Group A
Required Training for Group A
Waiver service providers in this group (Service Coordination, Community Integration Counseling, Home and Community Support Services, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Mentoring, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Services, Respite Care, and Structured Day Program Services) are responsible for:
- Developing a written training curriculum if one has not been developed by DOH to meet the requirements identified in this section;
- Ensuring individuals providing the training meet the qualifications specified in this section; and
- Documenting all training in staff's files, including all related NHTD training, seminars and conferences attended, by the provider or other entities. whether offered
1. Basic Orientation Training
Definition
Qualified waiver service provider staff for this group must complete Basic Orientation training prior to any unsupervised contact with a waiver participant and within thirty (30) days of beginning service provision to a NHTD participant.
The training consists of one-on-one and/or group training to instruct new employees of waiver service providers about general needs of individuals with disabilities and/or seniors, the philosophy and policies of the NHTD waiver, waiver services and waiver participant's rights and responsibilities.
The requirement for Basic Orientation training will be met by utilizing the approved DOH curriculum entitled "Overview of NHTD-TBI Waiver Programs".
The Regional Resource Development Specialist (RRDS) will provide Training-Of-Trainer (TOT) programs to the trainers of the waiver service provider agencies so they, in turn can conduct the overview training to their agency staff. The individuals that have attended the TOT program will then be able to train agency staff in this curriculum. Upon completion of the TOT program, the RRDS will give the employee a Certificate of Attendance which will be kept in his/her employee file verifying that he/she has attended the training. This curriculum can be obtained by contacting the Regional Resource Development Center (RRDC) following the successful completion of the training.
2. Service Specific Training
Definition
Service specific training prepares the waiver service provider staff for the roles and responsibilities specific to the waiver service he/she is qualified to provide. This training must be completed prior to any unsupervised contact with a waiver participant and within thirty (30) days of initial employment.
Service specific training consists of one-on-one and/or group training to instruct individual staff of their roles as providers of a specific service. All staff must understand the description of each waiver service written in the Program Manual (refer to Section VI - Waiver Services).
All waiver service providers for this group must include the following information in the curriculum for Service Specific Training:
- Definition and goals of the service and a detailed job description;
- Roles and responsibilities of the provider of the specific service;
- Procedures for completing service-specific assessments;
- Procedures for effective communication and coordination between staff and Service Coordinator and all waiver and non-waiver service providers;
- Basic understanding of NHTD waiver services and other available community services and funding sources;
- The prior approval process;
- Record keeping responsibilities of the specific waiver service providers including NHTD Service Plans, Detailed Plans, documentation of encounters, and Individual Service Reports (refer to Appendix C – form C.16);
- Team Meeting requirements;
- Waiver Participant Rights and Responsibilities (refer to Appendix C – form C.5);
- Effective interventions during crisis, including behavioral and medical, natural disasters, severe weather, and lack of replacement staff;
- Basic safety and emergency procedures (e.g. choking, loss of consciousness, breathing difficulties); and
- Identifying and reporting any changes in the participant's routine use of medication, usual behaviors, mood, personality, sleep patterns, functional and cognitive abilities, appearance and/or lifestyle.
Home and Community Support Services and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Services have more clearly defined training requirements which must be adhered to (refer to Section VI - Waiver Services).
3. Annual Training
Definition
Annual Training is provided to keep waiver service provider staff up to date regarding their roles and responsibilities specific to the waiver service he/she is qualified to provide. Waiver service provider staff must complete an Annual Training program. Annual Training consists of one-on-one and/or group training.
Annual Training requirements for this group include at a minimum:
- A review of NHTD Participant Rights and Responsibilities;
- A review of the NHTD Incident Reporting Policy and Complaint Procedure;
- A review of all new policies and/or procedures required by the NHTD Waiver which impact the services provided; and
- Additional topics relating to findings of satisfaction surveys, incident reports and trend analyses.
Qualifications of Trainers for Group A Providers
Training must be provided by individuals who are:
- Knowledgeable about the needs of individuals with disabilities and/or seniors or knowledgeable regarding one of the specific areas of required training;
- Familiar with the philosophy, policies and procedures of the NHTD Waiver;
- Knowledgeable regarding the waiver service which is the subject of the service specific training; and
- Have completed the required DOH "Training-of-Trainer (TOT)" program for the "Overview of NHTD-TBI Waiver program" and any approved curriculum relevant to NHTD services provided.
Documentation of all Training for Group A Providers
For all waiver service providers of Group A, this includes:
- Documentation in each waiver service provider employee's file of all NHTD related trainings provided by the waiver service provider or other entities.
This documentation must include:
- Name of the trainer and affiliation/qualifications;
- Verification of staff's attendance at trainings;
- Date and place of training;
- Goals and objectives of training;
- Evaluation instruments that measured the success of the training; and
- Certificate of Attendance.
Agencies are responsible for ensuring that individuals providing waiver services complete Basic Orientation Training and Service Specific Training. Individuals with documented successful completion of prior training in the content area(s) specified in Basic Orientation Training and/or Service Specific Training may be exempt from such training at the discretion of the provider. If the DOH Certificate of Attendance is more than two (2) years old, the employee must complete and pass the post questionnaire of the Basic Orientation Training, and if applicable, Service Specific Training. The reason for the exemption as well as the post questionnaire results must be documented by the employer in the staff's file so it may be reviewed upon request and during the survey process.
