Training the trainer: 3 steps to digital coaching for Care Workers
The role of a Care Worker is varied, challenging and unpredictable. They may be described as someone who provides personal care and help with the day-to-day living needs of others, but they might also be relied upon to help their clients:
stay connected with their family and friends using digital devices
attend medical appointments through online, virtual systems
access digital resources for shopping, entertainment and learning
keep up with the latest government and safety information published, more frequently, only online.
Without the assistance of Care Workers, many seniors and people requiring in-home care in our communities would be isolated and excluded from important information, social interaction and services that we often take for granted. When a Care Worker is able to provide digital literacy support to those in their care, the whole picture is flipped around.
So how does YourLink support Care Workers to add these new skills to their toolkit and become Digital Coaches? Based on the work we do, here are my 3 steps.
Step 1: Don’t assume
We don’t assume Care Workers are digital experts, but we also don’t assume that they’re non-technical either. While they may be experts in providing care for others, they may not know the most effective way to educate and support others with digital skills.
As Steven Covey defined ‘seek first to understand’ as the fifth habit in his bestselling book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, we do this by checking in with Care Workers using a self-assessment to understand their:
comfort level with technology
confidence in helping others to learn
and their curiosity to try something new.
We then tailor their learning experience to ensure everyone walks away having learnt something new. From simply understanding that learning comes from being allowed to “do it yourself”, to finding a new app that will improve the daily lives of those they care for, or even resources online that helps them personally manage their own day better.
Step 2: Build on a strong foundation
Isn’t it great when a form you’re completing online is automatically pre-filled with your information? I feel that’s the bonus we have with Care Workers - they come, already pre-filled with many of the qualities of a Digital Coach. A Care Worker wouldn’t be in their role - and great at it - if they weren’t already good listeners, patient, empathetic, enthusiastic, flexible and above all supportive. All of these qualities are also needed to be an effective Digital Coach.
YourLink recognises and acknowledges the strength of these existing qualities in Care Workers. We help them see how the skills they have already developed in their role translate into the digital learning world and can be used as a strong foundation for inspiring and supporting others.
We build on this strong foundation by adding guidance and insights on how best to upskill others on digital technology. We then add some extra digital knowledge so Digital Coaches feel confident to take others on a learning journey and most importantly to “give it a go” themselves.
Step 3: Keep it Real
Theories, ideas and instructions are all necessary ingredients for learning, but I’m sure we’d all agree that what we remember most from any learning experience is the information and skills we are able to personally relate to. Being able to envisage how a piece of tech functionality would work in real life and in practical terms, brings Digital Coach learning to a whole new level.
By helping Care Workers to understand how their client, friend or relative could not only use but benefit from technology in their lives, we’re supporting these new Digital Coaches to keep a focus on how meaningful and important the little things can be.
The reward is in the joy that is experienced when someone is able to:
connect with a friendly face, even in an online world
listen to a Podcast or audiobook when they’re not able to go out to their usual social events
find that new knitting pattern to keep themselves busy
watch a video replay of a much loved soccer match,
find their community online, or
do a quick online check on the weather.
These learning experiences boost confidence and shift negative thoughts about technology from:
“It’s too hard”
“I don’t know anything about it”
“It’s a different language to me”
“I’m scared I’ll break my iPad”
To new and positive ways of looking at the digital world:
“I did it!!”
“Show me more!”
“What else can I do?”
“I’ve learnt so much and now I want to know more”.
Through story telling and sharing real life experiences, we are able to shift what could be a ‘technical, point and click training session’ into a meaningful, human-centred, learning experience which Care Workers can relate to and incorporate into their daily role and interactions. We also highlight key tips such as the need to ‘let them do it themselves’ and ‘start small and take it slow’, to ensure our Digital Coaches don’t feel they have to be the expert in everything tech and that they can learn and grow alongside those in their care.
YourLink is committed to helping Care Workers navigate the digital literacy needs of those they care for and support them to add digital literacy upskilling to the remit of their already hugely important role.
About Dianne:
Dianne Dew is a passionate learning and development professional, who is focused on motivating, coaching and inspiring people of all ages and life stages to reach their potential through the use of technology and personal development. She brings over 20 years experience in learning design, facilitation, coaching, personal and team development across professional services, education, government and IT industries.