Achieving human service outcomes through competency-based training: a guide for managers.

During the past three decades, empirically supported strategies have been demonstrated for the training of competencies--highly specific skills and behaviors that are needed to complete a critical job task. The present article reviews several examples of competency-based training in human service programs and provides guidelines for the implementation of competency-based training by managers. Four methods for delineating a competency model are described, with recommendations for using them in combination. A sample direct support worker competency is described, and a guideline is provided for conducting competency-based training on the job based on the findings of research on performance-based feedback. This guide may offer some assistance to managers of human service programs.