Ensuring a competent workforce and sustaining program improvements in environmental health

If an environmental health program lacks competent staff or the capacity to provide essential environmental health services, the community doesn't have adequate protection from environmental health risks.

Traditionally employee development problems were solved by attending training classes rather than implementing an overall workforce development plan. Over time, staff believed that attendance at trainings equaled increased competency, which in turn reduced their commitment to an ongoing workforce development program, and increased dependence on training attendance as a way to increase competency. In reality, without a system to integrate the training into practice, there was little assurance that skills had actually improved.

In order to ensure a competent workforce and sustain program improvements, the agency undertook an initiative to create workforce development plans and individual professional development plans. An objective questionnaire was designed to assess each individual's ability to perform the non-technical core competencies. Self-assessments and supervisor-assessments were conducted. The results were used to identify development needs of the entire environmental health staff, and also allowed each employee to identify individual competencies that need further development.

In addition, a reporting format was developed for routinely documenting and reviewing the integration of the Ten Essential Environmental Health Services.

Establishing systems to routinely assess staff competencies and program improvements through integration of the Ten Essential Environmental Health Services and the Core Competencies for Environmental Public Health Professionals is essential in ensuring a competent workforce and sustaining program improvements.