The Trainer's Role

The OCWTP recognizes the critical role trainers play in maintaining the quality and integrity of our training program.  We thank our trainers for their ongoing commitment to child welfare values, and for their significant contribution of time, effort, and expertise. 

As frontline representatives of the OCWTP, trainers are expected to familiarize themselves with the structure and philosophy of the OCWTP, including the foundational Universe of Competencies, the use of ITNAs to drive the work of the OCWTP, and the delicate balance between standardization of training and meeting the specific needs of each training region. 

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General Trainer Responsibilites

Additional Responsibilities for Core Trainers

Additional Adoption Workshop Trainer Responsibilites

Additional Standardized-Workshop Trainer Responsibilites

Trainers directly impact child welfare practice by providing staff and resource families with the knowledge and skills they need to do their jobs.  Therefore, it is imperative that every workshop reflect best practice, best available research, and solid child welfare values. 

In order to maximize the learning experience, all trainers are expected to deliver their material using principles of adult learning theory and to incorporate transfer-of-learning activities into their workshops. Trainers are also expected to utilize the trainer competencies to identify areas for further development.

General Trainer Responsibilities

In order to maintain active trainer status, OCWTP trainers must meet a number of expectations (listed in full in the OCWTP Policy Manual), including those highlighted below :

	Understand the organization of the OCWTP and their role as a trainer
	Maintain their content expertise by educating themselves (through workshops, reading material, on-site shadowing, etc.) in the research, current practices, and future trends regarding the topic(s) they train
	Be aware of limitations regarding their expertise
	Continue to develop their skills as trainers (as identified in the trainer competencies) through OCWTP-sponsored trainings, such as TOT workshops and the Trainer Event, as well as outside sources
	Maintain an average evaluation score of at least 4.2 (on a 5-point scale)
	Develop workshops that include current best research evidence regarding the topic area, and clearly distinguish between evidence and opinion during a workshop
	Be aware of copyright law and do not use materials in workshops that violate copyright law
	When developing more than one workshop, do not duplicate content or exercises; each workshop should contain different content and exercises
	Be familiar with competencies and know how to utilize them when designing workshops
	Refrain from altering the content of any standardized training
	Be actively involved in the process of becoming culturally competent and develop the knowledge and skills to include relevant cultural concepts in their training workshops
	Arrive early for workshops, stick with the schedule, and stay afterwards to answer trainee's questions
	Always appear professional in dress and manner
	Respect client confidentiality during workshop presentations and advise trainees to do the same
	Refrain from promoting or selling non-training-related material or from marketing other workshops
	Incorporate TOL and adult learning strategies, such as the Idea Catcher and action plans, into every workshop
	Have the skills needed to handle difficult participants
	Allow enough time for evauations to be completed and accept feedback given
	Complete sign-in sheets and the trainer feedback form for each workshop

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In addition, trainers develop positive relationships with the RTCs when they:  

	Understand how the trainer-hiring process works and do not excessively market
	Respect and follow RTC standards and procedures
	Promptly return RTC phone calls and get materials to the RTCs when asked
	Read confirmations and other paperwork sent by RTCs
	Regularly provide updated contact information, outlines, and handouts to RTCs
	Do not cancel workshops, especially once the training calendar has been printed
	Get prior permission for any guests they wish to bring to the RTC
	Avoid using cell phones or talking during RTC announcements at the beginning of workshops

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Additional Responsibilities for Core Trainers

1. All Core trainers are required to obtain child welfare field experience every three years if they do not currently work in the child welfare field.
2. New Supervisor/Manager Core trainers will be required to participate in the mentoring process and may be required to observe the entire Supervisor/Manager Core series being trained.
3. Caseworker Core trainers are required to attend the TOC for the module they will be training and, observe that module being trained before they train it for the first time.
4. Caseworker and Supervisor/Manager Core trainers are required to learn how to the Classroom Performance System (CPS), which is utilized throughout the Caseworker Core series. OCWTP offers a TOT on CPS technology.

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Additional Responsibilities for Trainer of Adoption Workshops

1. All Adoption trainers are required to obtain child welfare field experience every three years if they do not currently work in the child welfare field.

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Additional Responsibilities for Trainers of Standardized Workshops

1. Attend a TOC on the standardized curriculum before you train it.
2. Attend a TOC on the standardized curriculum whenever it is significantly revised.
3. Train standardized workshops as they are written, without adding or omitting content. Slight changes to training processes may be necessary to adjust to group dynamics, group size, etc.

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