Therapeutic Options and COVID-19 guidance
Hello.
In 2020, our professional and personal lives were turned upside down by COVID-19. In the intervening years we have all had to be flexible to the demands of training and supporting staff. After some initial disruption in training activities, we began conducting instructor recertification virtually via Zoom, while continuing in-person certification of new instructors. While the Zoom format allowed for dialogue and provided a vehicle for instructors to demonstrate the physical skills, it limited the master instructors’ effectiveness in coaching and facilitating skill enhancement. Now that some degree of normalcy has returned, instructor recertification resumed at in-person sessions. We have discontinued virtual recertification.
Beginning January 1, 2023, first year instructors will have 6 months after their expiration date to recertify at a one-day certification workshop. If they exceed 6 months, they will need to attend a new four-day certification session to continue as a certified instructor. Instructors who have recertified at least once will have 12 months past their expiration date to recertify at a one-day workshop. Beyond 12 months, they will be required to attend a four-day new certification training. If special circumstances arise, we can evaluate each situation individually. Instructors are authorized to provide training to staff of their sponsor agencies, and only their sponsor agencies, as long as their certification is current. Once expired, instructors may not provide the training until they complete recertification. If you have questions about the status of your certification, please reach out to us.
In Person Instructor Certification Training
If you are registered for an in-person session, please bring masks to wear in case they are required by the training venue. Be advised that for the physical skills portion of the training, we will be working with partners in close proximity, including body contact. If you are symptomatic or have tested positive for COVID-19, please do not come to training. We will reschedule you for another session at no penalty to you. If you know, or suspect, that you have been exposed to COVID-19 or any infectious disease – even if you have no symptoms, please reschedule your training. We appreciate your willingness to protect each other. Many thanks to all of you for your continued flexibility and commitment to the safety of your staff and to the people they support.
Conducting Staff Training Within Your Agency
In deciding whether to provide your staff with in-person or virtual training, you should determine what skills your staff need to properly and safely support the people who receive your agency’s services. If they need to be able to help people become independent, expand and deepen their social networks, and learn self-regulation, then the relevant course content may be delivered on-line. But if they are supporting volatile people, whose behavior may pose actual risk to themselves or others, then it may be necessary to provide in-person physical intervention training. Those skills cannot be effectively taught or practiced remotely. If you would like to discuss strategies with a Master Instructor, please let us know.
Thank you for all your continuing efforts to support staff to be wise, kind, and safe while providing services to people with disabilities. If you have any questions, please call us at 302-753-7115, or email us through the website (www.therops.com).
Michael Partie, Director
Therapeutic Options
Updated January 4, 2023
COVID-19 resources available on our Instructor Page for Certified Instructors