Developing a competence framework for food safety Tony

Developing a competence framework for food safety Tony Lewis, Principal Education Officer, CIEH

Competence – why? • Process started in central government - Performance management and cost control - Plugging the hole in govt finances • Cascaded into government agencies and departments • Became an issue for EH following the HSE’s (2005) SITNA report - A baseline comparator to apply to all and against which training resources could be more effectively provided • Now a facet of ‘world class’ regulation • Anderson Review • Pennington

Building competence The Professional Development Stairway to Competence Excellence ? Competence Capability ‘Capability’ to ‘competence’ achieved via experience, peer review + reflective practice Competencies Skills Knowledge The journey to ‘capable’ as an EHP is via the qualification process

Where are we now • Framework for H&S (RDNA) complete and launched in January 09 • Framework for health protection complete and launched (by ‘Skills for Health’ as National Occupational Standards) • Framework for PH complete and launched (Cube) • Frameworks developed and about to be piloted in food safety and housing • Framework for port health and contaminated land are under development • LBRO and partners are working on a combined framework for local government regulatory services – supported by LACo. RS • Discussions under way with BRC to develop a framework for commercially-based EH

Regulators’ DNA Tool for Health and Safety: Skills / Knowledge / Behaviour

The Regulators’ DNA Tool: Contents

Website

Website

Why bother? • Encourage career-long learning • Maintain and develop skills against a changing environment • Maintain the disciplines of learning and continuous professional development applied during training • Encourage and support more effective development action planning • Encourage and support reflective learning

Why bother? • More structured, consistent and robust approach to identifying development needs at individual and line manager level • Support to Managers to help meet some of these locally • Support to individuals in developing themselves • Provides a shield against challenge to our decisions that is far more robust than a qualification certificate and experience • Once a standard is ‘out there’ and endorsed by a body of some standing it will become ‘compulsory’ by virtue of legal reference

Draft food safety framework • Work to develop the framework been ongoing for >12 months • Partnership approach to development: - CIEH, REHIS, TSI, LACo. RS, FSA, APHA, HSE etc • Draft for consultation completed this week • Consultation process finalised this week

Consultation process • Being overseen by Gary Telfer at CIEH (g. telfer@cieh. org) • Commences with launch in EHN 7 th/8 th May

Consultation process • Draft posted on CIEH website • Article in EHN highlighting its presence on website and inviting comments. Highlighting that it’s a framework for Food Safety Inspectors, not necessarily Regulators • Comments to be invited from all but particularly from members working in the food industry, in Scotland EH colleagues working overseas (particularly in Malaysia and Hong Kong) • Ask CIEH ISIG to highlight presence on web to their contacts overseas • Letter to be sent to regions asking them to send copy to their food study groups, or authorities with a particular interest • Framework to be handed to pilot LAs for use • Date for return of comments, 30 th June 2009

The food framework • Mirrors the structure of H&S RDNA - Background aims - Purpose of the framework - How to use the framework - Guidance on logging responses to framework questions

Food framework (2) • Core behavioral competences - Being open and communicative - Acting professionally - Taking personal responsibility - Valuing people - Innovating and learning - Applying and developing job-related expertise

Food framework (3) • IT competences • Organisational competences • Literacy and numeracy • Problem solving from first principles

Food framework (4) • Regulatory Core - To enforce food law, applying the Food Law Code of Practice - To deploy a range of enforcement interventions (In order to secure compliance, learn lessons and improve conditions) - To advise and influence - Research, understand, retain, prioritise and use knowledge effectively - Train and educate (self and others) - Plan organise and prioritise

Food framework (5) • Assessment of critical controls • Partnership working • Business awareness

Food framework (6) • Technical knowledge framework - Food technology - Food standards - Food nutrition and health - Food safety and hygiene - Prescribed legislation

Questions?

Tony Lewis Principal Education Officer, CIEH t. lewis@cieh. org Tel: 0207 827 5907