Implementing KSF competency testing in primary care. Part 2: Evaluation of the pilot of an appraisal tool

Assessment of competence is a way of measuring if staff are fit for purpose. Clinical competences, against which performance is measured, have been developed in a wide range of clinical settings in recent years (Department of Health (DH), 2008). Several trusts also operate an assessment centre in the recruitment and selection of staff, and these frequently involve competency testing in order to be certain that their new recruits are fit for their post. Agenda for Change (DH, 2004a) firmly links pay to the competences expressed in the Knowledge and Skills Framework (DH, 2004b; c) yet the KSF has not been implemented in all trusts. In part 1 of this article (Bentley and Dandy-Hughes, 2010), the process of Southwark PCT's competency project was described. This involved the process of writing measurable, manageable competences from the KSF, in order to develop staff to be fit for purpose. Part 2 evaluates the use of the appraisal tool that was developed from the KSF, and examines the role of the nurse consultant in education who led the competency project.