Standardized Training Program Case Studies and Panel Discussion

Presentation Description: Historically, agencies have sent new employees into the field with employees possessing greater experience but with little guidance or oversight. The experienced employees, having never been trained in HOW or WHAT to train upon, did their best to cover a range of topics in a manner sufficient to call the trainee competent. This is not fair to the trainee or the trainer. We will share in a single PowerPoint realistic experiences implementing a new training paradigm in an environment where the status quo is revered, funding and staff availability is strained, and few have the freedom to develop a training structure that is outside of their typical work silo. We will share information on the dangers associated with lack of documentation of training and the benefits to be gained by developing a program. Parallels will be drawn to the training model established by the California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) to demonstrate proof of method. This will include basic criteria that the programs be: 1) defensible/fair, 2) effective/manageable, 3) adaptable/flexible. This will also include goals such as: A) producing employees that are capable of performing the full range of their job description in a safe, skillful, productive, and professional manner; B) provision of standardized training to all new staff in the practical application of learned information; C) provision of clear standards for rating and evaluation, which gives all trainees every reasonable opportunity to succeed; and D) to enhance the professionalism, job skills, and ethical standards of those in the water and wastewater community. Experiences of both consultant-led and staff-led programs will be shared. The floor will be opened to the participants to ask the panelists questions or share their own experiences developing training programs.