Training concept in Italy Compliment project ESF Article 6 VS/2006/0341 Partners meeting in Milan 21st-23rd May 2008

Our pilot organization FONDAZIONE CASTELLINI has been founded in 1894 as a Moral Organization. Starting from 2000 it is a non-profit organization whose main aim is to provide assistance, mainly to elder or dependent persons, which can assure high quality services and custom-made care activities. Fondazione Castellini is certified UNI EN ISO 9001:2000 for continuous improvement. It is a residential institution with the following structures: 2 RSA (nursing homes) for 361 guests: 317 are for non- self sufficient patients, 6 for patients in coma condition, 38 places for patients suffering from Alzheimer ’ s disease/dementia. 1 Hospice for 10 patients 1 Day Care centre for 30 people.

Pilot organization: the staff All care activities are run by a social-sanitary equipe consisting of a medical doctor, a ward coordinator, a rehabilitation therapist, professional nurses, social and sanitary assistants, educators and operators for free time activities. Total Number of employees: 232. Total number of care givers employees: 154 Average age of care givers employees: 43,3 Gender of care givers: 91,5% are female Qualification of care givers: 79,8% are semi or unskilled emlpoyees

Training needs Training needs were investigated through focus group, individual interviews, analysis of the pilot organisation and competence check Two main areas of training were identified:  COMMUNICATION  EMPOWERMENT IN DAILY WORK AREA

Methodology adopted Neuro Linguistic Planning (NLP) to allow a personal and easy approach to communication techniques Coaching to motivate people and to support them reaching their goals. Self Directed Learning Holistic techniques to favor a new approach to personal well being and to cope with stress.

Training for trainers 10 participants with different professions (care givers, physiotherapist, social assistant, nurse, ward coordinator) 3 group meetings (16 hours) Themes: effective communication, SDL, coaching, relationships management, motivation Tools: games, brainstorming, cross interviews, videos, etc. Aim: to train them to be able to support and motivate other colleagues’ self directed learning

Training for operators 12 participants (all care givers) 1 group meeting to identify each one training goal (to be achieved with SDL) 4 individual coaching sessions to support and motivate each participant to set clearly a training goal, to make an action plan, to identify resources and strenghts, difficulties and weaknesses and to identify necessary steps Tools: individual interviews, grids, games, readings, written exercises

Individual coaching/1 4 individual sessions where each operator was motivated and guided by an external coach to achieve his/her training goal, previously identified in group coaching Every coaching module started with a contract, signed by the operator and the coach both, where training goal, resources, training contents, deadline for the training achievement were specified

Individual coaching/2 Example of contract SDL Training Operator_______________ Facilitator/Coach______________________ Which is your training goal? What are you going to learn? Which strategies and resources will you adopt to achieve your goal? When do you think you will achieve your goal? How will you know you achieved it? What proofs will you have? Operator Signature__________Facilitator/Coach signature____________

Individual coaching/3 Goals identified: effective communication, listening, self esteem improvement, stress management, relationships management Individual sessions were every 7/15 days, during this period operators did exercises proposed by coaches, read articles, web pages, books, met with other operators to discuss similar themes, etc. Everything was discussed during following session Operators had a diary to take notes regarding their process and experience During last session coach gave each operator a document that gathered results obtained and results yet to be obtained

Individual coaching/4 Strenghts Individualization Self evaluation Self improvement Flexibility Learning capitalisation

Coaching and SDL Coaching fits well to SDL because it favors –Self development through self directed learning –Responsibility –Aknowledgement of one’s own talents –Capability to activate oneself to solve problems

Training for trainers and operators 22 participants (10 trainers and 12 operators previously trained) divided into 2 groups 1 group meeting for each group (2 hours) During individual coaching, each operator was matched to a trainer that could support her/him afterwards. Aim of this meeting was to make them starting working together, so that each trainer can support each operator to achieve his/her training goal with SDL and involve them for the future development of concept.

Holistic Techniques About 40 participants with different professions (medical doctors, HR responsible, administrative employees, ward coordinators, hair stylist, care givers, nurses, physiotherapists,) 2 series (the module was repeated due to high number of participants) of 4 group meetings Themes: how to find out or rediscover one’s own talents, motion techniques, self massage techniques, imagination techniques and body mediation Aim: stress management and promotion of well being

First results/impressions Positive impact on trainers and operators both, some signals: –High participation to holistic techniques modules (participation was volunteer) –Spontaneous forming of small groups of operators meeting to discuss their training goals –Spontaneous adoption of strategies learned to support other colleagues (virtuous circle, very important for sustainability)

Evaluation results for trainers and operators T0 What is your reason for participating at this pilot-training? 75% for my own professional interests 12,5% my employer has asked me to participate 12,5% other

Evaluation results for trainers and operators T1 How would you assess and evaluate your knowledge on “self-directed learning”? How would you assess this training approach: does it fit to your needs? How would you assess this training approach: is it effective for you? The great majority of the answers are: MUCH and VERY MUCH