Carole Sharma FDAP and workforce development __________ Federation of Drug & Alcohol Professionals the professional body for the drugs & alcohol field

Competence-based workforce targets Joint NTA/DSD Workforce Development Plan – All substance misuse workers NTA Workforce Targets – Adult drug treatment sector

NTA/DSD targets (all workers) Identify competence requirements for all roles Use role profiles as framework for supervision, appraisal and development Demonstrate competence vs core competences (adult / C&YP) and some SMS competences ‘Professionally qualified’ assumed competent vs adult core and, where appropriate, C&YP core – but NOT vs SMS units

NTA targets (adult treatment workers) By 2008: – 75%+ of non "professionally qualified" workers have, or working towards, externally-validated evidence of competence vs 4 "core units" and at least some SMS units from DANOS; – 60%+ of "professionally qualified" staff undertaking continuous professional development, including professional development awards, relevant to substance misuse. – Where are these targets now?

Externally-validated evidence of competence Attending training on its own does NOT provide any evidence of competence Most qualifications provide little, if any, evidence of competence against DANOS and related units – not based on assessment workplace competence and/or – do not map sufficiently closely against relevant units Default qualifications = Level 3 H&SC NVQ / Development Awards Alternative = FDAP Accreditation and OU/FDAP Competence Awards

FDAP Drug & Alcohol Professional Accreditation Provides externally-validated evidence vs 10 units (inc. 4 ‘core units’ for adults) For each unit: – DANOS competence assessment (NVQ or OU) or – ‘complementary qualification’ plus workplace assessment Takes account of qualifications not accepted in own right – but must meet strict requirements Qualifications must be ‘recognised’ by independent panel - strong competence assessment, close mapping to specific NOS units

FDAP Drug & Alcohol Professional Accreditation… Must commit to code of practice and subject to re-certification every three years Re-accreditation based on workplace assessment confirming on-going competence Certification costs £75 for three years (cheaper for staff of corporate affiliates) [Note – assessment only qualification]

OU/FDAP Competence Awards OU accredited qualifications Assessment only competence awards vs DANOS Professional Award for Drug & Alcohol Practitioners – 10 units (as per FDAP Accreditation) Professional Development Awards – Individual units & clusters (eg assessment & care planning) Provide direct externally-validated evidence in own right Can contribute to FDAP Accreditation – PA meets requirements for Accreditation – PDAs provide ‘top up’ evidence

Academic affiliation Free accreditation for students who complete/ free for 1 year Responsible for ensuring students have required evidence/QA the evidence- even if not required by the course Costs £500/£250 is also affiliated as an employer Free full membership for 3 employees

Other initiatives Guidance, plus searchabe training database at FDAP Performer Competence Group E-learning Workshops Training & support package

For more information General guidance + training database: under ‘training & development’ at FDAP qualifications (inc OU awards): under ‘qualifications’ at The Competence Group: see