to achieve this status St. Brendan?s had to demonstrate it had sufficient qualified and experienced staff to act as assessors, suitable learning accommodation and a good training programme.