Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond Competence
to Capability in Practice – CONTEXT
• "And it ought to be remembered that there is
nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous
to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to
take the lead in the introduction of a new order of
things. Because the innovator has for enemies all
those who have done well under the old conditions,
and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well
under the new."
Nicolo Machiavelli c.1505 (trans. W. K. Marriott)
Now
Where?
MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY
LONDON | DUBAI | MAURITIUS
IOSH Research Workshop – ‘New Directions’2006
• Globalisation and the various economic,
political and regulatory responses to it have
created a work environment for the 21st
century for which ‘flexibility’ is a key
descriptor.
• This is not new. In discussing OSH, it is now
commonplace to frame concerns in terms of
the impact of change on virtually every
aspect of the relationship between work,
health, safety and wellbeing.
IOSH Research Workshop – ‘New Directions’ 2006
Equally, though, there is no indication that the
rate of change is slowing; this continually
changing environment presents major
challenges for OSH practitioners.
“Globalisation, new technology and
demographic change are
changing hazards and risks”
“It is up to practitioners to make health
and safety relevant to the people they
advise”
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice
• Corin Taylor (IIRSM, 2010), author of a think
tank Policy Exchange report, said health and
safety regulation has a ‘long history and a
noble purpose’.
• He added that Britain has gone from a
country where children climbed chimneys to
sweep away coal dust to ‘virtually the
safest place to work in the EU, but today it
permeates every corner of our lives’.
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice
• Chris Grayling the UK Safety Minister
Department of Work and Pensions said “It is
right to protect employees in the
workplace but Britain’s health and safety
culture is also stifling business these
measures will help root out the needless
burden of bureaucracy” (The Times and
SHP, 2011).
• Lord Young's review conducted at UK Government request
and Professor Lofstedt of Imperial College London report.
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice
• Whilst agreeing that the level of
qualifications to practice and often-over
zealous adviser’s interpretation of legal
requirements is problematic, IOSH
whole-heartedly endorsed the views that
competency is the cornerstone and that
UK law should accredit ‘competent’
health and safety practitioners’ (SHP,
2010).
• Lacey and Arnold in (SHP, 2011)
stated that the register of safety
consultants borne out of Lord
Young’s review is all well and good,
but much more needs to be done if
the credibility of the health and
safety profession really
is to improve.
IOSH survey – ‘What Practitioners Do’ 2005
• Which leads me to a –
• 2005 study – most common and frequently
performed tasks (Registered Safety
Practitioner survey)
• Most common and frequently encountered
hazards
• Most common and frequently made contacts
Fascinating...a must read!
TRAINING
KNOWLEDGE
“COMPETENCE?”
EXPERIENCE
SKILLS
MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY
LONDON | DUBAI | MAURITIUS
Professional Development, References, Qualifications etc
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice
• Pomeroy and Boyle stated in an article in
SHP that the intention WAS to prompt
discussion and encourage practitioners to
consider where best and how to enhance
their professional competences.
• However, they did emphasise that the
‘evidence base’ for the article was purely
anecdotal from practitioner views expressed
to the authors (SHP Oct/Nov 2010).
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond Competence
to Capability in Practice - Pomeroy & Boyle
• BUT the ‘hard skill’ competences noted as a
weakness were in technical areas such as
risk assessments, audits, training and
accident investigation.
• In addition, weaknesses were
also expressed in the ‘soft skills’
management arena – were acting as agents
for change, advocacy – selling and building
consensus, statistical and financial
management.
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice
• Competence is a time bound characteristic. The
competent person needs to keep up to date with the
latest developments in their field. This maybe too
broad based and not really tackle problem solving
abilities or over-coming of certain safety issues.
• This has led to the questioning of competence as
the main stay of professional practice maintenance
and development. Eraut (1994) states a ‘qualified
person is always competent but one could imagine
situations in which a competent person does not
seem to be competent’.
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice
• SO I am sure we all agree competence is
clearly a requirement for safety and health
practitioners as is the case for most
professions.
As competence is a very complex and
contentious issue the provision of CPD
‘training’ needs to be flexible to adjust to the
professional needs as legislation, guidance
and evidence based knowledge progresses
(Schon, 1983; Eraut, 1994).
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice
• IOSH mandatory CPD stated “needs arise
from a reinforced demand from the public for
accountability, shifting career paths and
demographic changes, overall a desire for
improved professionalism”. (IOSH brochure
CPD ‘what’ s it all about’, 2005)
• See earlier context – IOSH ‘Mind the Gap’,
‘New Directions’.
• Media Reports & HSE ‘myth busters’
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice
• The three areas of CPD competence
prescribed by IOSH to date are core
professional knowledge and skills
(keeping up to speed), developing
professional skills (new skills and
knowledge to increase effectiveness) and
development of transferable skills
(maintain broader management skills from
communication to change management)
(IOSH 2005).
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice – RESEARCH
DESIGN
IOSH CPD
Reflective
Practice
‘template’
IOSH 2010
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice
• Fraser and Greenhalgh (2001) believe
capability is more than competence.
• “Competence is what individuals know or are
able to do in terms of knowledge, skills and
attitude but capability is the extent to which
individuals can adapt to change, generate
new knowledge and continue to improve their
performance”.
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice
• Stephenson (2003) is adamant capability cannot be
taught or passively assimilated. This is especially
true in changing contexts, and where uncertainty
arises.
• The individuals ability to solve problems – appraise
the situation as a whole and prioritise issues to
arrive at solutions in a complex environment and
reflect upon it and learn from the experience marks
out the capable over the competent. A capable
person can achieve a high standard of work in an
integrated way.
CAPABILITY Vs COMPETENCE
• Capability is seen as a broader concept than
competence, capability appears to
encapsulate competence but is also forward
looking, involves ethics, judgements and the
self-confidence to take risks and learn from
experience.
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice LAST PIECE
OF THE JIGSAW?
• ‘The effective practitioner is a reflective practitioner
this claim could apply to any profession’ (Belton et
al 2006). That is a very bold statement of intent but
is it substantiated by the literature and OSH
practice?
• Volante (2010) asserts that reflection has
underpinned models of continuing professional
development within the professions for many years
and is used for error detection,
professional effectiveness and
practical wisdom.
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice - SUMMARY
• Lester notes it is... “far easier to recognise
capability than define it there is a sense in
which it can only be seen in it’s reflection”,
(1999).
• Cairns and Hase (2000) note ‘capable
organisations need capable people’..
Last piece of the jigsaw?
MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY
LONDON | DUBAI | MAURITIUS
TRAINING
KNOWLEDGE
“CAPABILITY?”
EXPERIENCE
SKILLS
Continuing Professional Development, Reflective Practice, Appraisals
MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY
LONDON | DUBAI | MAURITIUS
etc
CONCLUSION
• In comparison to competency, which involves
the acquisition of knowledge and skills is
capability a desired holistic attribute?
• While competencies are useful in developing
a multi-skilled OSH practitioner, is there is a
need to go further by developing capable
people who can cope with the constantly
changing needs of the modern workplace?
Paul D’Arcy – OSH Practitioners Beyond
Competence to Capability in Practice - SUMMARY
• As you can see from my ‘snapshot’
there are many definitions and
views of professional competence
and capability but all include the
need for enhancing knowledge,
expertise and maintaining
competence as part of a
lifelong process.
Thank you for Listening – Any
Questions?