New Directions EASI Process & Tool for Organisation & Location Leads
New Directions EASI Process & Tool for Organisation & Location Leads
Vocational Training for Organisation and Location Leads
Duration: 4.5 hours
Who Should Attend
This vocational training programme is specifically designed for organisation and location leads working within disability and social care services who have occupational responsibility for implementing, managing, completing or overseeing the New Directions EASI process within their service.
The programme provides participants with the occupational knowledge and practical workplace skills required to carry out these responsibilities accurately and effectively.
Why This Training Is Important
The HSE is progressing towards an outcomes-focused monitoring system for the New Directions Interim Standards. The EASI process will be a key element of this monitoring system.
This makes the accurate completion of the EASI process increasingly important for disability service providers.
Organisation and location leads need to understand how the EASI tool should be completed, how ratings should be supported by appropriate evidence, how Continuous Quality Improvement actions should be developed and documented, and how the organisation can demonstrate its implementation of the New Directions Interim Standards.
HSE-funded service providers are also subject to monitoring, review, governance and performance requirements associated with their funding arrangements. Where significant compliance or performance concerns arise, these can have implications for the organisation's relationship with the HSE and may lead to further review, including consideration of funding arrangements.
It is therefore essential that staff with responsibility for EASI have the occupational knowledge and practical skills required to manage the process correctly and ensure that the organisation can provide clear, accurate and evidence-based information when its service is monitored or reviewed.
Training Programme Overview
This structured, trainer-led vocational training programme provides participants with the occupational knowledge and practical skills required to manage and implement the New Directions EASI process as part of their professional responsibilities.
Participants receive step-by-step instruction in the use of the EASI tool, including data collection and input, self-evaluation, evidence and ratings, Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) action planning, documentation and national reporting.
The training also addresses the responsibilities of organisation and location leads in supporting frontline staff to understand the New Directions Interim Standards and contribute appropriate evidence and ratings to the EASI process.
The programme concludes with a 45-minute practical group exercise in which participants apply the knowledge and skills covered during the training to a workplace-based EASI scenario.
Training Programme Content
New Directions, EASI and Service Monitoring
Participants examine the development of adult day services and the policy background that led to New Directions and the EASI process, including the 2007 HSE review of adult day services.
The training explains the relationship between the New Directions Interim Standards, annual EASI self-evaluation, Continuous Quality Improvement and the developing HSE monitoring system.
Participants consider the importance of maintaining an accurate, evidence-based EASI process that can demonstrate how their service is implementing the New Directions Interim Standards.
Applying the EASI Process
Participants receive step-by-step instruction in navigating and completing the EASI tool, including:
Data input and documentation.
Self-evaluation.
Continuous Quality Improvement action planning.
Setting appropriate timelines.
Assigning responsibility for actions.
Identifying and recording barriers.
Monitoring and recording completed actions.
National reporting requirements.
Maintaining appropriate supporting evidence.
The focus is on enabling participants to carry out these functions as part of their occupational responsibilities within their service.
Evidence, Ratings and Data Collection
Participants learn how to identify, collect and document the evidence and ratings required to support the EASI process.
Training covers the appropriate use of information obtained from staff, people using services and management, and how this information should be collected, assessed and recorded to support consistent and evidence-based evaluation.
Participants also examine the importance of ensuring that ratings recorded within the EASI process can be supported by appropriate evidence.
Continuous Quality Improvement
Participants learn how information identified through self-evaluation should inform the service's Continuous Quality Improvement process.
This includes:
• identifying areas requiring improvement
• developing appropriate CQI actions
• assigning responsibility
• establishing realistic completion dates
• identifying barriers
• documenting progress
• recording completed actions
• demonstrating ongoing improvement
This enables organisation and location leads to maintain a documented process showing how identified areas for improvement are being addressed.
Supporting Frontline Staff
Organisation and location leads are introduced to the materials and processes used to support frontline staff in understanding and applying the New Directions Interim Standards.
Participants learn how to guide staff in collecting and recording appropriate information, evidence and ratings required for the EASI process.
This is particularly important because the quality of the EASI process depends on appropriate contributions from staff, people using services and management.
Preparing for Monitoring and Review
Participants examine how an accurately completed EASI process can assist a service in demonstrating its implementation of the New Directions Interim Standards.
The training covers the importance of ensuring that:
• ratings are supported by appropriate evidence
• areas requiring improvement are identified
• CQI actions are documented
• responsibilities and timelines are clearly recorded
• progress can be demonstrated
• completed actions are recorded
• documentation is maintained appropriately
This provides organisation and location leads with practical occupational skills to support their service in preparing for the developing HSE monitoring arrangements.
Practical Application Exercise
The programme concludes with a 45-minute trainer-facilitated practical group exercise.
Participants apply the knowledge and skills covered during the training to a workplace-based EASI scenario.
The exercise requires participants to consider evidence, determine appropriate ratings, identify areas requiring improvement and develop suitable CQI actions, including responsibilities and timelines.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this vocational training programme, participants should be able to:
Explain the policy and service context underpinning New Directions and the EASI process.
Explain the relationship between EASI, Continuous Quality Improvement and the developing monitoring arrangements for the New Directions Interim Standards.
Identify their occupational responsibilities as organisation or location leads within the EASI process.
Navigate and complete the relevant sections of the EASI tool accurately.
Input and document information required for self-evaluation and national reporting.
Identify appropriate evidence to support EASI ratings.
Collect, assess and record information from staff, people using services and management.
Develop CQI action plans, including setting timelines, assigning responsibilities, identifying barriers and recording completed actions.
Guide frontline staff in collecting and recording information required under the New Directions Interim Standards.
Review EASI documentation to identify gaps in evidence, ratings or CQI actions that should be addressed.
Apply the EASI process to a practical workplace scenario.
Support their organisation in maintaining an accurate, evidence-based EASI process that demonstrates its implementation of the New Directions Interim Standards.
Occupational Purpose of the Training
This programme is specifically designed as vocational training for personnel who have responsibility for the EASI process as part of their employment within disability and social care services.
The programme develops and updates the occupational knowledge and practical skills required to undertake these workplace responsibilities.
The training relates directly to participants' professional duties, including completion of the EASI tool, self-evaluation, evidence collection, ratings, CQI planning, documentation, staff guidance and preparation for service monitoring.
This is not a personal development, leadership development or general interest programme. Its purpose is to provide participants with the knowledge and practical competencies required to perform specific functions associated with their employment and their organisation's implementation of New Directions.