Implementing Telecare
Develop training programmes and materials

Telecare is bound to change the way some people work, and an effective training programme improves motivation and service delivery.

Project leads should ensure that appropriate training is available in order to (amongst other things):

• Ensure that all the new skills and experiences required to deliver a new service are identified and provided for;
• Enable staff to upgrade their skills and experience to ensure good service to users and carers;
• Can provide a way of looking critically at current training in other areas, to see how they may be affected by Telecare;
• Ensure that all staff, especially those in different departments, follow common working methods in delivering service;
• Meet regulation requirements.

Developing training

Rapid changes in technology and in public expectations of service delivery have implications for those delivering services. Whilst many valuable improvements are made informally through small changes in everyday practice which then become taken for granted, a telecare project is also likely to require some structured and formal training.

A surprising number of projects do not explicitly include a budget for training, which causes a difficulty when the project has to compete with other training demands and commitments.

The project lead can increase their chances of a successful outcome if they plan ahead and anticipate, as far as is possible, the time and money required for training to support the new service and include budget provision for this.

Factors to consider include:

• Identifying training needs, including who will require training and when e.g. one-off sessions or regular sessions over a longer period of time.
• Specifying the outcomes expected
• Designing/procuring training - who will deliver it, what form will it take, who will develop training materials?
• Estimating and securing the budget
• Conducting training – who, when, where, how long?
• Assessing effectiveness – has it met the specified outcomes, and if not, how should it be adapted?

See Tool 19 – Developing a training programme for key aspects to be considered when developing a training programme and materials.

Telecare training also needs to be linked with other training activities that are planned or underway. Attendance can be encouraged if it is linked to accredited training – e.g. CPD certificate.

If poor attendance is an issue, the project manager should carry out consultation with key stakeholders, including staff and team leaders, to determine why they are not attending and what needs to be changed to improve attendance.