Caregiver training matrix

A. Before first shift

• 1. A written list of orientation topics each new caregiver covers before the first shift: the topics your state requires, plus any you add. Confirm the state list with your state licensing agency.

  Check your state; Your own planning

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  Note for item 1(optional)

• 2. Copies on file of each caregiver’s ID and of any credential, certificate or card your state or your service line requires, checked before the first shift.

  Check your state; Your own planning

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• 3. A shadow shift or supervised first visit, if you use one, planned and recorded with the date and who supervised.

  Your own planning

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• 4. A skills or competency check before a caregiver works alone, if your state requires one or you choose to use one, with how it was checked written down.

  Check your state; Your own planning

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  Note for item 4(optional)

• 5. Your written agency policies gone over with each new caregiver, with a signed acknowledgment kept on file.

  Your own planning

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B. State-required topics

These rows are topic slots, not a state list. Your state may require some, all or none of them, and may add others; confirm each with your state licensing agency. homecarelicenseguide.com, also published by Home Care Agency Blueprint, helps you find your state’s licensing agency.

• 6. Client rights. A topic slot: confirm with your state licensing agency whether it is required for caregivers, and in what form.

  Check your state

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  Note for item 6(optional)

• 7. Recognizing and reporting abuse, neglect and exploitation, including who caregivers report to under your state’s rules. A topic slot: confirm with your state.

  Check your state

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  Note for item 7(optional)

• 8. Infection control, including hand hygiene and standard precautions. CDC publishes hand hygiene and standard precautions recommendations for healthcare settings; your state decides what caregiver training must cover.

  Source: Check your state; CDC, Hand hygiene for healthcare workers; CDC, Standard precautions

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• 9. Emergency procedures: what a caregiver does in a client emergency, a fire or a disaster, and who they call. A topic slot: confirm with your state.

  Check your state

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  Note for item 9(optional)

• 10. Privacy and confidentiality, and HIPAA training if HIPAA applies to your agency. HHS says a covered entity must train all workforce members on its privacy policies and procedures. Decide with counsel whether you are a covered entity.

  Source: Check your state; HHS OCR, HIPAA Privacy Rule summary; HHS OCR, HIPAA covered entities

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• 11. Dementia care and challenging behaviors, if your service line includes clients living with dementia. A topic slot: confirm with your state whether it is required.

  Check your state

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• 12. Any training a state Medicaid or waiver program adds, if you serve those clients. Check the program’s own rules; becomemedicaidprovider.com, also published by Home Care Agency Blueprint, covers enrollment.

  Check your state Medicaid or waiver program

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C. Role-specific

• 13. Companion and homemaker roles: the tasks this role does and does not do at your agency, written down and trained.

  Your own planning

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• 14. Personal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting and transfers, trained and checked before a caregiver does them alone. Your state decides which tasks each role may do.

  Check your state; Your own planning

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• 15. Bloodborne pathogens training for any caregiver with occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials, as OSHA’s standard describes. Whether it applies depends on the caregiver’s tasks; ask counsel if unsure.

  Source: OSHA, Bloodborne pathogens standard; OSHA, Bloodborne pathogens overview

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  Note for item 15(optional)

• 16. Home safety hazards caregivers may meet. OSHA lists bloodborne pathogens, latex sensitivity, lifting, violence, hostile animals, unhygienic or dangerous conditions and driving between homes.

  Source: OSHA, Home healthcare

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  Note for item 16(optional)

• 17. Supervisor or care manager training on supervising caregivers, if your state sets requirements for supervisors.

  Check your state; Your own planning

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• 18. A written list, for each role, of tasks your state does not allow that role to perform. This site does not give scope-of-practice conclusions; check your state.

  Check your state

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  Note for item 18(optional)

D. Where training comes from

• 19. An in-house trainer, if your state allows one for that topic, with the trainer’s qualifications on file.

  Check your state; Your own planning

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• 20. Community college or adult education courses, if your state accepts them for the topic.

  Check your state

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• 21. CPR and first aid, if your state, a payer or your own policy requires it. Common providers include the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross; named as examples, not endorsements.

  Check your state; Your own planning

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• 22. A state-approved training program or vendor, if your state publishes a list. Check your state.

  Check your state

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• 23. Online modules, only where your state accepts online training for that topic.

  Check your state

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E. Records

• 24. A sign-in sheet or completion record for each training session.

  Source: Your own planning; OSHA, Bloodborne pathogens standard

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  Note for item 24(optional)

• 25. A curriculum or outline for each course or session.

  Source: Your own planning; OSHA, Bloodborne pathogens standard

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  Note for item 25(optional)

• 26. The trainer’s name and qualifications for each session.

  Source: Your own planning; OSHA, Bloodborne pathogens standard

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  Note for item 26(optional)

• 27. A completion date for each caregiver and each topic, and a renewal date where one applies.

  Your own planning; Check your state

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F. Ongoing and renewal

• 28. Refresher training you choose to run, on a schedule you set and write down.

  Your own planning

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• 29. State renewal or in-service training, if your state requires it. Check your state.

  Check your state

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• 30. CPR and first aid cards tracked by expiry date, if you require them.

  Your own planning

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• 31. Retraining when a caregiver’s tasks change or a client needs a new skill. OSHA’s standard calls for additional training when changed tasks affect occupational exposure.

  Source: Your own planning; OSHA, Bloodborne pathogens standard

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  Note for item 31(optional)