Advanced Training
Propels Professional Development and Wage Increases
This spring, classrooms in Seattle and Vancouver filled up with caregivers seeking to increase their professional skills and pay through SEIU 775 Benefits Group’s Advanced Home Care Aide Specialist training (Advanced Training).
“The energy in the classrooms can only be described as ‘electric,’” according to Bridgette Boushy, Manager of Workforce Development and Skills Evaluation at the Benefits Group.
Advanced Training is specifically designed to support caregivers in supporting the in-home health and quality of life of clients who have complex needs. The training focuses on helping the caregiver build stronger relationships with their clients through skills like motivational interviewing, de-escalation techniques, treatment and care plans, medication management, health literacy, client engagement and problem solving.
Given its advanced nature, the program tends to attract caregivers who bring a wealth of professional experience into the classroom discussions and activities.
“The spirited course discussions are both joyful and grounded in the applied realities of the profession. The classrooms have been abuzz with the excitement of sharing ideas and learning new knowledge and applied skills ,” said Boushy.
Combining both in-person classroom instruction and online learning, the 70-hour program offers caregivers 12 hours of Continuing Education credits.
Advanced Training also benefits caregivers financially. Upon successful completion of the program, eligible caregivers receive a pay boost of $0.75 per hour.
The relaunch continues this summer with additional cohorts in Tacoma and Spokane beginning in July.
Further enhancements are already underway. A forthcoming curriculum update planned for 2025 will include both a Holistic Health track for working with clients with multiple chronic conditions, as well as a Behavioral Health track for clients with complex behavioral health needs.
