Educational Programme for Northside Home Care Services

“HCI provided us with a comprehensive educational programme based on the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare and Governance. The training was very informative. It raised participants’ awareness on what their roles and responsibilities are within the service, gave them insight into the new Draft Regulations for Providers of Home Support Services and offered clear guidance on what actions are required to prepare our services for statutory licensing. The course included workshops which gave participants the opportunity to apply the learnings and engage with the trainer. The programme was very worthwhile, and I would highly recommend it to others.”

Marianne Healy

Director of Clinical Services, Northside Home Care Services

Background

Northside Home Care Services (NHCS) provides a variety of services around home care and home support to clients based in North Dublin.

In preparation for the statutory licensing of home support services, NHCS in conjunction with nine other homecare organisations in the Dublin area, requested HCI to provide them with an educational programme on the implementation of the HIQA National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare (NSSBH) and Governance Training – The Role of the Registered Provider, Person in Charge and Beyond. Given that there is currently no regulation of homecare or support services in Ireland, NHCS were keen to be effectively prepared for licensure and to get a comprehensive understanding of what to expect.

Objectives

To provide Registered Providers and Senior Management with a comprehensive information on their roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for the operation of their service.
To understand the importance of Governance Structures.
To provide the background to home care regulation.
To introduce best practice standards and guidance in the area of homecare.
To review each theme of the NSSBH and provide an understanding of the Quality and Safety Management System features required to achieve compliance and provide examples of non-compliance.
To review the related Draft Regulations for Providers of Home Support Services under each theme of the National Standards.
To understand the HIQA registration and inspection process.

Solution

HCI supported the ten Homecare organisations by delivery the training over half day sessions. The training was based on standards, best practice and regulatory requirements.

Identify desired aims, objectives and learning outcomes for training.

Preparation of training materials including presentations, agenda, training programme, workshops and relevant standards.

Eight half day training sessions delivered remotely.

Methods of Learning

Workshops
Practical Learning Application
Group Work
Training Presentations

Assessment of Learning

Group Work
Questions and Answers
Worksheets
Class interaction/discussion

Challenge

As Home Support Services are not yet regulated and the National Standards are not yet released, the challenge was to identify the appropriate learnings from other regulated sectors to apply to home support services.

Outcome

HCI carried out a comprehensive education programme to the ten homecare organisations on the implementation of the HIQA National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare (NSSBH) and Governance Training – The Role of the Registered Provider, Person in Charge and Beyond. This programme provided participants with the understanding of what is required to prepare their facility in advance of upcoming statutory licensing.

The participants gained sufficient insight into the Standards to allow them to review their own services in light of the requirements and assist them in planning and prioritising the actions required to achieve and maintain high quality, safe and reliable care that is compliant to the standards.

Benefits

Create awareness amongst the Management Team with regards to their roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for the operation of the service.
Staff gain an understanding of each theme under the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare and how it can apply to homecare.
Staff gain an understanding of what to expect in relation to home support legislation and regulation.
Staff can use their knowledge and understanding of the National Standards and Draft Regulations to prepare Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) to prepare their services for licensing.
Staff get an understanding of the process flow of an effective risk management model.
Management Team gain an understanding of the principles and requirements of the registration process as it relates to residential care.
Management Team gain insight into the HIQA inspection process.