Transcript Document
Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada Public Health Association of Nova Scotia’s Translating the Core Competencies for Public Health into Action Workshop September 23, 2009 Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada: Release 1.0 36 statements organized under 7 categories: Public Health Sciences Assessment & Analysis Policy & Program Planning, Implementation & Evaluation Partnerships, Collaboration & Advocacy Diversity & Inclusiveness Communication Leadership ONE... PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES A public health practitioner is able to … 1.1 Demonstrate knowledge about the following concepts: the health status of populations, inequities in health, the determinants of health and illness, strategies for health promotion, disease and injury prevention and health protection, as well as the factors that influence the delivery and use of health services. 1.2 Demonstrate knowledge about the history, structure and interaction of public health and health care services at local, provincial/ territorial, national, and international levels. 1.3 Apply the public health sciences to practice. 1.4 Use evidence and research to inform health policies and programs. 1.5 Demonstrate the ability to pursue lifelong learning opportunities in the field of public health. TWO... ASSESSMENT AND ANALYSIS A public health practitioner is able to … 2.1 Recognize that a health concern or issue exists. 2.2 Identify relevant and appropriate sources of information, including community assets and resources. 2.3 Collect, store, retrieve and use accurate and appropriate information on public health issues. 2.4 Analyze information to determine appropriate implications, uses, gaps and limitations. 2.5 Determine the meaning of information, considering the current ethical, political, scientific, socio-cultural and economic contexts. 2.6 Recommend specific actions based on the analysis of information. THREE... POLICY AND PROGRAM PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION A public health practitioner is able to … 3.1 Describe selected policy and program options to address a specific public health issue. 3.2 Describe the implications of each option, especially as they apply to the determinants of health and recommend or decide on a course of action. 3.3 Develop a plan to implement a course of action taking into account relevant evidence, legislation, emergency planning procedures, regulations and policies. 3.4 Implement a policy or program and/or take appropriate action to address a specific public health issue. 3.5 Demonstrate the ability to implement effective practice guidelines. 3.6 Evaluate an action, policy or program. 3.7 Demonstrate an ability to set and follow priorities, and to maximize outcomes based on available resources. 3.8 Demonstrate the ability to fulfill functional roles in response to a public health emergency. FOUR... PARTNERSHIPS, COLLABORATION AND ADVOCACY A public health practitioner is able to … 4.1 Identify and collaborate with partners in addressing public health issues. 4.2 Use skills such as team building, negotiation, conflict management and group facilitation to build partnerships. 4.3Mediate between differing interests in the pursuit of health and wellbeing, and facilitate the allocation of resources. 4.4 Advocate for healthy public policies and services that promote and protect the health and well-being of individuals and communities. FIVE... DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVENESS A public health practitioner is able to … 5.1 Recognize how the determinants of health (biological, social, cultural, economic and physical) influence the health and well-being of specific population groups. 5.2 Address population diversity when planning, implementing, adapting and evaluating public health programs and policies. 5.3 Apply culturally-relevant and appropriate approaches with people from diverse cultural, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds, and persons of all ages, genders, health status, sexual orientations and abilities. SIX... COMMUNICATION A public health practitioner is able to … 6.1 Communicate effectively with individuals, families, groups, communities and colleagues. 6.2 Interpret information for professional, non-professional and community audiences. 6.3Mobilize individuals and communities by using appropriate media, community resources and social marketing techniques. 6.4 Use current technology to communicate effectively. SEVEN... LEADERSHIP A public health practitioner is able to … 7.1 Describe the mission and priorities of the public health organization where one works, and apply them in practice. 7.2 Contribute to developing key values and a shared vision in planning and implementing public health programs and policies in the community. 7.3 Utilize public health ethics to manage self, others, information and resources. 7.4 Contribute to team and organizational learning in order to advance public health goals. 7.5 Contribute to maintaining organizational performance standards. 7.6 Demonstrate an ability to build community capacity by sharing knowledge, tools, expertise and experience. The Need to Strengthen the Public Health Workforce • Numerous reports assessing & advising on strengthening public health systems in Canada • Importance of competency-based workforce development & initiatives across the country are moving forward with this perspective Workforce Challenges Lack of: • qualified public health professionals in Canada - aging workforce & uneven distribution of existing practitioners (especially in rural & remote areas) • • common measure & data to quantify the gap ‘surge’ capacity of public health practitioners in the case of an emergency • skills development & training opportunities for existing public health practitioners Public Health Agency of Canada • • • Anticipate & respond to the health needs of Canadians Ensure actions supported by integrated information & knowledge Develop a dedicated, professional workforce & provide the required tools & leadership within a supportive culture Develop accreditation standards / quality control measures Identify best practices in education (including placements, continuing education) Identify best practices in interprofessional deployment Develop recruitment / retention strategies to attract required competencies Develop worker competency assessment tools and incentives Define the public health workforce for planning purposes Develop structures to support interprofessional education (space, time, instructors) Align education programs to reflect competencies and interprofessional practice Gather data on the public health workforce Identify best practices in recruitment and retention Deploy workforce in interprofessional models based on their competencies Map the competencies of each discipline against the core and functionspecific competencies Identify core public health services Develop organizational competency assessment tools and incentives Identify core* public health competencies Public health needs of the population Identify functionspecific** public health competencies WHAT are Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada? Set of essential skills, knowledge & attitudes necessary for the broad practice of public health • Basic building block to develop the workforce • Independent of discipline & program Process to Develop 2005 Pan-Canadian Framework for Public Health Human Resource Planning recommends development 2005 Draft statements/preliminary consultation 2006 Revised draft statements, glossary of terms 2006/7 National consultation Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada: Release 1.0 (2007) 36 statements organized under 7 categories: Public Health Sciences Assessment & Analysis Policy & Program Planning, Implementation & Evaluation Partnerships, Collaboration & Advocacy Diversity & Inclusiveness Communication Leadership Where are we now? • • • • • • Build awareness & knowledge Develop tools & resources to support use – Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada Orientation Module (www.corecompetencies.ca) – Tools to demonstrate Core Competencies in practice – Performance assessment & management tools for individual practitioners & organizations – Skills Online continuing education program Evaluation plan Continue to work & collaborate with partners Working with public health disciplines to develop disciplinespecific competencies pan-Canadian Environmental Scan to explore ways Core Competencies are being used & integrated pan-Canadian Environmental Scan • Purpose: to explore ways Core Competencies are being used & integrated • Target audience: local/regional public health organizations, provincial/territorial governments & public health associations • Methods: • • Survey Key informant interviews pan-Canadian Environmental Scan: preliminary results • N = 37 • Type of organization: • • 70% local/regional health or public health unit/authority • 22% provincial/territorial government agency • 8% public health association or society Geographic area served: • • • • 67% urban/rural mix 14% rural 11% urban 8% remote/isolated Preliminary results: activities to build awareness & knowledge • • • • • Disseminate print materials, website, etc to staff, decision makers Inform senior management Information made available on organization’s intranet site & newsletter Integrate into staff orientation processes Formal adoption or endorsement e.g., Public Health Association of Nova Scotia; Public Health System Leadership Team Preliminary results: activities to build awareness & knowledge • • • • Collect personal stories of public health professionals to illustrate competencies Presentations at staff meetings; workshops with focus on competencies Support staff to attend presentations, conferences, to be part of core competencies consultation Asset mapping projects where staff identify perceived level of knowledge related to competencies & continuing education required to strengthen knowledge & skills Preliminary results: strategies, approaches & tools for integration • • • • • • • • Incorporate into strategic, operational & program plans Identify lead position within organization to champion competencies work Develop dissemination & implementation plans Develop job postings, position descriptions Incorporate into interview processes (recruitment strategies) Develop competency-based performance management frameworks & tools Ensure that language is being used in performance appraisals Incorporate into plans for ongoing professional development Preliminary results: opportunities • • • • Core Competencies used as a foundation for other work e.g., discipline, program-specific competencies, managerial/leadership & mentorship programs Networking with other public health units/regional health authorities across the country Work with Human Resources to on job analysis for staff positions (frame job descriptions & postings) Increased support for staff to participate in professional development, e.g., increased participation in Skills Online modules Preliminary results: challenges • • Lack of time to reflect on how to use; other competing demands Lack of resources to make a priority • Lack of public health expertise within policy, management & executive levels to move from awareness to implementation Lack of support – seen as an add-on rather than essential A concept to many – not sure if/when they are being demonstrated • • • • Many questions that impedes implementation e.g., who are they intended for (individual or team); what are the minimum proficiency levels expected; who is responsible for their proficiency (individual or organization) Meshing public health competencies with other Municipal/District Health Authority competencies & performance review processes Preliminary results: collaborations, partnerships & networks • • Participate in competency-based research & pilot projects Links with academia helps to support integration of • • competencies into curriculum Informal networks across the country Develop working groups: – – – Within agencies e.g., Core Competencies Reference Group Across jurisdictions e.g., pan-Territorial Advisory Committee Within a province/territory e.g., Living the Core Competencies Working Group; Performance Management Steering Committee; planning committee for this workshop