Achieving Human Service Outcomes Through Competency-Based Training A Guide for Managers

• Published in: Behavior modification Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 488 - 507
• Main Author: Ricciardi, Joseph N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thousand Oaks, CA SAGE Publications 01-05-2005; Sage Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Achievement; Administrator Guides; Behavior; Competence; Competency Based Education; Employees; Feedback; Guidelines as Topic; Human Services; Humans; Job Skills; On the Job Training; Organizational behavior; Performance management; Practice Management; Professional Competence; Teaching - methods; Training; Training Methods; Workplace; feedback; organizational behavior management; human services; training; performance management
• ISSN: 0145-4455; 1552-4167
• DOI: 10.1177/0145445504273281

During the past three decades, empirically supported strategies have been demonstrated for the training of competencies—highly specific skills and behaviors that are needed to complete a critical job task. The present article reviews several examples of competency-based training in human service programs and provides guidelines for the implementation of competency-based training by managers. Four methods for delineating a competency model are described, with recommendations for using them in combination. A sample direct support worker competency is described, and a guideline is provided for conducting competency-based training on the job based on the findings of research on performance-based feedback. This guide may offer some assistance to managers of human service programs.