Rehabilition Therapist Education, Training, and Supervision

Rehabilition Therapist Education, Training, and Supervision

educationEDUCATION

Rehabilitation Support Workers have a post secondary education within the human services field. Educational backgrounds include social work, psychology, sociology, teaching, recreation therapist, occupational therapy assistant, kinesiology, addiction studies, and rehabilitation studies among others.

REHABILITATION SUPPORT WORKER TRAINING:

Lawlor staff participate in bi-monthly training that is invaluable in updating and maintaining their skills. Lawlor provides in house training and welcomes professionals from the community to share their knowledge. Lawlor staff also participate in OBIA Level One and Level Two training.

 

LAWLOR TRAINING INCLUDES:

Certifications: First Aid and CPR, Safe Lifts and Transfers, CPI: Non-Violent Intervention and Health and Safety Training.

  • Rick Hadleycrane, our Director of Business Development, provides First Aid and CPR training.
  • Courtney Enright, our Intake Co-ordinator, is our resident CPI Nonviolent Crisis Intervention trainer. Courtney also assists in the development of crisis intervention plans for clients that require extra support. A Kinesiologist provides Safe Lifts and Transfer training to our staff to reduce the risk of injuries and accidents.
  • Angie Cunningham,  our member of the Lawlor Health and Safety Team, provides annual Health and Safety Training, which includes personal protection against infection and quarantine policies. She also reviews concerns at our bi-monthly staff meetings.

OTHER IN HOUSE TRAINING:

  • Wheelchair mechanics
  • Physiotherapy 101: Terminology and Practices
  • Maintaining Professional Boundaries and How to Work as an Effective Team
  • Professional Documentation: Writing clear objectives and collecting relevant data
  • Applied Behaviour Analysis. Cognitive and Behavioural Planning and Programming
  • Suicide Intervention

CERTIFICATION

Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) Certification and Ontario Brin Injury Association Training

Ongoing training was provided through the Ontario Brain Injury Association and The American Academy of Brain Injury Specialists (AACBIS) through the American Brain Injury Association.

Twenty one Lawlor staff worked towards gaining their AACBIS certification in 2012. Several new staff also attended OBIA’s Brain Basics training program and seasoned staff attended Level One and Two courses to update their skill set.

Continuing education is critical to keep our skills and knowledge current in order to serve our client’s needs. Lawlor staff are paid for their time and fees are reimbursed when they successfully attend these programs.

COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS:

Lawlor welcomes professional rehabilitation professionals, members of the legal community and clients to share their insights and provide training during our staff meetings. In 2011 and 2012 we were lucky to have four clients who educated our staff on how to communicate, understand, and work with people who have an acquired brain injury. One of our clients wrote a brochure that outlined communication techniques and do’s and don’ts when talking and working with someone with a brain injury. Another client provided instruction and support during our First Aid/CPR sessions due to his background as a Paramedic.

A client is the most important member of the rehabilitation team and we value their input and education above all other sources and always welcome them to train our staff.

We were also fortunate to have two occupational therapists, a physiotherapist, and a lawyer attend our staff meetings and provide training and presentations. It is always beneficial to hear how each discipline works with and values the work of the rehabilitation support worker.

The legal presentation focused on very useful documentation skills, titled “Shining under the Microscope – Clear, Concise and Confident rehab team presentations.”

The occupational therapy and physiotherapy presenters provided in-services with practical skills for each discipline. Again with a strong focus on how to work effectively within a rehabilitation team.

Lawlor is grateful for the support and education provided by the rehabilitation community and continue to welcome them to our staff meetings.

SUPERVISION

Rehabilitation Support Workers work under the direction of a regulated health care professional. Rehabilitation support workers facilitate recommendations by the attending rehabilitation team. They do not perform assessments or make recommendations. Practice guidelines from the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario have been incorporated into Lawlor Therapy Support Services training manual. Our service enhances the rehabilitation team to assist the client to achieve their maximum rehabilitation potential.

To ensure quality assurance standards are met, Rehabilitation Support Workers communicate with their manager regularly and meet with them monthly to review client progress, barriers in reaching rehabilitation goals, client feedback, supervising regulated health care professional feedback, and other client issues.

Rehabilitation Support Workers participate in performance evaluations where feedback from clients and supervising regulated health care professionals is reviewed.

Lawlor Therapy Support Services establishes a good fit between the client and the Rehabilitation Support Worker. Experience, personality, and education are matched with a client’s needs. Curricula vitae’s are available for review.