generic competencies for public health workforce action: ready for the future 28 june 2007
TRANSCRIPT
Competency
the ability to apply particular knowledge,
skills, attitudes and values to the standard
of performance required in specified
contexts
Who works in public health?
•Health promotion and social participation •Health protection•Health situation monitoring and analysis•Epidemiological surveillance/disease prevention and control•Research, development and implementation of innovative public health solutions
•Human resources development and planning in public health•Development of policies and planning in public health•Strategic management of health systems and services for population health gain •Ensuring the quality of personal and population- based health services
Key PH issues
Focus on outcomes, determinants, systems
Improve health of populations
Reduce disparities within and between population groups
PH workforce – Vote: Health
2,000 positions
10% covered by HPCAA
83% with any tertiary qualification– 71% Maori with any tertiary– 45% highest is ug diploma
14% MPH/ pg DPH
PH workforce – Vote: Health
Of 2,000 people:
66% work for NGOs mostly Not For Profits
26% work in BMFM organisations
4% work in BPFP organisations
PH workforce – Vote: Health
Of 2,000 people:
11% in PH less than 1 year
43% in PH less than 5 years– 56% Maori
31% HPO in PH at least 20 years
Different training needs
1 Working now, need basic training, no relevant qualification
2 Working now, need rounding out
3 New to public health
Identify shared competencies across the public health workforce to provide a common framework for professional development and a foundation for skill development across specific public health issues.
Who started this project?• Australasian Faculty of Public Health
Medicine
• Health Promotion Forum
• Māori Community Health Workers
• New Zealand Institute of Environmental Health
• Public Health Nurses Section of New Zealand Nurses Organisation
• Public Health Association
Generic competencies
• minimum baseline set of competencies
• necessary for the delivery of essential
services
• what everyone in public health needs to be
able to do in order to work effectively in the
field
Benefits of generic competenciesMore effective public health work
• enhanced understanding across the different public health disciplines
• more effective integrated public health strategies
• clearer definition of what public health is and what are public health goals
• greater recognition and validation of work done by public health practitioners
The Generic CompetenciesPublic Health Knowledge 1. Health Systems
2. Public Health Science
3. Policy, Legislation, and
Regulation
4. Research and Evaluation
5. Community Health
Development
Public Health Practice 6. Te Tiriti o Waitangi
7. Working Across and
Understanding Cultures
8. Communication
9. Leadership, Teamwork, and
Professional Liaison
10. Advocacy
11. Professional Development and
Self Management
12. Planning and Administration
PH competencies
• Many similar but different competency sets • Some groups have none• Some groups are in the process of
developing a set • Some employers use no competency set• Multiple training programmes
– many offer no recognised qualification
What needs to happen
Training programmes – qualifications & consistency;
Employer support; Funding – training, now more highly
qualified staff; Support in contracts;Professional bodies and discipline support Body to manage, promote and support.
RPL / RCC
Recognition of prior learning /
Recognition of current competency
Needs trained and approved assessors
Risks
Existing disparities in workforce exacerbated– Employers fire, not up-skill– Training not accessible
Funding barriers– Training costs (including travel)– Locums/ output reductions– Higher pay for higher skilled staff