Competency Self- Evaluation - Term Paper Example

?Running Head: PSYCHOLOGICAL COMPETENCE Competency self-evaluation Competency self-evaluation Knowledge and conversance with psychological procedure is essential to a graduate student level therefore a student should not only be equipped with minimal knowledge at best but ought to portray advanced knowledge in order to make a competent psychologist. Psychological competence has been defined in the American Psychological Association (APA) ethics and code of conduct which specifies the minimum requirements required of a clinical psychologist. Clinical psychologists are issued with licenses under the Clinical Psychologists Licensing Act and it is mandatory that they do not continue with education after being issued with the license. Minimal requirements are therefore essential in setting standards for competence since licensed psychologists often have to deal with diverse ethical dilemmas. The work of a psychologist is attached to value addition and these values are infused when someone specializes into studying psychology as a major. At the graduate level, students are taught the ethical code as specified in the act and its main function is to instill the learners with a value system as well as a clearly articulated behavioral and decisional rules. Although the students are taught new values for them to be adapted to the job market and meet the international requirements required of every psychology student at a graduate level, personality is often an added advantage. Personality is a key determinant when it comes to advanced knowledge and practicality of performance based on competence evaluation (http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/competency.aspx). Personality defines personal values that are not accounted for or defined in the Clinical Psychologists Licensing Act yet it is essential in practical work practice. The Ethics Code made in 2002, contains the detailed procedure with which psychologists need to familiarize with as a minimal requirement. The procedure consists of introduction, general principles, applicability section, enforceable standards and preamble sections. The enforceable standards section is specific in addressing issues to do with competence. Among the competencies required of graduates is that they should only perform i.e. teach , provide services or conduct research within areas of jurisdiction as dictated by their level of competence which is based on such parameters as education, supervised experience, training, study, consultation and professional experience (Kaslow & Grus, 2009, p 29). Unless faced with an emergence, psychologists need to obtain training in handling scientific or professional knowledge in the specified psychological disciplines such as sexual orientation, socio-economic status, national origin and gender identity etc. There is need to control preconceived personality profiling of future clients because it is helpful in guiding them into getting over preconceived notions that they have in their mind sets. Such notions will prevent someone from practicing what they believe is right and in the process hinder them from seizing opportunities to attain competence in their career development. According to a research, teachers teaching students at a remedial class often have a preconceived personality bias associated with teaching dumb children. In case the teacher was not aware or was duped into believing that he or she is teaching the best class yet they are not performing well, then the teacher will not justify her being good at teaching and blame it on the children undertaking their remedial lessons. On the other hand if the teachers are made to know that they are teaching remedial students they will misconceive them to be dumb and work on the assumption that the students are too thick to learn. The above example is a good case of preconceived personality profiling which can be a hindrance to a person’s psychology. In order to correct this defect among employees, an organization needs to hire appropriate manpower based on an appropriate level of profiling (Madson, 2009, p 55). The management needs to define expected experience, skills and job duties so as to employ the best employees for the duties at hand. In so doing issues such as preconceived personality profiling among employees will be reduced. Also, during the recruiting process, the manager in charge needs to include aspects of profiling found in the application forms, personal interview and resumes. After doing this, the manager will be better placed to match the right employees with right jobs based on competence hence reduce attrition rates, increase profitability and production. With such regulations being put in place, the National Council of Schools and Programs in Psychology (NCSPP) will be ready to support the organizations or clinicians that put in place such measures of eradicating competence problems created by preconceived personality profiling (Donovan, 2009, p 51). The National Council of Schools and Programs in Psychology (NCSPP) encourages psychologists to express high levels of competence while dealing with patients. NCSPP only recognizes organizations that are adhering to psychologists’ acts such as provision of services, teaching practices and conducting ethical research practices. Nursing as a profession has had severe transformations in the near future. Most medical services are now being performed by complicated technological gadgets which require a lot of skills. Training is one way of mastering the new skills and keeping up with the new trends being experienced in psychological and clinical industry. Gaining new skills in emerging areas in medical fields is essential since the skills will help a graduate know how to relate situations and solve the various ethical dilemmas that come with the psychologists work. In case of emerging situations, having patient care skills will help apply the generally recognized standards to save lives and protect clients and patients, and the organization from harm. Having patient handling skills is also necessary during emergencies where other mental health workers are not readily available. Psychologists may come in and step in to save lives instead of waiting for specialized services from mental healthcare workers. After salvaging the lives of the patients and ensuring that they are safe and sound, then they can forward them to get proper services from trained mental physicians. To achieve a professional level that is consistent with the Competence Assessment Toolkit for professional Psychologists, the psychologists need to refrain from initiating activities that they know they are not adequately equipped to handle (Roysircar, 2004, p 90). If there is likelihood that their personal bias might hinder their proper performing of duties, then they should seek help from other professions and experts. After the exercise is done, the psychologist will have to perform work related activities such as training to better them. Moreover since the license prohibits from further learning, they can consult or seek for specialized assistance and determined if there will be need some of the duties limited, suspended or terminated. Competence is crucial in performing psychological activities; it is ranked second after knowledge therefore all medical workers need to have a lifelong goal of gaining satisfactory standards of competence. There is much to learn and however much someone learns it is never enough so there is need to strive to be competent in each area of our lives. References Donovan, R. (2009). Identification and measurement of core competencies in professional psychology. New York: Walden Library. Kaslow, N & Grus, C. (2009). Competency assessment toolkit for professional psychology. New York: Walden Library. Madson, M. (2009). Competency benchmarks: a model of understanding and measuring competence in professional psychology across training levels. New York: Walden Library. Roysircar, G. (2004). Cultural self-awareness assessment: Practice examples from psychology training. Michigan: Research and Practice. http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/competency.aspx Read More