Training Guidelines for New Staff in a Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) Program

Adequate staff training prior to working with developmentally disabled individuals in a Community Integrated Living Arrangement program is a state requirement. This study gives some background information and suggestions for such training requirements in concise blocks of time. A training period before new staff begin working with clients is important because it enables staff to understand various facets of their job. It is important that all new staff understand the types of individuals with whom they will be working and what is expected of them in regard to working with the agency\u27s clientele. To ensure that staff comprehend the rationale of training and perform the skills properly, role-playing and video taping can be utilized in the training plans. Simulations can be set up in which staff role-play actual situations with a resident and demonstrate the skills they have learned. Individual reading of selected materials is another way staff can learn more about and be prepared for working with individuals who are developmentally disabled. This affords new staff with adequate time to ask questions before actually beginning work with clients. While basic skills are fairly generic when beginning a training program for new staff, unique needs do arise in each residence. The training system should address the ongoing needs of staff in the particular program. Staff training should be applicable to the day-to-day realities of the job and should teach concrete skills to help staff work more effectively with clients. Without training, members rendering services to individuals who have developmental disabilities will be ill- prepared to do their jobs. Consequently, the individuals for whom services are to be rendered will suffer by not receiving the quality of services to which they are entitled. Furthermore, failure to abide by the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Community Integrated Living Arrangement guidelines could result in loss of licensure and in turn, loss of funding for agencies providing such programs. In order to rectify this problem, a training curricula which satisfies state requirements has been developed. Hopefully, the fulfillment of these requirements will enhance the performance of staff members in their delivery of services. By the same token, the individual\u27s lives to whom staff render services will be improved as well