Part-Time Training

[ekpate]

I am looking into creating a part-time training program to boost coverage in our center. At the moment our part-timers are retired dispatchers or ex-employees that have gone onto other government agencies/offices so we have had no need for a training program. We have several positions we can fill and have received approval to hire 2 part-time trainees from our application pool. We are also hoping if this training works well we can eventually promote part-time to full time positions as they become available. However being part-time employees, I can not expect new hires to train using the full time training methods and hours. I was curious as to whether any other agencies have a training program that is tailored to part-time trainees and part-time scheduling.

Kathy

[TXME911]

We trained one person that was brand new part time. It sucked. She was only allowed to work 24 hours a week and trying to get her up to speed without any prior experience took 2 times as long and was very stressful on her. If you can try to train full time and then have them revert to the part time status after training is done.

[MrJim911]

I agree with TX, I don't see how you could properly train someone with only having part time hours. Our phased training program takes 6 months to complete when putting in 40 hours a week. It would take upwards of a year to train a person who can't put in 40 hours.

[McCone911]

I am in agreement. Though the county here doesn't give me that long to train, but our part time train just as long as our full time. The county just has to put the extra money in to train them. Just because they are only here part time, doesn't mean they don't have to keep the same level of service as our full time personnel.

[clee]

We have a very small center (10 full time) but do not allow that to control or lower the standards of our training. We have a semi-structured training program, but make all of our employees, full-time or part-time, no experience or 20 years experience, go through the same training program. We tell them ahead of time that we expect as close to full-time as they can give us during their training process which is usually between 6-18 months depending on how fast they can pick up the material, plus 10 days at a regional academy, 5 days in-house EMD classroom, 2 days in-house NCIC, 1 day in-house haz-mat awareness. Out part-time employees are allowed to work 38 hours/week so since we work 12-hour shifts, we usually allow them to work three days every week if they can put that time in.