Shifra Says – STAFF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

First Aid November 2012/2013

Jewish Care Cape is honoured and grateful to have received funding from the CK Harris Memorial Foundation for in-service training in 2012.  It is an important aim for us to strive to reach, maintain and sustain foremost levels of professional principles, standards, social work ethics and values. It has been part of our strategic policy plan at Jewish Care Cape to instill the spirit of  ‘caring for the carer’. In-service training and staff development is a crucial strategy in order to promote effective and efficient working environments, for the benefit of the community, with the ‘client and carer’ seen as equally important. Last year November we organised a First Level First Aid training with St Johns. Cape Town now has 58 trained new first aiders.

The seven Jewish welfare organisations included staff and residents from all the organisations to be trainees. Each trainee on completion of the course received certification from the Department of Labour valid for a three year period. Within one week of the courses some of the trainees had assisted, with ability and professionalism, two serious cases of illness, one potentially fatal, on their premises. Personnel, particularly those concerned with the care of seniors attended a workshop on the recognition and care of dementia patients.

The training was seen as beneficial and enjoyable by all the respondants and we are truly grateful that we will again be receiving funding for 2013.