“In the field of disability services turnover is last Tuesday!” – Dave Hingsburger
Nationally, turnover is actually at almost 50%. Here is what Direct Support Staff want:
Here is how one agency is working to change things:
Penn-Mar Human Services was founded in 1981 and serves over 400 people with locations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Penn-Mar approached Open Future Learning as a means to engage their staff in the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) credentialing program.
The first step on the NADSP career ladder program is to become certified as a Direct Support Professional level 1. This requires 50 hours of accredited training. So far over 50 staff have now graduated through this program, and for those graduates, turnover has reduced from 34% to just 16%.
Meet Natalie and learn how she is using Open Future Learning to become certified:
Outside of the NADSP credentialing program all staff are required to complete 24 hours of training per year. Using the flexibility of the Open Future resource, Penn-Mar’s users complete modules on their own and also in group settings. Previously these group style meetings took place in person, but now learners watch the modules as a group over zoom.
All staff are required to complete a set list of modules. Penn-Mar’s director of learning and development Gina Brelesky identified the ‘Personal and Intimate Care’ training as one of the most important and impactful modules that her staff complete. Here is the trailer for that module:
After completing their required training Direct Support Staff meet with their supervisor to review their learning and discuss how they can apply what they have learned to their practice. Professional development on it’s own is not enough. Staff need to demonstrate how they are using what they have learned to impact the lives of the people they support.
To learn more about how you can help your staff to become credentialed, email hello@openfuturelearning.org for a demo and a free trial of the Open Future resource.
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