Remote Training

Our training manager Rae is many things, but most of all she is remarkably conscientious. So you can imagine how anxious she becomes when her training matrix displays a sea of orange to indicate that carers are due for training refreshers.

How to overcome that when we have asked our lovely lot to stay away from the office as much as possible? I asked Rae to explain how she has overcome this predicament. She really is a star!

“Since this awful pandemic really surfaced some six weeks ago it has presented itself with some challenges regarding training. The most important thing for us as a company is to keep our staff and clients safe throughout this period.

We are stringently following all government and WHO guidelines regarding infection control, PPE usage and social distancing. The most important aspect of my training at this stage is to ensure that the carer's have a good understanding on what COVID-19 is and what their role is, in staying safe and reducing this risk to themselves and those they care for.

At the beginning stage of this pandemic, I was able to have 3 carers in our office at one time ensuring that they were 2 meters apart and trained in our main large office area.

I put together a COVID-19 information and questionnaire booklet. This included discussing what COVID-19 is and looking into how it is potentially spread. We looked at infection control and the importance of hand washing and the wearing of PPE equipment.

We looked at the symptoms of COVID-19 that we need to be aware of and the importance of informing the management team if we ourselves, or our service users developed any symptoms. We looked at the need to isolate for 7 days if we live on our own and 14 day isolation period if we lived with others.

We looked at who was at a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus and the steps that we could take as carers in reducing that risk, such as regularly washing our hands, the wearing of PPE, social distancing and hand sanitation etc. As the need for social distancing became more apparent our manager took the sad decision to temporarily close the office to the carer's except for when it was necessary for them to come in. Even in this instance social distancing is followed.

I managed to train the remaining carer's on the coronavirus via the telephone. We went through the same discussions and questions. I love to train the staff. We have an open door policy where they know that they can come in at any time and have a chat or ask for advice etc. So it's not been the same but they have all been brilliant so far in keeping the lines of communication open so that I can still do any refresher training that they require.

We have a work what’s app group in which I have been able to post information, diagrams and video's of the correct way to put PPE on and off. Furthermore I have been able to communicate with the staff on the group chat as to who needs to be updated on their training. The staff have in general been fantastic and I have managed to do refresher training of 6 staff in two days over the phone on food and hygiene. There are certain things that I am not able to train over the phone such as moving and positioning and first aid, as that would go against all social distancing protocol, as I simply can't do that properly without getting close with the carers to some degree. Some might say that with all this going on around us that at this stage training is simply not important. I beg to differ.

Of course the safety and well being of our carers and service users is of the utmost priority. Yet the safety of our carers and clients can only happen if our staff feel fully supported, informed and competent in their own knowledge, skills and ability's to care for others safely. The last thing they need throughout these scary times is to be abandoned in this care crisis. Training the staff via the telephone is not ideal by any means, as I love the one to one training with the carers.

Once this is all over I will en-devour to do all refresher training as I usually do face to face, often on a one to one basis. Yet if this is what it takes to keep the staff up to date with all their mandatory training then I think its important that I do it, that's my job. I would never ever profess to know everything, far from it.

In fact my journey of learning will never end. I can only follow government advice and local policies and procedures. Yet I can go on my nearly 35 years experience in adult social care and nursing to help guide me in guiding you. (OMG) am I really that old? What my experience does tell me though is what an amazing care team we have. I learn from each and everyone of you every day. We have an amazing manager, deputy manager and supervisor and you are all outstanding care staff.. We are lucky to have each and every one of you.

I want to thank all the carers for promptly ringing me and putting time aside in their busy days to go through their refresher training with me. You have all been brilliant and continue to be amazing at what you do. We will all get through this uncertain time together. I love ya all. x Rae. x”

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