In last week’s article, we looked at the positive impact of caregiver training on retention. Let’s examine some aspects:
Blend high tech and high touch for maximum benefit
Online learning (or e-learning) has emerged as one of the main methods of delivering caregiver training. In addition to the obvious benefit of saving time and money, online training offers other benefits:
- Accelerate how quickly caregivers become proficient at a new skill
- Increase client satisfaction because caregivers are skilled and knowledgeable
- Increase caregiver engagement because they have the skills to be successful in their job.
Most agencies use a third party training provider. Institute for Professional Care Education (IPCed) is a well-known player in the field. Franchise owners also rely on the training resources provided by their corporate organization.
However, online training by itself is not the silver bullet. The best training approach blends high tech and high touch. Learning a new skill via online training followed by hands-on application supervised by a nurse ensures the knowledge transfers into the real world skills of care. The interaction with a medical professional also allows caregivers to ask questions and build their confidence.
Mandatory but Flexible Training
Pay caregivers to attend training. It’s part of their job. It’s an investment your agency makes in its workforce. Offer several training sessions on the same topic to accommodate shifts. At Visiting Angels in Newport News VA, all mandatory meetings are offered twice: one session in the morning and another in afternoon to accommodate work and personal schedules.
Training Key to Retention (again!)
It’s interesting to know that satisfaction with training correlates with job satisfaction (Home Care Pulse research). In other words, caregivers who are satisfied with the training they receive are likely to promote your Agency as a great place to work and attract like-minded caregivers to you. On the other hand, those who are dissatisfied with the training are less likely to recommend your agency as a good place to work. In a time of caregivers shortage, having a strong caregiver training program becomes as a retention imperative.
Don’t Neglect Team Building
Caregiving can be a lonely job. Hands-on training is a great opportunity to break up the isolation for the caregivers. It’s also a chance for you to stay in touch with your employees.
If you can get your caregivers together for hands-on training, the training now becomes a team building event, even though you don’t even mention it! It’s a chance for caregivers to socialize with colleagues and share experience.
Training promote employees’ commitment to your agency as they feel get a sense for the Agency at large.
Agencies from around the country are working smarter to recruit and retain their caregivers. Don’t be left behind. Contact me today to create your own caregiver recruitment and retention plan.
