Safety Implementation Training of Care Providers

The safety of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their care providers is a priority within human services settings. Because there is an increased risk for injury competency-based training must be provided to care providers so they know how to, and can, implement safety protocols effectively. Once training has been provided, supervisors should assess generalization of care provider performance in the natural environment. Additionally, frequent observations of care provider performance should be scheduled to ensure maintenance of safety protocols. Should supervisory observations reveal performance drift, it is the supervisor’s responsibility to provide refresher training or some other intervention to improve performance to high levels of integrity. Without this level of analysis and support, we cannot ensure that persons with IDD and their care providers will be safe in their educational, treatment, and habilitation settings.