Should staff be retrained?

[Blackstone]

Hi all,

Need to get some other thoughts on an issue I’ve come across and been asked my opinion:

Company A has member of staff that has received train the trainer (TTT) and given said training to many fellow staff members. This employee has retired and a new member of staff had TTT to give refreshers and train new staff.

It has come to light that the previous trainer did not register any of the training with the authorised body, made up certificate numbers and had not received TTT for all modules that they had been signing off staff members for!

The training allows staff to assist clients in a care setting so does not just affect staff members or trained volunteers.

My thoughts:
There is no way of knowing if previously trained staff have been given adequate or correct training.
Company A could not show staff are competent in the event of an accident
All previously trained staff should be retained and issued certificates through the authorised body.

I have intentionally keep the description of the issue generic, avoiding specifics

Please let me know what you think.

Regards
BS

[WillPool]

Re-training is probably the best option here. however, trying to get staff to reattend training could be troublesome.

If they had attended the training, albeit unregulated, could they not conduct 'on the job assessments' to see if staff are competent and then reissue certification and only retrain those that are not deemed competent?

Just a thought

Will

[PaulDonaldson]

My observations

Is it a requirement to have accredited training for the staff or is in house sufficient?
Was it safety critical training?
Do you still have the certificates the retired person issued and if so do they relate to the training given.
You, as I’m sure are aware, have to be able to show that the staff are competent to do the tasks they have been asked to do.

I appreciate the situation they have left you with, but technically the training has been given from what you are saying. Happy to discuss by email if you want

[The Noise Chap]

I would look at it from the other perspective if it were me. I.e. are the staff doing the job properly as they are supposed to do it? Training is to equip them to do that therefore I would develop a wee in-house assessment protocol and run through that. If everyone is doing what they need to and knows what they should, then retraining is box-ticking rather than giving any value and the in-house check acts as the record that all is OK. If the assessment shows they are lacking then retrain, but that would apply whatever training they had before, even if 'proper'.

[grim72]

Assuming the new TTT is fully competent and up to the job I'd agree with some of the previous posts and have the shadow the "previously trained staff" to assess them and decide if additional/official training is required, based on what is discovered. Of course, the number of staff, location, and nature of the "care provided" may all have an impact on that suggestion and may not be a viable option, in which case I'd agree with your initial assessment and have them officially authorised but the relevant body.

Look at it from a personal point of view (I don't know what kind of care is being provided - vulnerable people, elderly people, disabled people etc) if I was relying on a carer to help look after my relative and an incident occurred that didn't feel right, and I discovered the carer I had entrusted was not adequately trained or validated then I'd have serious questions from a legal standpoint if my loved one had suffered as a result.

[Blackstone]

Hi all,
Thanks for the responses.

I think the decision was made to retrain staff over the coming months to ensure everyone is at the required standard