Competence

'The complex synthesis of knowledge, skills, values, behaviours and attributes that enable individual professionals to work safely, effectively and legally within their particular scope of practice.

At its core are concepts of professionalism, autonomy, self-regulation, awareness of the limits of personal practice and the practice of the profession to which individuals belong, and within which structured, career-long learning and development to meet identified learning needs forms an integral part.'   (AHP project, 2003)

The CSP has done a large amount of work on competence which relates closely to parallel work on CPD.

Work undertaken on competence

This includes:

Development of a CSP outcomes model

A framework to help physiotherapists demonstrate their ongoing professionalism, incorporating professional competence and scope of practice, by providing evidence of their CPD. The model:

  • comprises six broad outcomes that describe professional competence
  • includes proformas to encourage reflection
  • provides you with written evidence and information to help prepare profiles for external audiences
  • provides appendices for additional resources and support materials
  • draws on desk-based research on the nature of professional competence
  • complements the CSP enabling approach to CPD.

The six broad outcomes from the model are:

  • understand, work within and respond appropriately to the limits of professional practice
  • demonstrate effectiveness in practice
  • practise within your profession's moral and ethical framework
  • think critically about personal practice and its context
  • deal appropriately with the new and non-routine
  • communicate and collaborate effectively.

The model resulted from the Department of Health funded AHP project: 'Demonstrating competence through CPD'.

Development of an interim guidance on competence

Initial guidance raising awareness of CSP work on competence, of interest to those developing local competence systems or undertaking projects on competence issues.

Development of a Competence and Capability resource pack for members

A resource pack which:

  • explores the terms competence and capability
  • examines why the development and maintenance of competence is important
  • identifies systems and structures that underpin this process
  • provides advice and good practice where capability concerns may arise.

Development of a competency framework database

A database currently under development in the CPD Unit as a resource:

  • to capture details of existing local competency frameworks
  • for people developing local competency framework

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