Train the Trainer Programme
The Problem
A leading NHS Foundation Trust was rolling out a new online finance reporting system. The success of this rollout could only be assured if the approximate 300 users had the training and motivation to use the new system and processes. The Finance Department determined that most cost effective way for this need to be met, was for Finance staff to design and deliver a focused training program. The time frame in which this had to happen was very tight.
There was a problem. Few finance staff had the knowledge, skills or experience to design and deliver such a financial training programme with tight time constraints. What was needed were training partners, who were experts in the field of training design and delivery, to give the finance team the knowledge and skills they needed to meet the challenge that they were facing. Eras ltd was the partner of choice. The eras consultant (Evan Flockhart) quickly engaged with the Finance Department to clearly define the needs and the effect any intervention needed to have.
The Solution
The result of discussions between eras and the Finance Department was the need for a two-day Train the Trainer programme, targeted at key members of the finance team. Whilst the title of this programme was “Train the Trainer”, it would develop both instructional design and training delivery skills.
The Programme
eras immediately recognised that in order to enhance the effectiveness of the training and help the finance team meet their tight deadlines, that they needed additional support prior to taking part in the programme. So during the design phase of the programme eras provided additional guidance on their specific instructional design challenge. This helped the finance team start the programme with momentum.
The delivery of the training would make extensive use of the subject matter that they needed to design the training solution for. That is, they were designing the course that they were to deliver as they went through the training. In this way the finance team was able to learn more effectively and make efficient use of the time being spent.
The programme aim was to equip the nominated training champions with the knowledge and skills required to design and deliver highly effective training sessions. It was designed to run over two separate days, with each day focusing on different overall objectives, which were as follows:
Day One – Construct effective training programmes that will ensure successful implementation of the new online reporting systems.
Day Two – Understand and develop the skills required to deliver effective training so that learning and application of learning among those trained is maximised.
In addition to the formal training, the delegates completed additional learning outside the programme that was directly relevant to their situation. This work was reviewed and built upon during Day 2.
The Impact
Comments by Emma Lunny – Head of Management Accounts
The Trust was very happy with the both the delivery and content of the training provided.
The training that we undertook lead us to deliver a very successful training programme across the Trust and the finance department received very positive feedback about the course from different sectors of the organisation (secretaries, budget managers, nurses and doctors). The head of the training department at the Trust gave the finance team the highest praise by stating that we seemed like professional trainers!
The course itself had the following impacts for the group who undertook the training:
- Significantly boosted the confidence of the trainees
- Showed the team how to write a training plan including all the different aspects that were required (powerpoint, teaching plans, hand outs, FAQ’s). As part of the course we actually started to write the training programmes, which was really useful to the whole team.
- Really focused the team on how to make the sessions interactive and as fun as possible, including use of ice breakers and quizzes.
- Demonstrated delivery techniques through various means including one of the team delivery a presentation from scratch and then the other members of the team analysing and focusing on the content.
I think the main advantages of the courses compared to similar ones I have been on is how tailored it was to the Trusts specific needs as opposed to just being a general training programme. The course seemed like it had been highly tailored to our set of circumstances
It is difficult to quantify the return on investment, if compared to the cost of employing a professional trainer for 4 weeks the cost then a significant saving has been made. The other option for the trust was for the internal training department to delver this training but the knowledge gap (between training and finance) was deemed too high to undertake this idea. In reality without this course the likelihood is that finance would have delivered the training themselves but not done as thorough or well received presentations, this would have impacted on people’s ability to use the new financial processes and systems and also on the reputation of the finance department.
Overall all key members of the finance team who took part deemed this course to be a good use of financial resources and thoroughly worth the time invested.
Why not contact us to find out more.
