TN 16 (03-02)

A. Policy – suggested guides for program training

1. Introduction

Program training, also referred to as technical training, involves training in skills required by disability adjudicators, quality assurance personnel, vocational specialists, supervisors, and professional/medical relations personnel with particular emphasis on:

• Body systems;

• Evaluation criteria in the Program Operations Manual System (POMS);

• Nonmedical aspects of adjudicating claims; and

• Techniques for coordination with medical sources, and welfare and vocational rehabilitation programs.

2. Scope

a. Program orientation

Program training includes orientation training, covering the following:

• Scope and content of SSA's disability programs;

• Responsibilities of State agencies; and

• Responsibilities of district offices and other SSA offices.

b. Program training

Professional, technical, and clerical staff should receive necessary program-related training essential to processing disability claims, including disability systems and procedures.

3. Basic disability examiner training

This portion of the training program should be built around the objectives included in the Disability Examiner Basic Training Program and the POMS.

4. New/Revised POMS instructions refresher and remedial training

This training should be directed toward experienced examiners to cover new policy and procedures, performance problems caused by skills or knowledge deficiencies; and areas requiring corrective action to improve or enhance current performance.

5. Specialized training

This level of training should address trainee examiner needs in processing the reconsideration and continuing disability review claims (e.g., development, adjudication, and evaluation concepts and techniques). The CDR Examiner Training Package should be used to provide portions of this special training.

This category would also cover making appropriate provisions for full training of the personnel involved in quality assurance and vocational specialist activities.

6. Program training for medical consultants

a. Training new medical consultants may include:

• Orientation materials provided by SSA, Disability Evaluation Under Social Security--A Handbook for Medical Consultants; and

• POMS materials relating to such concepts as non-severe impairment, residual functional capacity and special evaluation situations.

b. New regulations/guidelines

Where new regulations and written guidelines supersede information in the SSA orientation and evaluation materials, these changes should be addressed prior to presentation.

B. Policy – suggested guides for non-program training

1. Scope

Nonprogram training is training in special skills other than those required to process disability claims.

2. Types of non-program training

a. Quality assurance training

QA training may be offered to emphasize basic statistical methods and study design.

b. Management training

Management training courses may be offered on principles of management, supervisory techniques, workload management, etc. for all levels of DDS managers. In some instances, the DDS may also offer this type of course work opportunity to personnel who have demonstrated potential for reaching management positions.

c. Fiscal training

Fiscal training may be offered on principles and procedures of financial management for personnel who conduct, review, or approve financial activities.

d. Professional relations training

Professional relations training may be offered to focus on changes in policy and procedures; techniques for recruiting physicians for consultative examinations; and promoting a sound relationship with the medical community.

e. Performance analysis training

Performance Analysis training may be offered to DDS training coordinators and other staff members for identifying performance problems and developing effective solutions.

f. Instructor training

Instructor training may be offered to staff members responsible for conducting training in order to learn and practice instructional skills.

g. Miscellaneous special skills training

Miscellaneous Special Skills training may be offered where DDS organization, locations, functions, and assignments of responsibilities warrant (e.g., electronic data processing, self-defense, first aid and CPR).

h. Clerical training

Clerical training may be offered to support personnel for using specialized equipment.