Recognising competence

Since joining IOSH in January 2024 a lot has happened… It was an exciting time to come aboard as the organisation was facing a conundrum. How to broaden learner and employer choice of occupational health and safety qualifications? Added to this, IOSH is a global organisation. Whatever we decided to do had to be relevant in different countries across the world and to all types of industry.

In response to these challenges IOSH created its Awarding Organisation. Its success is now moving at pace with a growing network of study centres. These new partners are successfully delivering our IOSH Level 6 Diploma and the IOSH Level 3 Certificate.

These practical qualifications are making a difference to learners, their employment prospects and future careers. It’s been pleasing to receive positive feedback from the study centres and employers too. It’s early days, but we’re having an impact on people’s opportunities and, through them, on the safety and health of workers.

These experiences led me to reflect on how recognition matters in our working lives. My career has taken in different employment sectors, professional and technical occupations. Some have been highly regulated. I found learning to see things from the business perspective to be beneficial. It’s given me better vision on how education, training and assessment can match seamlessly with workplace realities.

Practical approach

Through focus groups and member input, IOSH was able to develop and publish a competency framework in 2022. Split into technical, core and behavioural competencies, this quickly became the go-to standard in the profession and beyond. It reflects the need for technical ability. But it also recognises that core managerial skills such as stakeholder management, or positive behaviours like empathy, are needed for professionals to influence their employer.

IOSH’s competency framework has adopted transferable skills applicable to any country, industry or working circumstance. Using it as a framework for personal development enables IOSH members to manage a change in risk profile and drive positive change.

This excellent piece of work now forms the basis for membership grades and continuing professional development (CPD). Most importantly, it underpins the content of IOSH’s new qualifications. It provides a practical education so learners can ‘hit the ground running’ in their new roles.

Organisations benefit from competent occupational safety and health professionals. They give valuable advice on the practical actions that will lead to a reduction in accidents, improved compliance and often greater productivity. Many have even realised a positive change in culture. By effectively protecting worker safety and health, improvements in morale and engagement can be realised. Investing in the skill growth of safety professionals is an investment in the future success of the business.