AITD recognises Anglicare SA for dementia care training approach

Using an evidenced based approach, Anglicare SA delivers a few minutes of dementia care training every day. In the highly contested Australian Institute of Training and Development awards Anglicare SA won best use of technology for learning category.

Using an evidenced based approach, Anglicare SA delivers a few minutes of dementia care training every day. In the highly contested Australian Institute of Training and Development awards Anglicare SA won best use of technology for learning category.

Effective

Getting Carers along to classroom training or sitting at a computer for 30 minutes completing an online learning module is becoming increasing challenging and costly for providers. Anglicare SA used mobile phones to improve the learning experience for Carers and reduce training delivery costs. The adoption of microlearning and spaced repetition training techniques was initiated on the back of an annual employee engagement survey.  

Evidenced based

Anglicare SA didn’t adopt a once and done approach to dementia care training. Instead of rolling out a one-off online module or training session, the People and Culture team ran an 8-week learning campaign to uplift dementia care knowledge and skills.

The spaced repetition campaign enabled Anglicare SA to increase educational hours on Dementia Care to 756 hours. The Forget Me Not microlearning app nudged Carers each shift with one to two dementia care practice activities. Carers achieved mastery when they answered practice activities on dementia topics correct three times in a row spaced out over a few weeks.

The ‘little and often’ approach used at Anglicare SA is backed by neuroscience and research on optimal training delivery techniques. Providing Carers more repetitions strengthen memory muscle and makes knowledge recall more likely the next time a resident living with dementia becomes agitated.

Insightful

Every time a Provider runs classroom training or assigns eLearning, they take Carers away from their customers. The range of data insights from these traditional training delivery modes is also limiting. In 2022 consumers of aged care should expect more than an attendance record or a module completion score to prove Carers are skilled and knowledgeable delivering safe, quality care.

The Forget Me Not microlearning app surfaces a range of actionable insights so Providers can feel confident about having the right people with the right skill caring for older Australians. Knowing what staff know or don’t know is an important data point. It informs further training investment decisions about Carers needing more supervision, coaching or workplace buddying.

What carers say about learning a few minutes each shift

All staff found learning for a few minutes each shift using a mobile app easy and straightforward. When Anglicare SA asked the participants was it easier to learn for a few minutes each workday instead of sitting through 30 – 60-minute eLearning courses 87.5% of staff agreed microlearning is a better employee experience.

Fitting in a few minutes of learning during a work shift also removes the requirement for overtime payments. Overtime payments are necessary for many providers who ask their workforce to complete eLearning modules out of hours at home.

One of the Registered Nurses reflected the microlearning format “would be super good for nearly any clinical scenario or a range of other skills too.”

Helping carers build a daily learning habit is possible when training solutions provide:

  • Convenience
  • Relevance
  • Supportive, personalised feedback
  • Nudges based on analytics
  • Social learning opportunities
  • Regular recognition of achievements by the app, their manager and the business.

For a discussion about how to improve the quality and impact of your training, you can email james@obviouschoice.com.au or call 0439 393 961.

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