Securing a vendor to deliver basic training is a key aspect of building a quality program. This is not the time to be “hands-off”. Even though you’re not the one instructing, you still play a critical part in training delivery. Think of this like selecting a tutor for your child. Someone else may be teaching your peers, but you are paying for it and expecting a positive outcome.
The lessons team members learn in basic training can make or break your program. You have every right to vet and demand the type of topics and exercises your team must learn. Basic training will likely be your program’s greatest expense. Having said that, it’s worth researching and working to find exactly what you need to prepare your peers, advance your program and benefit the organization as a whole.
Determine Knowledge, Select Skills
As far as topics are concerned, return to your list of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs). Finalize a list of skills and techniques that you believe your team needs to know and provide. Here’s an example list of KSAs needed for effective support:
- Listen and explore
- Assess
- Reflect and validate feelings
- Reframe distorted thoughts
- Empower decision making
- Stabilize and meet immediate needs
- Follow up and/or refer
Consider this your list of “training outcomes”. As you research training providers, compare your list to theirs. If it is not a direct match, then how flexible is the company (or instructor)? Are they offering a “one-size-fits-all” training program or can they customize to fit your specific needs?
Select someone familiar with your organization
Your agency, organization or congregation is unique. Be sure potential instructors understand the facets of your organization in order to prepare team members for certain challenges they may face. In other words, don’t just select a vendor with “name recognition”, select an instructor that is familiar (or willing to learn) the needs of your organization.
Basic training is not orientation
Basic training instructors are there to provide … well … basic training. Basic training is introductory knowledge and skills – making team members “response ready” to provide care and support to those in need. Basic training is not designed to teach your program’s policy or particular response protocols. It is up to you to determine what comes first: basic training or orientation. Either way, it’s imperative to note these are two different offerings. Basic training provides introductory knowledge and skills, while orientation teaches members application and expectation.
If your program is nationally-based and members are traveling in from various parts of the country, then consider combining basic with orientation. Be sure to ask potential training vendors if their schedule is flexible enough to accommodate orientation time. Orientation is often lead by the program coordinator (and/or other program officers) and not basic training instructors.
Train as One
If you are building a team, then we recommend training as a team. Some training programs offer regional conferences where anyone from any field can sign up and sit in. This model may work for the program utilizing one or two peers. But, for the program with more than a few members, we recommend training as a team. Even if your program doesn’t offer group response (only individual support), team training provides critical time to “meet-and-greet” and begin building a spirit of cooperation and cohesion.
Consider Train-Trainer
Larger agencies, organizations and congregations may find train-trainer option more cost-effective and viable. Train-trainer gives organizations “ownership” of their training experience. For more, visit: https://crisissupportsolutions.com/train-trainer/
Coordinator participation
We recommend the coordinator (and/or other program officers) participate in each basic training. We recognize the coordinator has additional duties, but we believe the coordinator’s presence is imperative for addressing specific programmatic questions while learning personalities of individuals and team dynamics.
Basic training can be a lot like summer camp. It’s the time when everyone leaves behind everyday demands to get comfortable and get real. We have seen lifelong friendships formed in basic training. We encourage groups to work together in class then play together after class. We still hear stories of groups bonding, laughing, making memories and building trust. That’s the fun (and benefit) of “training as one”.
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We teach teams how to provide effective mental, emotional, and spiritual support to those in need.