Clinical Skills Training Tool

Clinical Skills Training Tool

The Clinical Skills Training Tool (CSTT) is a set of resources that can be used to create training programs for developing clinical knowledge and skills.  The purpose of the tool is to guide the development and delivery of continuing education and professional development activities. It can be used by clinics to deliver in-service training, professional associations to provide professional development programs, or individuals to simply share their knowledge with others.

CSTT document front page

What is the Clinical Skills Training Tool?

The Clinical Skills Training Tool is a practical tool designed to guide the process of effectively planning, implementing, and evaluating  a clinical skills training program that can be conducted online, in-person or as a hybrid combination of both.

Why is the Clinical Skills Training Tool needed

There is a global need to develop and strengthen the rehabilitation workforce. This need coincides with the need for ongoing training, education and professional development of rehabilitation professionals to ensure ongoing advancement of knowledge, skills and competence in clinical practice.

What is the aim of the Clinical Skills Training Tool?

The tool aims to provide guidance to develop and deliver in-service clinical skills training and professional development activities that can be delivered online, in-person or as a hybrid combination of both.

Who is the Clinical Skills Training Tool for?

There are no limitations to who should use the Clinical Skills Training Tool, among others it may be used by service providers, individual trainers, professional associations, academic institutions or organizations developing, delivering, reviewing or assessing training activities. Although designed by rehabilitation professionals, the tool is equally applicable to the development of training for any health care professionals with a clinical and/or technical role in their practice. The process presented in the Clinical Skills Training Tool can be adapted to any context and training purpose. It can be used by any stakeholder with an interest in improving the clinical and technical capacity of health care professionals in their area of operation.

How is the Clinical Skills Training Tool structured?

The Clinical Skills Training Tool consists of a workbook with worksheets to guide stakeholders in the process of developing and delivering training and professional development activities. It is organized into sections according to the reflective Plan-Do-Assess-Adjust model:

  • Plan the training program by identifying participants, mentors and other stakeholders. Determine the training topic and establish the training objectives, schedule and logistics to prepare for implementation. 
  • Do or implement your training program including considerations around effective mentoring, encouraging group engagement, and structuring in-person training sessions (if applicable to your setting).
  • Assess the efficacy of your training program through targeted data collection and evaluation of learning in light of the intended training outcomes.
  • Adjust your training plan based on simple reflections and outcomes gathered during the assessment phase. Each step contains a set of reflective questions to determine how to improve future planning and implementation. 
Plan Do Assess Adjust cycle diagram

What is needed to use the tool successfully?

The process of developing and delivering training activities can be overwhelming.  With commitment from all stakeholders, implementation of the Clinical Skills Training Tool can guide the process. Collaboration between all stakeholders involved is vital to the process and facilitated through focused workshops, regular meetings, mentorship, ongoing discussions, and sharing of ideas and experiences.