Skip to main content

Table 4 Components of the training and support package

From: Development and pilot evaluation of a home-based palliative care training and support package for young children in southern Africa

Guide for Home-based Care Workers: a technical booklet that should be used by someone with background and training in palliative care to train home- and community-based care workers. Groups of HCBC workers should be trained on the content of the guide and how to deliver the course. These master trainers will, in turn, use the guide to develop their own training sessions as well as implementing its principles and methods in their own field work.

Training Manual for Home-based Care Workers: HCBC workers trained as master trainers use the training manual to facilitate the training of other groups of HCBC workers. The manual contains practical information about time frames, props or materials needed during each session, key learning outcomes, and activities that need to be followed to deliver the training. Vignettes and group activities have been designed to facilitate discussion, learning, and sharing.

Caregiver’s Toolkit: HCBC workers distribute toolkits to the families they support and use their own training manual to make the caregivers familiar with the toolkit. The toolkit is less technical and contains practical tips about how to keep germs away, how to breastfeed and prepare solid foods, advice on immunizations and growth monitoring for the child, when and what health check-ups the caregiver and child should receive, and dealing with common problems such as diarrhoea, fever and constipation. There are also activities for the HCBC and caregiver to work through together e.g. mapping circles of support.

Helpful Handouts: illustrated laminated handouts for caregivers containing important information on how to keep germs away, how and when to breastfeed and formula feed, food hygiene, how to recognize and deal with diarrhoea, fever, skin and mouth problems, and a number of danger signs that caregivers should watch out for that require the child to be taken to a health centre.

Information and Evaluation Sheets: managers and administrators are presented with information on the skills and competencies that HCBC workers should take away from the course and an evaluation sheet to assess the level of learning and retention achieved by those who have participated in the course.

Training and Support Certificates: master trainers, HCBC workers and caregivers receive certificates to demonstrate the competencies gained in the various knowledge and skill areas included in this course.