Sports Physiotherapy for All

Development of Sports Physiotherapy Competencies

Leonardo da Vinci Open Day MECC Maastricht 16/12/04

Cathy Bulley Research Fellow,

SPA Project

Presentation Outline…

• Benchmarking• SPA Project participants• Development of the competencies: stages in the process contributions of different SPA Project

participantslessons from experience• The next stage

Benchmarking

Competencies and Standards

Competencies:

Behaviours comprised of specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to achieve the description of the professional and corresponding accreditation(i.e. Sports Physiotherapist)

Measurable Standards:

Minimum threshold levels of achievement in relation to learning outcomes and corresponding competencies that will ensure a professional has achieved the expected level of ability to meet the description

Benchmark: Description of a Professionali.e. Sports Physiotherapist

Purposes of Benchmarking

Purposes of Benchmarking

benchmarking for educators: course content and level

international mobility through harmonisation in the demonstration of competencies

transparency between employers and employees (sports organisations, clubs, recreational facilities, athletes)

greater structure to career progression for sports physiotherapists – identification of learning needs

SPA Project

• Core Group different contributions

• Expert Group at different stages in

• Advisors the process:

• Consultants these will be outlined

• Employees with some examples

• Partners of our learning

Development of the Competencies

1) Initial decisions: concepts and framework

2) Sports physiotherapy themes: collection and theming of international documentation

3) Definition and description of sports physiotherapy

4) Theme confirmation

5) Establishing competency areas

6) Writing the competencies

7) Review process

1) Initial decisions

DescriptionDecisions regarding:

competency framework, conceptualisation, level;

ContributorsConsultant, Researcher

Core Group;

Confirmed by Expert Group

LessonsReliance on the consultant and researcher at this stage – important that they worked together.

Debates surrounded: accreditation or registration; understanding of Master’s level.

2) Sports physiotherapy themes

DescriptionCollection of international documentation relating to sports physiotherapy practice and education

ContributorsSPA Partners

Researcher work package 1

Administrator

Lessons Slow response - ? time delay between agreement from partners and start of the project Issues regarding intellectual property.

The request sent before the researcher was employed (+); administration was very important;

3) Definition & Description

DescriptionDefinition and description: what is unique about sports physiotherapy? (extensions of roles, distinct roles)

ContributorsExpert Group

Facilitators from Core Group

Researcher

Lessons• Issues regarding professional boundaries (continued during the writing of competencies)• Master’s degree or Master’s level?

4) Theme confirmation

DescriptionRigorous checking of the themes for comprehensiveness, clarification of themes

ContributorsConfirmed by Expert Group

Facilitators from Core Group

Researcher

Lessonse.g. theme: psychological techniques: clarified that sports physiotherapists should be aware of them but must be aware of scope of practice and referral criteria

5) Establishing competency areas

DescriptionThemes allocated to roles in the framework (group), then grouped within roles (pairs) competency areas (18)

ContributorsExpert Group

Facilitators from Core Group

Researcher

LessonsThis worked well, increasing the efficiency of the two days:

1) Framework

2) Teamwork with facilitator and researcher: regular synthesis of progress to keep momentum

6) Writing the competencies

DescriptionCompetencies based on themes grouped within roles; narrowed down further with identification of overlap (14)

ContributorsConsultant, Researcher,

Coordinator of

work package 1

Lessons• Efficient – ensured that deadlines were met• Face-to-face contact between consultant and researcher was important• Deadlines were tight

7) Review process

DescriptionDraft 1 review Draft 2 review Draft 3 (11) vote by Int. Federation of Sports Physiotherapy

ContributorsEveryone! Researcher, Administrator, Webmaster (draft 1: project participants, draft 2: public consultation)

Lessons• Response to web distribution less engagement than expected, but positive result next stage: dissemination strategy• Deadlines: required established working relationships

Next steps…

• Second phase of work package 1: standards Deadlines decided by the next IFSP General

Meeting (June 2005)

• Workpackage 2: audit toolkit working closely together – Input from later work packages is necessary during

earlier work to ensure coherence