March 24, 2011 |

Department of Labor Releases Core Competencies for LTC Workers

The U.S. Department of Labor announced this week the release of the “Long-Term Care, Supports and Services Competency Model” for identifying core competencies required of workers who provide long-term care and assistive services. An interactive graphic with text descriptions of each competency is available here.

“Competency models outline the knowledge and skills needed by workers in specific industries, and are helpful tools to ensure that our workforce is prepared to fill important occupations,” said Jane Oates, assistant secretary for the Employment and Training Administration. “There is a growing need for professionals who enhance the health and well-being of people with disabilities, and care providers who work with aging adults, enabling them to live self-determined lives.”

The LTCSS model describes the academic, workplace, and technical competencies required for workers who provide social services, community supports, and healthcare services for those in need.

Expert organizations that weighed in on the model’s development include: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Health Care Association, the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, the American Network of Community Options and Resources, the College of Direct Support, the National Center for Assisted Living, the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration, the University of Alaska-Anchorage Center for Human Development, and the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals.

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