The Common Approach to Competency for Regulators

1. Key messages – why it matters

2. Background to the common approach

3. Detailed overview:

• Benefits

• How it works

• What people say

• How it will develop

4. Questions

Outline

LBRO

1. A flexible and widely agreed approach to regulators’ continuous professional development

2. RDNA and GRIP approaches tried and tested – HSE and LBRO pilot3. Users and key partners shape the evolution of the approach and its content –

you should engage with it so that it supports you4. Personal development which is cost-effective - workforce flexibility and

maintaining scarce specialist skills5. The approach provides confidence to key players:

– for business; – for individual officers;– for local authorities; and – for national regulators and central government.

Why it matters

LBRO

• ‘World Class Coalition’ project

• Creating a common framework and robust approach to professional standards of regulatory competence is part of this work

• Government policy emphasises professional standards

LBRO

1. Background: A joined up approach

• Qualifications demonstrate level of attainment...• ...but fade with time as roles change• Competencies need to remain relevant to regulatory

officers’ roles • Development activity needs to be based on what

skills and knowledge are required for the current or future role

Competence ‘vs’ Qualifications?

LBRO

LBRO

2. Overview of the common approachWritten competency frameworks

• Core regulatory skills, including leadership

• Specific knowledge sections

RDNA tool

• self-assessment process against relevant competency frameworks

• used to identify development needs

• discussed with line manager

Guidance for Regulators – Information Point

• GRIP supports development planning

• rich source of low and no-cost development resources

Generic

Varies by area of regulation, specialism or sector

LBRO

Generic

Structure of Competency Frameworks

LBRO

The Competency Frameworks: Core skills & technical knowledge

In development1. Pollution

prevention and control

2. Product Safety3. Fair Trading4. Licensing Act

(2003)5. Agricultural

Trading Standards

1 November1. Animal Health

and Welfare2. Housing3. Food4. Health and

Safety5. Metrology6. (Port Health)

Key Features of the Approach

• A core, generic regulatory skills section• Technical knowledge sections, specific to areas of

regulation• A means to undertake self-assessment: the RDNA Tool• A means to help meet development needs identified: the

Guidance for Regulators – Information Point (GRIP)• A development process for regulators and managers

• Widespread usage helps simplify the overall regulatory system

• Change in regulatory culture means business more consistently experiences better regulation

• More effective means of supporting Continuous Professional Development for regulators and their managers

LBRO

Major benefits

• Supports manager in managing team

• Meaningful – includes attitudes, hard skills, soft skills and knowledge

• Robust – widely consulted on, tried and tested

• Makes use of in-house expertise

Other benefits

LBRO

LBRO

LBRO

How it works - registration

How it works – create your assessment

How it works – create your assessment

Using the dashboard

LBRO

LBRO

Don’t forget the Indicators of Competency!

Doing the assessment using the self-assessment tool (continued)

• Available answer options are as follows: I’m not confident - development need I’m confident - no development need I’m confident - development need I’m confident - and already exceed This is not applicable to my role

LBRO

3. Applying the common approach

LBRO

Then work through the skills modules

LBRO

Then work through the relevant knowledge section(s)

LBRO

3. Applying the RDNA approach

Using the self-assessment tool(continued)

• When you have worked through the questions – takes about an hour on average – submit it (press submit) and your assessment report will be created.

• Save this to your PC and provide your manager with a copy• Arrange your development review with your manager• The manager will require time to do an assessment of your

development needs, or consider your assessment, as explained on the next slide...

LBRO

3. Applying the common approach

• Your role is to validate the assessment – there are 3 options: Go through the self-assessment tool with your member

of staff and do the assessment together Complete an assessment for your member of staff (in

parallel) and compare notes at the review Go through your member of staff’s assessment report

and note any areas you wish to challenge / support / discuss

• Discuss at the development review meeting

LBRO

Doing the assessment – the manager’s role

Development Review

• The only variation from a normal review is that it is based on the assessment report from the RDNA process.

• Use the opportunity to discuss the areas highlighted, clarify roles and skills requirements for the year ahead – the report provides a benchmark and some good hooks for discussion

• The outcome of the review is an agreed set of development objectives which are relevant to the role, its requirements and the business need.

LBRO

3. Applying the common approach

Identifying development solutions – the GRIP approach

• Does it always have to be a training course? • HSE experience – marked reduction in demand for training

courses since introduction of this approach• Provides CPD points• Reflective practice, learning logs

LBRO

3. Applying the common approach

Guidance for Regulators Information Point (GRIP)

• Identifies resources to help regulators meet their development needs in a cost-effective way

• Mirrors the RDNA skills and knowledge sections

• Provides links to 12 types of content

• Contains information on learning methods other than formal training

Guidance for Regulators Information Point (GRIP)

Guidance for Regulators Information Point (GRIP)

Development Planning• Agree your development objectives with your manager (as

described earlier)• Use GRIP to help you identify the best means of meeting

development needs• Produce a development action plan• Agree this with your manager• Agree to review with your manager at key points in the year.

LBRO

3. Applying the common approach

Development Planning – the manager’s role• Agree development objectives with your staff member (as

described earlier)• In doing this, think about the overall requirements of the

service plan and the skills, knowledge and experience of the team

• Support your member of staff in identifying solutions if you can – eg is there another member of the team you could coach? Could you give the staff member a new project?

• Agree one or 2 milestones in the year to review progress.

LBRO

3. Applying the common approach

• Carry out process in line with your organisation’s development process

• Agree period in year for self and manager assessments of team members using RDNA

• Carry out above and base development reviews on this – agree development objectives for year ahead

• Identify how to meet these objectives – GRIP will help – and agree development action plans

• Track and review throughout the year – try reflective practice?

LBRO

3. Applying the common approach:

Overview of process

“We now use the RDNA approach as a support to individual development planning and to identify development needs for the service in our annual management review and business planning. It is a more efficient, targeted way to identify development needs, enhance professional development and maintain and demonstrate competence with limited funds in the current economic environment. Officers have found it to be a straightforward and clear system to use, and managers welcome having a recognised competency framework for the first time.” Tim Nicholls, Head of Environmental Health Brighton and Hove Council

LBRO

What people say – cost-effectiveness and clarity

“We were keen to support the development of the competency framework by being part of the pilot work because competence has always been important to public health professions. It’s an ever-changing world in which we are expecting more and more from our staff. Developing an approach that is relevant and easy to use will help us identify priorities for professional development and support us in maintaining the high standards that we aim for – and are expected from us.” Graham Perry, Head of Public Protection, Monmouthshire Council

LBRO

What people say – supporting professional standards

“Two of the biggest challenges I faced at the outset were how to achieve integration and harmonisation of different regulatory functions and professional disciplines. For these reasons we were keen to be involved in the RDNA pilot, after which we concluded that the approach provided a key tool to support culture change and a more structured and consistent approach to continuous professional development. We will be rolling out the use of the RDNA approach across the service over the next year.” Allan Hampshire, Head of Regulatory Services, Cornwall Council

‘We think the RDNA approach can support our new service as we develop new ways of working, particularly through a consistent, strengthened approach to training and development across the environmental health, trading standards and licensing professions.’

Steve Jorden, Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services

LBRO

What people say – new ways of working

“CIEH has been involved in the development of RDNA since its inception within health and safety in early 2006. We whole-heartedly support the expanded RDNA and see it as a hugely valuable development. We have already taken steps to ensure that RDNA and our qualification framework are fully joined up and that use of RDNA by CIEH members is reflected via the awarding of CPD hours”. Tony Lewis, Head of Education for CIEH

“TSI sees RDNA as a hugely valuable development and we are committed to supporting its roll-out and use. We will be seeking to ensure that RDNA and our qualification framework are fully joined up and that use of RDNA by TSI members is reflected via the awarding of CPD points”.Phil Owen, Director of Services (professional standards), TSI

LBRO

What the professional bodies say

LBRO

How it will develop

• New knowledge sections

• Maintenance - RDNA sections and GRIP

• User feedback mechanisms

• Linking training provision with GRIP

• Remains a collaborative product involving all key players

LBRO

Any questions....?

philip.preece@lbro.org.uk / 0121-226-4013

lynne.howard@lbro.org.uk / 0121-226-4000

Competency Home Page: http://www.lbro.org.uk/lbro-projects-professional-competency.html