Competency Professional Development Framework

Effective, Continuous, Improvement

The Competency Framework has been developed through extended frontline experience, and is aligned with the modern legal, regulatory and policy environment in Ireland today, in particular the HIQA Standards. The Framework implements a programme of continuous development, allowing you to meet new policy guides, monitor and improve all parts of the workforce development cycle, and quickly identify and respond to gaps within your organisation.

We conducted a feasibility study in the disability sector part funded by the Kildare Enterprise Board in 2017. The results informed us that organisations were looking to embark on large scale improvement initiatives but faced many challenges such as, they :

lacked the manpower
specialism
accreditation routes
resources or finance to develop the strategic workforce tools they required

Following on from these findings, we developed the following tools and capabilities for the disability sector. We took the Swiss cheese model which is a model of defensive barriers and reversed it, to set out the detail of what a successful organisation looks like. Having undertaken further research, we merged our expertise with powerful digital tools to provide organisations with an unprecedented amount of capability to improve the services they offer and to navigate them towards a totally Person Centered Focused service, meeting HIQA regulations and fulfilling other legislative obligations.

Our tools assist organisations to become proactive, providing them with the means to get ahead, avoid reputational damage and become centres of excellence.

Competency Development Framework

Our workforce tools are developed against a competency framework which is a blueprint for best practice in disability services. Our competency framework sets out the role of different staff within the organisation which can be used for staff recruitment, development, mentoring, supervision, appraisal, monitoring and preparing staff for progression. It is designed to support organisations to meet the modern expectations and demands within the disability sector.

Competency Framework was developed following extensive research in order to enable organisations implement a cycle of continuous Improvement. The Core Knowledge and Skills Areas within our framework are based on six core principles which we identified from HIQA standards and New Directions. The core areas are common to all professionals in the sector. These include:

Social Care Ireland - Competency Framework

Person Centered Approach

Recognises the consequences of individuals with disabilities been disempowered in society and the effect it has on them. Has clear boundaries with service users and recongnises their right to autonomy and self-determination.

Quality Services

Provides care and support which is planned and delivered in a person-centred way. The person's priorities, example physical, age, emotional, social, cultural needs, guides all decisions and actions. Understanding the mulitple and complex needs of a service user.

Safety

Can recognise and respond to the individuals need for a physical environment which is acceptable to them and meets their needs/preferences in respect of space, aesthetics ( including sensory preference), noise, unpredictable movement of others, and more.

Professionalism

Working in a professional and ethical manner maintaining confidentiality and respecting the rights of the individual. Takes care to manage personal and work-related stress.

Community & Culture

Identifies opportunities to recognise the importance and significance of relationships with family members and others. Develops a rapport with those close to the individual.

Leadership, Supervision & Management

Has the ability to recognise where they need to develop capacity within their own practice. Has the ability to describe and demonstrate the skills relevant to their role. Recognises the need for change and is supportive of the same.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Our workforce tools are developed against a competency framework which is a blueprint for best practice in disability services.

Benefits includes

Clearly defines roles for Direct Support Works, Supervisors and Managers
Allows organisations to tailor their training needs based on identifying attitude, knowledge and skills gaps within their workforce
Create Individual staff Personal and Professional Plans to Implement Continuous Improvement
Motivate and Improve Staff through:
Goal setting
Development
Promotion

Why implement a Competency Framework?

Understand the benefits of implementing a Continuous Training cycle to your Organistion.

Reduce Staff Turnover

Create Personal Development Plans for each member of staff. Encourage career development and sustain engagement by goal-setting and practitioner programmes

Meet HIQA Policy

Implement a cohesive and scalable Continuous Improvement process to your organisation, as outlined by HIQA’s 2017 National Standards regulatory policy

Improve Your Recruitment Process

Identify missing competencies in your organisation. Streamline your recruitment process by quickly accessing new recruits skills. Tailor induction plans

Simplify Induction Training

Quickly assess the skills of new recruits. Tailor induction training based on gaps in their competency. Develop skills inline with your organisational needs

Track Organisational Compliance

Demonstrate clear, recorded, staff improvement to ensure your organisation remains compliance with continuous development policy

Organisational Oversight

Access a clear overview of your organisation’s competency at any stage. Respond to gaps by immediately upskilling staff through comptency based modules on eHub