Training Doesn't Mean Competence: The Importance of Competency Assessment

We often place too much emphasis on training and not enough on competence. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I am sure many of us have seen incidents involving staff who had completed every required course.

The two are not mutually exclusive.

Training is important. Of course it is.

But attending a course, watching a webinar or completing an e-learning package doesn't automatically mean someone has the competence and confidence to apply that learning safely in practice.

Can they recognise deterioration?

Can they safely administer medicines when something doesn't quite look right?

Can they respond appropriately when faced with a situation that wasn't covered in the training slides?

Competency assessments provide assurance that staff can apply knowledge safely and effectively in practice, rather than simply demonstrating attendance at training.

For me, competency assessments have never been about compliance or paperwork.

They are about assurance.

They provide assurance that people have understood the training, can apply it in practice and have the confidence to make safe decisions when it matters most.

As care becomes increasingly complex, I believe providers should be asking a simple question:

How do we know our staff are competent, not just trained?

Because when something goes wrong, nobody asks to see the training matrix.

They ask whether the person had the knowledge, skills and competence to provide safe care.

Those are not always the same thing.