Dynamic Training Session Planning for Long-Term Care Workers

1. OSHA Long Term Care Worker ProtectionTrain the Trainer ProgramPart 4: Planning the Training Sessions

2. Objectives • Identify the key aspects of planning that will support successful training sessions. • Discuss different planning strategies/approaches.

3. Aspects of Planning • Specific Audience • Timing • Space • Appropriate equipment • Materials for participants • Amenities • Setting ground rules

4. Who is the Audience? • Easier if you can work with a specific audience – can customize the content just for them. • Can do well with a multi-department group: just be sensitive to importance of examples from all of their specific settings/roles. • How much experience/background with work related health and safety do they have? • Are they new employees? • If they think they have “heard it before”, tell them how different this is!

5. Timing • Decide on topic(s) and length of session, then select the best time/times for your specific audience/ organization. • Example: 30 min session on Hazard Com/MSDS, for housekeeping and maintenance staff at ____pm. • Example: 30 min session on prevention of spread of infectious diseases for nursing staff at ___am and again at ____pm. • Example: 60 min session on ergonomics with clerical staff at ____pm; same session with CNAs at ____pm.

6. Timing • Every department and organization will have its own best timing. • There is no perfect time for training sessions! • Always keep them short and high-energy, with many opportunities for participation/discussions. • Offer short sessions more than once in a day/evening/week. • What have you found to be the best time?

7. Space • Not easy to find! • Key criteria: seating that will comfortably accommodate the participants. • Quiet surroundings. • AV friendly environment if using AV equipment. • Space to allow for group work/interaction. • Think about comfort and ease of movement for you and the participants.

8. Space • What do you currently use? • How can you adjust it/work with it to be more comfortable? • Be creative – let’s share some ideas on space for short educational sessions!

9. Equipment • Depending on the content being presented. • Be certain to have more than you think you will need for all participants, if you are including demonstrations. • Keep the equipment clean and in good condition.

10. Equipment • Might need: * Gloves * Container of cleaning material or other chemical (with label) * Handwashing demonstration material and UV light * N95 respirator and surgical masks * Gait belt * What other equipment/supplies might you want?

11. Materials for Participants • Plan what handouts you want participants to have. • Keep them easy to read, short. • Use words that are easy to understand. • Note taking is not for everyone! • If using handouts, have another person read them before you use them – are they easy to read, in multiple languages? • Carefully define technical terms or jargon.

12. Materials • Use materials that are available to you in your organization, in your Trainer Tool Kit, on the internet from reliable sources. • Pictures are great – easy for many people to understand. • Be cautious with graphs and data sheets – may be good information, but confusing to some participants. • Remember: make the materials meaningful to the specific audience.

13. Amenities • In your experience, what can attract employees to educational sessions? • Amenities can include: food (cookies/candy/fruit), water/juice/coffee, pen, etc. • Do not have to be elaborate! • A little amenity does mean a lot to participants! • Be creative!!

14. Ground Rules • An important aspect of planning any educational session. • Talk about the ground rules, post them on a large paper on the wall, be open about them! • Participants should respect ground rules, if they are clear and reinforced, and if everyone abides by them.

15. Possible Ground Rules • Start and end on time (or early). • On time arrival. • One conversation at a time. • Respectful responses to all ideas. • All pagers/beepers/cellphones on silent.

16. Additional Possibilities • No phone conversations in the room. • No use of technology (computers, texting, etc) during the session. • Allow others to complete their sentences. • Everyone is responsible for contributing. • Others?

17. Ground Rules Can Help • These can provide some behavioral guidelines. • Demonstrates respect for everyone. • Should be used for all meetings/educational sessions. • Start simple, add a few as you go along.

18. Planning • More time spent planning, the better the educational session can be. • It does not always work just as you want – but some planning in advance will make it easier. • The “plan” can be evaluated after the session, then make improvements/change before the next one. • Keep the plan simple. • Be prepared to make course corrections as circumstances change.

19. Your Experiences? • Please share your experience with great planning, but then things did not turn out as expected! • Your suggestions on planning – other aspects to consider?

20. Questions? Suggestions or Comments?