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Global competency standards for the provision of health services to refugees and migrants

Offered by OpenWHO

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Health workers play a vital role in providing people-centred health services and building the resilience of health systems to respond to the health needs of refugees and migrants. This course enhances the knowledge and understanding of health workers and health services regarding the application of the World Health Organization’s Refugee and Migrant Health: Global Competency Standards for Health Workers. The Global Competency Standards outline a range of competencies and behaviours to help health workers provide culturally sensitive care to refugees and migrants.

Self-paced
Language: English
Health topic
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Course information

Overview: This competency-based course is designed for health workers providing services to refugees and migrants, and consists of videos, presentations, case studies, exercises, and quizzes. It focuses on knowledge and skill-building.. The course builds on each learner’s past knowledge and experience and takes advantage of the individual’s high motivation to accomplish the learning tasks in a minimum amount of time. The course emphasizes applying, not just knowing, and uses competency-based evaluation of performance. The course also overviews the way refugees and migrants may face challenges in accessing health care, including language and cultural differences, institutional discrimination and restricted access to health services in host countries.

The course introduces the nine Competency Standards across five domains and identifies key considerations and learning points for health workers with respect to each of the Competency Standards. The goal of this course is to prepare health workers to deliver high-quality and inclusive health services for refugees and migrants. It is divided into six modules. Course sessions focus on using a solution-focused model and drawing on practical examples and communication skills to provide health services to refugees and migrants.

Progress on learning the recommended steps is documented using the Refugee and Migrant Health: Global Competency Standards for Health Workers learning guide, case studies, and performance checklist during course sessions. Successful completion of the course is based on mastery of both the content and skill components.

Please access WHO’s Health and Migration page for further information and resources.

Course Duration: Approximately 6 hours.

Certificates: A Certificate of Achievement will be available to participants who score at least 80% of the total points available in the final assessment. Participants who receive a Certificate of Achievement can also download an Open Badge for this course. Click here to learn how

What you'll learn

  • Adapt and apply the nine Competency Standards in real health settings.
  • Describe the implications and consequences of not applying the Standards.
  • Identify functional mechanisms that can translate standards into practice.
  • Explore roles and responsibilities related to the implementation of the Standards.

Course contents

  • Overview:

    This training course introduces the WHO Global Competency Standards for health workers providing services to refugees and migrants. It covers the five domains and nine competencies that help health workers deliver culturally responsive health services to refugees and migrants. The course provides an overview of the importance of these Competency Standards for health workers and addresses the specific health needs of refugees and migrants. he course content is presented into six modules.

  • Module 1: Introduction:

    By the end of this module, you will: Discuss the course objectives and how they relate to your expectations and your role as a health provider working with refugees and migrants. List the nine Migration and Health: Global Competency Standards for Health Workers. Identify at least one behaviour associated with each of the Competency Standards.

  • Module 2: People-centredness (Domain 1):

    By the end of this module, you will: Use a people-centred approach to the provision of health care for refugees and migrants. Identify specific improvements that health workers can implement to enhance their practice with refugees and migrants, in line with a people-centred approach.

  • Module 3: Communication (Domain 2):

    By the end of this module, you will: Communicate in plain language and collaborate with interpreters, communication aids, and cultural mediators to understand the health needs of refugees and migrants and ensure they understand the health information provided to them to make informed health choices. Identify at least one behaviour associated with each of the Competency Standards in Domain 2.

  • Module 4: Collaboration (Domain 3):

    By the end of this module, you will: Engage with social and community support systems to (a) address the social determinants of health in the context of displacement and (b) increase individual and organizational preparedness to respond to potential surges in health care demand by refugees and migrants. Identify at least one behaviour associated with each of the Competency Standards in Domain 3.

  • Module 5: Evidence-informed practice (Domain 4):

    By the end of this module, you will: Recognize the specific health needs of refugees based on evidence. Use existing evidence-informed guidelines and standards for health care. Identify additional evidence that needs to be generated to practice evidence-informed health care for refugees and migrants. Contribute to related research and apply findings to practice evidence-informed health care for refugees and migrants. Identify at least one behaviour associated with each of the Competency Standards in Domain 4.

  • Module 6: Personal conduct (Domain 5):

    By the end of this module, you will: Understand your own culture, beliefs, values, and biases, as well as the institutional discrimination refugees and migrants face in accessing health care, and the systems, structures, and patterns of power that perpetuate this discrimination. Address these discriminations by continuously adapting your behavior, enhancing institutional cultural sensitivity, and adjusting practices to meet the needs of the communities. Practice self-care and contribute to a supportive team environment for your own mental health and well-being and that of your coworkers when providing care to refugees and migrants. Identify at least one behaviour associated with each of the Competency Standards in Domain 5.

  • Additional Resources

  • Final Assessment

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Learners enrolled: 689

Certificate Requirements

  • Gain a Record of Achievement by earning at least 80% of the maximum number of points from all graded assignments.
  • Gain an Open Badge by completing the course.