Research shows that high-quality training for home care workers can improve both job satisfaction and care outcomes. To strengthen training in the Chicago area, PHI formed the Quality Care through Quality Jobs (QCQJ) Training Collaborative with four home care providers and a labor union. Together, they created and pilot-tested an enhanced pre-service training program that reached 125 of their newly hired personal care aides. This brief describes the development and impact of the training, and is meant to inform both policies and practices to improve home care services throughout Illinois.
Key Takeaways
When direct care workers are satisfied with their training, they are less likely to experience workplace stress and injuries and more likely to remain in their jobs.
PHI’s approach is rooted in the principles of person-centered care, and it emphasizes active listening skills, self-management, self-reflection, and collaborative problem solving.
From 2011 to 2013, nearly 400 new personal care aides completed a 77-hour, adult learner-centered training program.
