Disability sector training needs analysis

A training needs analysis (TNA) is a review of the learning and development needs of an organisation. It considers the skills, knowledge and behaviours that workers and volunteers need, and how to develop them effectively.

• Conducting a training needs analysis
• Tools and resources
• Planning and training
• How other disability organisations conduct their training needs analysis

Conducting a training needs analysis

Training needs analysis is an effective first step in planning training. Aligning training directly with performance gaps, leads to the most efficient use of resources including staff time and training funds. Training needs analysis has been used for many years and is generally regarded as the best available known practice to begin the training cycle, followed by planning, delivery and evaluation.

Training needs analysis can be undertaken at three levels:

• organisational level
• team/departmental level
• individual level.

Seeking stakeholder opinion has been highlighted in research as a key success factor for training needs analysis. Stakeholders should include a representative sample of both employees and consumers and may also include training providers and funders.

Tools and resources

Listed below are several training needs analysis tools and resources that are freely available and can be used by services in the disability sector. We have included tools from both New Zealand and overseas.

• Let’s get real Team Planning Tool, Te Pou
  This Let's get real tool is currently being updated to make it accessible to sectors other than mental health.
• Manager's Guide to Successful Training, Careerforce
  This guide includes a brief outline of aspects to consider when developing a training plan. For a copy phone 0800 277 486 or email info@careerforce.org.nz
• Training Needs Analysis, Skills Third Sector
  This training needs analysis guide is specifically designed for people in charities and social enterprises and is applicable to the disability sector.
• Person centred approach to organisational development, Progress for Providers in the United Kingdom
  This person centred tool assists organisations to develop a person centred apporach to organisational development.
• TNA template, Businessballs.com
  This free training needs analysis template allows businesses to highlight group training needs and priorities and also the training needs of individuals.
• Simple training needs assessment, About.com
  This assessment tool uses a very simple training needsanalysis process that may be most appropriate for a small organisation.

Planning and training

Your training needs analysis will have given you an indication of training needs. The next step is to make a plan (called a learning and development plan) to match training with these needs. There are a number of methods of meeting learning and training needs that can be written into this plan. These include in-house training courses, external training courses, conferences and events, national qualifications, e-learning, books and journals, and coaching and mentoring. Planning will then be followed by implementation of training and evaluation.

The disability training directory is now available to support increased awareness of relevant training and learning activities that are available.

How other disability organisations conduct their training needs analysis

Find out how other disability services in New Zealand are using training needs analysis.