Staff Development Plan           

The purpose of the SMH staff development plan is to support staff in the continuous improvement of the quality of care by providing in-service training and supporting external training for all staff, so they may perform their jobs with a high level of competency. 

Spokane Mental Health is committed to providing training that focuses on balancing the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for the improvement and support of quality consumer care for all SMH staff.

All SMH employees have access to a wide array of training programs ranging from clinical practices to career and personal development. SMH sponsors extensive in-house training in clinical and organizational practices. In addition SMH has a self-directed WEB based training environment with some 200 plus courses ranging from clinical practices to safety requirements.  Many of these courses have approved CEU’s attached. Management training is also available through in-service training, SMH’s WEB based training program, and outside seminars.  

SMH professional staff also have access to Educational Leave. This leave is provided to allow employees to attend training that is career and/or work related, but that is outside SMH’s training plan and/or budget allowances. Employees wishing to attend such training must pay any expense for the training out of their own pocket. However, they can receive their regular salary up to a specified limit, while in attendance at such training. Educational leave must be approved in advance.