Induction programs related to framework
Thanks for a really informative and interactive Teamwork Community of Practice meeting today. Some members shared that they had induction programs for experienced staff as well as early years practitioners. We have a New Grad program in place, but I would love to see what standard practice topics do you routinely include in induction for all practitioners - especially related to implementing the practice framework?
Hi Jennifer, I was one of the people talking to this. For experienced staff starting with us, we do offer induction supports. We often find they are coming from other contexts e.g. private practice or schools where the work can look a little different and the supports are designed to help them transition confidently into the settings we work within.
We therefore provide support around areas like coaching and working in partnership with families and educators, setting functional participation based goals, authentic assessment approaches, and working in a routines based way within everyday settings. From the discipline specific mentors, they would also have support around working in these different environments in routines based ways, and evidence informed practice.
Typically experienced staff would have a few months of individual discipline specific mentoring before moving into discipline specific communities of practice. The coaching supports tend to continue over 12 months allowing time for them to set individual practice based goals to support them in the work.
Occasionally we have an experienced practitioner starting that has 'aligned' experiences from their previous work (although this has been very rare lately) and in those instances we'd use a modified approach that tries to best meet their needs while recognising their skills and experience.
Thanks Kylie. That is really helpful.