Essential Staff Training for Residential Services

Easy to use, OTC certified, accessible, anytime, anywhere by anyone.

Essential Training

Covid-19 has brought extensive challenges to all of us, not least ensuring that staff cover is provided in service areas that remain open and ensuring that staff are well informed working in areas possibly unfamiliar to them. The Open Training College (OTC) has been delivering excellent social care education and training since 1992, online since 2004. The OTC has identified the essential relevant training areas with experts in the area.

Contextualised Training

The training is designed for employees already in role but who wish to refresh skills and information; people newly recruited who may already hold a Level 5 Health Service Skills or other relevant qualification but need a more in-depth understanding to deliver high quality, safe, person centered services; staff redeployed to work in an unfamiliar area.

Award Winning Training Platform

The training is delivered on the award winning OTC online platform that can be accessed on most devices, 24/7 and provides OTC certification for the 12 modules. There are 17 hours of online content. Each module takes 60-90 minutes to complete.

Foundation Programme for Working in Residential Services

1. Safeguarding Vulnerable People V2

Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons

  • Defining key terms
  • Definitions and indicators of abuse
  • Features of a positive organisational culture that supports safeguarding
  • Reporting abuse
  • Do's and don'ts of safeguarding

 

 

 

5. INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL

Infection Prevention and Control

  • Employer and employee responsibilities
  • Basic microbiology
  • How to break the chain of infection
  • Correct handwashing
  • Key considerations in maintaining a clean environment
  • Precautions for COVID-19
9. GOOD BACK CARE

Good Back Care

  • Reasons for good back care
  • How does the back work
  • How to prevent injury
  • Ergomonics
  • Principles of Safer Handling
  • Employer/employee responsibilities
2. PERSON CENTREDNESS AND RIGHTS v2

Person Centredness and Rights

  • Key principles of person centredness
  • The 5 valued experiences during COVID
  • Being a person centred worker
  • Role and responsibility of a rights holder/duty bearer
  • Developing a human rights approach to work in a disability service
  • Assisted Decision Making during COVID.

 

6. INTIMATE AND PERSONAL CARE

Intimate and Personal Care

  • Intimate vs. personal care
  • Privacy and dignity
  • Principles of intimate care
  • Good practice in intimate care
  • Dressing and changing
  • Eating, drinking and swallowing
10. AN INTRODUCTION TO FIRE SAFETY

An Introduction to Fire Safety

  • What causes fire
  • Employer/employee responsibilities
  • Fire drills
  • Fire prevention equipment
  • Fire alarms/ emergency lighting
  • Fire wardens
3. AN INTRODUCTION TO POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SUPPORTS v2

An Introduction to Positive Behaviour Supports

  • Understanding behaviour
  • The link between behaviour and wellbeing
  • Dealing with behaviours that challenge
  • Low arousal techniques
  • Avoiding restrictive practices

 

 

7. AN INTRODUCTION TO HEALTH AND SAFETY

An Introduction to Health and Safety

  • Health and safety in residential services
  • Employee/employer responsibilities
  • The importance of the safety statement
  • Accident and incident reporting
  • Positive risk assessment
  • Health and safety during COVID-19
11. STAFF WELLBEING AND SELF CARE

Staff Wellbeing and Self Care

  • Calming the storm within
  • Understanding anxiety
  • Self-healing strategies
  • Self-management
  • Self-care guide
4. Report Writing v2

Records and Report Writing

  • Importance of record keeping in health and social care settings
  • Essential elements in report writing and record keeping
  • Accountability and report writing
  • Best practice writing tips
  • 7C's of Communication and how they apply

 

 

 

8. FOOD HYGIENE

Food Hygiene

  • General requirements for food premises
  • General hygiene requirements
  • Temperature controls and food segregation
  • Food handling and storage
  • Food preparation
  • Transportation of food
12. GETTING RESIDENTIAL READY

Getting Residential Ready

  • Induction for the employee
  • Getting to know the people you are supporting
  • Learning the house's protocols
  • The role of HIQA and your role
  • Key standards in residential services

Testimonials

"I recently completed online learning with the OTC. They provided a 'How To' ebooklet that made it very easy to follow. These were short courses that I could dip into when it suited me. I found them to be informative and relevant to my role. They are quick to do but very engaging so I learned a lot in a very short space of time. Boosted my confidence for sure!"
Ian K, Direct Support Worker, April 2020
Click Here to Read more 5* testimonials

Cost

110 euro for registration for the complete programme.

During the programme you receive:

  • 12 modules that contain 17 hours of elearning;
  • Relevant and practical content for residential services;
  • OTC certification for each module and the overall programme;
  • A range of interactive quizzes and activities;
  • Key videos and resources.
  • Up to date content on COVID-19 issues in residential services in a number of areas.

The College will discuss possible discounts based on staff groups with agencies.

NOTE: The programme/modules do not sit on the NFQ.

Questions about getting started? Email us to find out more!

If you are representing an agency or are an individual interested in the area:

No need to click the green 'Apply Online Now' button at the top of this page.

All enquiries/registrations will be commenced via Conor.

Please contact Conor at cmurray@opentrainingcollege.com by clicking on the 'Get in Touch' button, or phone 086 0756580 (Business hours 9am-5pm).

Get In Touch