Providing training for Home Health or Homecare staff during the busy workweek can be quite challenging. As a result, many agencies opt for online courses for orientation and the yearly in-service training for Personal Care Workers (PCWs). However, one of the primary concerns with online learning is the lack of interaction. When staff engage with online courses, who ensures they are focused on the material and comprehending the presenter’s message? If employees are distracted by their phones or other interruptions, how can they really learn?
As a result, your agency can receive a deficiency from surveyors regarding the lack of an effective orientation program or in-service training. Surveyors might ask your staff about how they were trained to deliver quality client care. If a PCW or Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) provides an incorrect answer to surveyors, this could result in a deficiency for your agency. There is no excuse for failing to train your staff, nor for not developing your skills as a presenter for in-service or orientation programs. If you feel unqualified to cover certain topics, consider hiring an expert to present for you.
Additionally, what about skills evaluations? Are you evaluating your field staff on the skills they must have to provide quality care?
It is advisable to schedule training in larger time blocks, such as half-day or full-day sessions, so participants can dedicate sufficient time to both learning and applying the training material. Encourage active participation by minimizing potential distractions.
**Reasons for Live Training: **
- Live, in-person training fosters relationship-building with other PCWs or CNAs.
- Training involves more than just distributing a handout with a topic; it requires engagement.
- Training should go beyond having staff watch a video; it must be interactive and meaningful.
If you feel that you lack the knowledge or skills to effectively train your staff, I invite you to attend our upcoming class titled “Train the Trainer.” In this class, I will cover essential topics and skills that agencies need to provide, as well as the proper methods for delivering the care that your clients require. You can visit Administrator’s CEU Courses for more information and to register.
To your success in 2025!
Sharron
