Competencies

Competencies for Canada’s Substance Abuse Workforce

To view the Competencies' table of contents please click here

The critical need for professional competencies for the substance abuse workforce was identified both through the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse’s (CCSA) 2004 Canadian addiction treatment workforce survey and through cross-Canada consultations for the National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and Other Drugs and Substances in Canada.

In response, CCSA, under the leadership of the National Advisory Group on Workforce Development (NAGWD)—a working group composed of subject matter experts/senior managers from across Canada—undertook a Competencies Project to detail the technical and behavioural competencies needed by the substance abuse workforce to perform effectively to ensure quality client care.

This work culminated in the Competencies for Canada’s Substance Abuse Workforce—a framework and supportive resource for professionals that identifies the technical and behavioural abilities (specific, measurable skills, knowledge, attitudes and values) required to perform optimally in the substance abuse field.

The Competencies apply to those working in health promotion, support and outreach, counselling, withdrawal management, clinical supervision, administration and senior management. It is also relevant to allied professionals (e.g., primary health care providers, enforcement officials, Elders, volunteers, and social workers) interacting with individuals who have substance abuse issues.

This resource is comprised of: 

• Behavioural Competencies for Canada’s Substance Abuse Workforce, v.1 (published in January 2010)—distinguishes the abilities, attitudes and values desired to enhance performance of specific job functions and the level of aptitude needed to effect positive client outcomes.
• Supporting Tools, such as interview and performance management guides as well as application tools to enable organizations and individuals to quickly adopt and apply the competencies in their work settings. For instance, these tools can help in facilitating the creation of learning and development strategies for staff and supporting the hiring and retention of skilled people.
• Technical Competencies for Canada’s Substance Abuse Workforce, v.1 (published in November 2007)—identifies the knowledge and skills necessary to perform specific job functions and the level of proficiency required to ensure better client outcomes.

Through ongoing consultations and feedback the Competencies will continue to be strengthened and evolve to meet the needs of the field. As a result, subsequent versions of the competencies will be published periodically to ensure the information is up to date with current evidence.

The division of the technical and behavioural competencies reflects the stages in which this project was developed. In future versions, both sets of competencies will be combined to form one larger set of competencies.

Due to the size of the document, it has been posted in sections to facilitate ease of access for digital viewing and download. To read the Competencies for Canada’s Substance Abuse Workforce please refer to the table of contents below.

If you have any questions or comments, or would like to request one (1) print copy (includes a copy on CD-ROM as well), please provide your name, position, title, organization, postal address (street address, city, province and postal code) telephone and email address via email to competencies@ccsa.ca.

If you are requesting multiple print copies please download and fill out the Request for Multiple Printed Copies form here. Please note a fee will be charged (ranging in price from $40 to $30 each, depending on quantity ordered). This fee is to cover printing and distribution costs only.

Table of Contents Errata Notice: Please note if you have previously downloaded this document prior to March 23, 2010 please be aware that an errata has since been issued to identify small changes made within the document. To download the errata please click here. Please note this errata only applies to digital copies of the document downloaded prior to March 23, 2010. All print copies provided by CCSA have been updated. Section Preface [PDF - 1.14mb] Section I - Behavioural Competencies (v.1)  [PDF - 841kb] I Section II - Guide to Competency-Based Interviewing [PDF - 1.12mb] II Section III - Interview Tools [PDF - 1.49mb] For permission to adapt these tools please click here. III Section IV - Guide to Competency-based Performance Management [PDF - 890kb] IV Section V - Performance Management Tools  [PDF - 1.17mb] For permission to adapt these tools please click here. V Section VI - Technical Competencies (v.1)  [PDF - 2.28mb ] VI