Improving Competency for Non-Licensed On-line Staff Working in Behavioral Health Acute Residential Programs

The ability to provide competent care within mental health treatment systems is of increasing importance due to rising demands to deliver high quality services with decreasing resources to do so. This ability to provide proficient care to people with a serious mental illness (SMI) can be influenced by a number of factors such as the influence of the stigma of mental illness as well as the self-perceived lack of knowledge and training. Such factors have been reported by caregivers as areas that can influence their self-perceived competence to work with people with psychiatric illnesses. In this pilot study, principles from self-determination theory were utilized to explore if providing a series of workshops on relevant topics of psychiatric care could improve self-perceived competence scores on a standardized rating scale. The study was conducted with non-licensed caregivers working in an acute residential facility for adults with SMI over a four-month period of time. The intervention provided monthly trainings by experienced staff on areas such as working with patients with psychosis, anxiety, personality disorders as well as strategies to de-escalate patients. Staff were provided with hourlong presentations which included instruction about basic information about the topic, discussion of experiences and opportunities to roleplay. The outcome of the intervention was measured by scores on self-rated scales that looked to capture a person's perceived knowledge and ability to intervene with the specific topics. The results on these self-rated scales demonstrated improvement for topic specific material as well as overall self-perceived competency for providing care for people with SMI. Limitations in this study are related to the high degree of drop out related to staff turnover at this facility. The results of this study demonstrate that further inquiry is needed to look at the effect of providing ongoing educational workshops for providers of care for people with SMI has on their self-perceived competency.