Professional development provides an integral opportunity for staff learning and growth and can help to ensure staff to remain passionate about their jobs and committed to their workplace.
Regular, ongoing professional development opportunities for staff within aged care and early childhood education, can contribute to a range of benefits for educators and carers, their employers and recipients of their care.
In 2009, Deloitte released their annual Global Human Capital Trends report, which revealed the need for learning and development as top-rated challenge. The report even cited learning opportunities as a leading reason for people choosing to take a particular job!
While early childhood services continue to strive for the highest National Quality Standard Rating (NQS Rating) possible, the aged care industry is set to be overhauled following the release of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety’s Interim Report,. Its findings highlight the need for a renewed focus on skills and quality of care. This is where professional development and upskilling become so essential.
Today’s workforce needs to be ready to adapt, and up-to-date knowledge is at the centre of its ability to do so. For employees to feel satisfied at work, they need the chance to build confidence in their individual capacity.
Professional development for enhancing standard of care
Being proactive about building the skills of your workforce ongoing is a simple yet incredibly effective way of taking a holistic approach to enhancing the quality of service provided by your early childhood or aged care business.
Retain staff: An employee who feels valued and fulfilled at work is one who stays. Linkedin Learning’s 2019 Workplace Learning Report found that 94% of employees would stay within a company longer if it invested in their learning and development. Professional development can be an excellent way to show your staff that you value them, while saving you time and money on recruitment.
Increase productivity: With the confidence and capabilities gained through additional training, you can expect your workforce to be more efficient and productive. When your team is highly trained, they also have the latest and greatest knowledge to benefit the way they approach their roles.
Raise your standard: Aged care and childcare professionals who are equipped with the latest information and training are better able to provide the highest possible standard of care.
A committed workforce through ongoing learning
The incredible benefits of professional development for your team can have a positive impact on your educators or your carers professionally, as well as personally.
Up to date knowledge and skills: Keeping your industry know-how up to date is vital and regular professional development means staff members have the latest information and tools to do their job to the highest standard.
Work life satisfaction: Everyone wants to feel satisfied within their career, and professional development can improve staff enjoyment of work. Staff feel valued when they know their employer is investing in their professional growth.
Increased confidence: Professional development training builds your confidence and sparks your passion. Increased confidence, results in tasks begin performed to a higher standard. In early childhood education and aged care, this means that the quality of care provided is enhanced.
Capturing the value of upskilling
Upskilling opportunities benefit everyone across an industry, but the right approach is essential to optimise outcomes. There are a few things to ask yourself when planning your professional development strategy:
What does my team require? Talk to your employees, listen to what they want and need, survey teams anonymously and ask for feedback and insights to guide your approach to professional development. The training should help your team to be better and do better, and they can help you identify gaps in their own skillsets that need to be filled.
Is this worthwhile to my business and my team? For a committed uptake, training should respect your employees’ time. Firstly, it should be scheduled in such a way that is respectful of their lives and other commitments. Secondly, it should be worth their time. Often this means the professional development is goal-oriented, enabling them to extend their skills with the potential view of climbing in their careers.
Am I taking the right approach to training? The training you offer your staff needs to engage them, stimulate them and excite them. If you offer the same training each year, chances are it will be met with disinterest and your workforce is unlikely to learn and grow. Be innovative and tailor your professional development to your unique business and staff.
Skills and knowledge for a bright future
Supporting a team of employees in gaining more skills and knowledge, increasing job satisfaction in your workplace and reducing staff turnover, while enhancing the quality of care offered by your child care service or aged care facility? Professional development makes it possible.
Catalyst Education’s RTOs specialise in training for those working in the aged care and early childhood education industries. We provide a range of quality courses that are specifically designed to support these vital industries and those working within them.
Contact Catalyst Education today to learn more about how professional development can pave the way to a brighter future for your staff and your organisation.
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