Building stronger systems of care by equipping caregivers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to support children with special needs every day.
At a Glance
2023 – Programme launched with sensitisation and foundational training
60+ Caregivers Trained
10+ Child Care Institutions (CCIs) Reached
30+ Certified Caregivers through competency-based training
Introduction
The Caregiver Training Programme was established with the belief that empowering caregivers is one of the most effective ways to improve the quality of care and developmental outcomes for children with special needs living in Child Care Institutions (CCIs). While therapists provide periodic interventions, caregivers are the ones who spend the most time with children. Their everyday interactions shape children’s learning, participation, independence, and overall well-being. Recognising this, the programme was designed to strengthen caregivers’ knowledge, confidence, and practical skills, enabling them to become active partners in each child’s rehabilitation journey.
Laying the Foundation (2023)
The program began in 2023 with sensitization sessions for decision-making caregivers and CCI leadership to create awareness about the importance of disability-inclusive care and the need for structured caregiver capacity building. Once this foundation was established, implementing caregivers underwent phased training on the basics of disabilities, developmental needs, preventive care, and the essential dos and don’ts of caring for children with special needs. The phased approach ensured that caregivers had sufficient time to understand each concept, apply it in their daily routines, and return with practical experiences and challenges before progressing to the next level of training.
Expanding the Curriculum
As the programme evolved, the curriculum expanded beyond disability awareness to include practical competencies in child development, behaviour management, safe handling, positioning, feeding and swallowing, therapeutic activities, communication, and supporting rehabilitation within everyday routines. Recognising that quality care also depends on caregiver well-being, sessions on stress management, self-care, teamwork, communication, and soft skills were integrated to help caregivers grow both personally and professionally.
Evolving the Training Model
Initially, trainings were conducted every quarter within individual CCIs. Over time, this evolved into a residential learning model, where caregivers from multiple institutions came together for two days of focused learning and practical demonstrations. To ensure uninterrupted care for children, caregivers attended in batches with the support and cooperation of CCI management. This collaborative approach created opportunities for peer learning, sharing of experiences, and building a network of caregivers facing similar challenges.
Continuous Learning Through Follow-Up
Learning did not end with the training sessions. Continuous monitoring and evaluation became an integral part of the programme through regular follow-up visits, on-site mentoring, and discussions with caregivers to understand the challenges they encountered while implementing new practices. These follow-ups helped reinforce learning, address practical barriers, and continuously refine the training programme based on real needs from the field.
Impact and Achievements (2025–2026)
Since 2025–2026, the programme has trained over 60 caregivers from more than 10 CCIs, with 30+ caregivers successfully completing the full competency-based training and receiving certification. The impact has been visible not only in caregivers’ knowledge but also in their approach towards children. Many caregivers have gradually shifted their focus beyond meeting basic needs to supporting children’s developmental and rehabilitation goals. They now engage children more purposefully during daily routines, better understand individual developmental needs, and actively reinforce therapy goals as part of everyday care.
In some participating CCIs, caregivers have begun working alongside rehabilitation professionals to set monthly developmental goals for children and contribute towards achieving them. Centres supporting children with high support needs have adopted safer positioning, feeding, and lifting techniques, improving both the quality and safety of care. More importantly, caregivers have shown increased confidence, curiosity, and willingness to continue learning, reflecting a growing sense of ownership in the developmental progress of the children they support.
Looking Ahead
While these outcomes are encouraging, the journey continues. The next phase of the programme focuses on enabling caregivers to become increasingly independent in supporting children with minimal therapist guidance. Through continued mentoring and advanced training, caregivers will be equipped to identify developmental concerns, understand children’s strengths and needs, set meaningful goals, plan appropriate activities, monitor progress, and integrate rehabilitation into everyday care. The vision is not to replace therapists but to ensure that therapeutic support continues consistently beyond scheduled therapy sessions.
Beyond Training: Introducing CAREPRO
The success of training existing caregivers also inspired a broader vision. It highlighted the need to develop a skilled workforce of caregivers from the community who are equipped to work with children with special needs. This led to the development of CAREPRO—an initiative that recruits, trains, certifies, and places caregivers in Child Care Institutions. CAREPRO aims to build a pool of competent and compassionate professionals who can address workforce shortages while ensuring that every child receives consistent, informed, and development-focused care. By investing in both existing caregivers and future professionals, the programme is working towards creating sustainable systems of care that continue to benefit children long after individual training sessions are complete.
– Anisha V