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Background

It is important that Coordinators have some form of training and formation as they are the first client contact. If Coordinators feel that they can confidently handle situations and make decisions, they will stay in the job longer and won’t be as susceptible to burn-out or disenchantment.

The emphasis of “ordinary people doing ordinary tasks” gives the “ordinary person” confidence to volunteer and the fact that they choose their days, times and frequency of committal means that they don’t feel tied down.

Coordinators and Volunteers are encouraged to attend training events organised by Catholic Outreach to help them become more effective in their caring ministries.

The training of Coordinators and Volunteers is important to ensure services rendered are of the best quality and helpers are supported during their own development.

All training courses, workshops, conferences and on the job training should be designed in accordance with the best of modern educational theory and practice. It should be enlightened by the best practices in the delivery of support services.

Content Training – Checklist

This checklist highlights questions that people training Coordinators or Volunteers should consider when developing or evaluating course content.

  • Is the spiritual basis of Catholic Outreach developed?
  • Are issues of the real needs of the individual considered?
  • Are issues about privacy and confidentiality explored?
  • Is the importance of establishing open communication lines considered?
  • Are listening skills developed?
  • Are negotiation skills developed?
  • Meeting format and standard prayer.

Structure Training – Checklist

  • Are clients consulted regarding the type of training appropriate for helpers? (i.e. people who receive a service can have good ideas for training those who provide the service.)
  • Is provision made for training that responds to concerns and issues raised by clients?