COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK for Managers and Team Leaders

November 2011

Introduction
These new competencies have been developed in consultation with line managers and team leaders and are designed to be used as a tool when recruiting and developing staff. Whats different? The first thing youll notice is that there are general Core Commitments this incorporates the Managers Charter and staff behaviours.

Themes the competencies are divided into 5 themes: Leadership Managing Performance o Sets clear and challenging objectives with teams and individuals o Encourages high performance o Recognises achievements Managing Resources Managing Yourself and Your Development Managing Change and Quality

Levels Within each theme there are three levels depending on your job grade. They are displayed on the same page so it is clear what is expected in order to progress. The first level is for business support staff who have responsibility for supervising people. The middle column is for managers on grades H-F and the last column for managers on grades E A. The implication is that if you are within grade E A that you are expected to demonstrate the behaviours described in all the levels. Similarly if you are in grades H F you are expected to demonstrate the behaviours described in Supervisory level in addition to those described in the middle column.

How and when should competencies be used? Right from the start! Competencies are used at the selection process for a new post and then as part of reviewing performance during the probationary period, with the mentor and then later at the appraisal meeting. Management/Supervisory training will be structured around these competencies and learning opportunities available to meet development needs identified. The new competencies will be used for the next appraisal year 2012 for appraisals in 2011 use the old competencies. Probation forms will be amended and can be used from November 2011 onwards. In the selection interview or performance review meeting you will be asked to think of specific examples of where and when you have demonstrated effective performance in each competency. For example the supervisory level on Managing Performance one of the factors looks at agreeing SMART targets you could describe here a situation of how you went about setting targets for yourself and your team. Where you know you have an area for development, you should share this with your line manager so that support can be discussed and put in place.

Who should use them? Any member of staff from grade 4 upwards who has responsibility for managing or supervising other staff. Staff who do not supervise others should use the revised business support competencies.

CORE COMMITMENTS
You: Adopt professional, moderate and respectful demeanour in language and working relationships Are punctual and properly prepared for classes, meetings and the working day Adopt ambassadorial roles by attending College events, promoting the College in good light at every opportunity, and positively seeking opportunities to contribute to the Colleges reputation Challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviours Wear ID at all times Wear appropriate dress should be smart casual as a minimum, appropriate to the setting Are honest and trustworthy Maintain confidentiality and comply with Data Protection legislation Act with courage and integrity at all times Keep promises and honour commitments, giving a reliable service Are patient and even tempered

LEADERSHIP - The ability to lead, inspire and influence others with integrity and trust
Business Support Grades with team leader responsibility You lead by example, and show personal enthusiasm by explaining why things need doing and creating a sense of common purpose You develop an awareness of your own leadership style Managers grades H - F Managers grades E - A

You adopt and embrace the College vision You develop an exciting and clearly defined and values in both thought and action vision of the future and communicate this well You consistently use positive language which inspires others, creating an energetic environment which is enjoyable to work in You are a role model who does the right things and leads from the front your

You inspire others to achieve common goals with excitement, enthusiasm and commitment You are prepared to speak up when others You use a range of leadership styles are not behaving appropriately appropriate to different people and situations

You treat people fairly and respectfully, You are assertive and not afraid to challenge You are flexible and can adapt exerting authority when required. people constructively leadership approach to any situation.

You keep up to date and abreast of new You own and deliver difficult messages when You do things wholeheartedly, with passion developments that are relevant to your role. the College requires you to do so and enthusiasm and expect high standards of others You show pride in the College name and the You are an expert in your field or discipline You are seen as objective and professional, services that it offers, showing total dealing with things firmly and fairly commitment to the College vision. You collaborate across all functions of the College, and work actively to create synergy You develop an atmosphere professionalism and mutual support of

MANAGING PERFORMANCE - Sets clear and challenging objectives with teams and individuals, encourages high performance and recognises achievements
Sets clear & challenging objectives with teams and individuals Business Support Grades with team leader responsibility You clearly agree what is expected of others, building team morale and encouraging others to perform You plan work around agreed priorities Managers grades H - F You are able to negotiate and agree what is expected from others and maintain accountability. You prioritise objectives and plan work to make best use of time and resources Managers grades E - A

You plan and delegate work for maximum effectiveness and efficiency and to agreed organisational goals and priorities You identify, negotiate and agree the requirements of internal and external stakeholders and plan and prioritise for these to be met You recognise how other departments You identify and show a good understanding of You act promptly in a crisis, facilitating the contribute to your area and build relationships the needs of your internal/external customers team to develop proposed actions and to and other stakeholders, and manage these take the lead where necessary effectively You agree SMART targets for yourself and your You set demanding but achievable objectives You take an strategic approach to objective for yourself and others, and monitor them. setting, linking it to the longer term team and monitor them. direction of the College, and recognising the needs of stakeholders You are an active participant in the College You manage the appraisal process, SAR plans You act as a positive role model in appraisal and planning processes and observation process effectively and embracing and endorsing the College proactively appraisal, SAR and observation processes, ensuring these are well executed and keep to agreed time scales You deal with poor performance before it You constructively tackle poor performance You confront performance and behavioural escalates and inappropriate behaviour issues and ensure they are satisfactorily resolved You show an understanding of your customers You show an understanding of internal and needs external factors that affect performance

MANAGING PERFORMANCE - Sets clear and challenging objectives with teams and individuals, encourages high performance and recognises achievements
Encourages High Performance

Business Support Grades with team leader responsibility You show respect for the views and actions of others You encourage team members to take responsibility for their actions You manage performance through coaching and give constructive feedback You make informed and realistic decisions

Managers grades H - F You keep people informed of plans and developments You encourage and enable people to take responsibility and exercise initiative You monitor results following coaching and give time to provide regular and balanced feedback You take and implement timely decisions that are realistic, even when the situation is uncertain and information incomplete

Managers grades E - A You actively encourage the contribution of others and take their views into account You share problems and prompt decisions from others You use coaching and mentoring to improve performance

You consider all options and make sound even unpopular - business decisions, taking the strategic view, even when faced with ambiguity You react appropriately and promptly to You recognise when there are conflicts, and You are able to defuse difficult situations conflict when it arises facilitate a positive outcome and are sensitive of the impact on others You flag up problems quickly and propose You respond quickly to crises and problems You act with integrity, solutions with a proposed course of action consistency with your team You take responsibility for directing people towards those who can help You take responsibility for the actions of your team fairness and

MANAGING PERFORMANCE - Sets clear and challenging objectives with teams and individuals, encourages high performance and recognises achievements
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Recognises Achievements

Business Support Grades with team leader Managers grades H - F responsibility You take a visible interest in how staff are You are receptive to the opinions and performing, encouraging them to identify suggestions of others, encouraging everyone how they can improve to play a part, recognising the opportunities presented by diversity. You show respect for the views and actions You take every opportunity to recognise of others, making a point of recognising and those who produce good work and role acknowledging good work model the right behaviours You seek to understand the needs of your team

Managers grades E - A You take the well being of staff seriously

You give appropriate and balanced recognition and provide your team with the opportunity to share their achievements

MANAGING RESOURCES Make efficient and effective use of ALL available resources

Business Support Grades with team leader Managers grades H - F Managers grades E - A responsibility You collect and manage information You develop systems to gather and manage You oversee information systems to ensure effectively and efficiently, ensuring you fully information and knowledge effectively, integrity of data and that they continue to be understand what is required efficiently and ethically fit for purpose You identify possible implications unrelated information and act upon it from You manage financial budgets efficiently, You challenge for meaningful information being prudent with limited resources when the situation is unclear

You understand what you are authorised to do You show determination to obtain concrete You look to draw sound conclusions from and take ownership information in an ambiguous situation incomplete or unrelated information You make information available as quickly as You are able to pull together seemingly You are not afraid to challenge the status quo possible to those with legitimate requests unrelated data and information and identify where the limits of your authority no longer patterns or meaning seem appropriate You make best use of all available resources You act within the limits of your authority, You ensure that your teams respond in a knowing the boundaries timely manner to legitimate information requests You make appropriate information and You benchmark best practice in resource knowledge available promptly to those who utilisation and facilitate access to sources of need it, retaining confidentiality improved support You make best use of available resources and proactively seek new sources of support when necessary You work collaboratively with others, actively sharing good practice

MANAGING YOURSELF AND YOUR DEVELOPMENT - Takes responsibility for managing own performance and strives for personal improvement
Business Support Grades with team leader Managers grades H - F Managers grades E - A responsibility You have the ability to multi-task, keeping You take personal responsibility for making You act as a role model showing courage and positive with an attention on whatever job is things happen integrity at all times in hand You are open friendly, respectful and polite You are able to deal with many different You drive the organisation forward and take adopting a people come first approach needs and wants without losing focus personal responsibility for making things happen You take personal responsibility for the work You show an awareness of your own values, You address demands from multiple you do, considering the impact of your motivations and emotions stakeholders without losing focus actions on others You set personal targets and follow through You agree achievable objectives for yourself You show an awareness of your own values, and give a consistent and reliable motivations and emotions, and the impact of performance these upon your work and working relationships You recognise your own strengths and You recognise your own strengths and You agree stretching but achievable limitations and know when to ask for help, limitations, and minimise the impact of your objectives for yourself and give a consistent listening to and acting on feedback limitations and reliable performance that meets or exceeds expectations You make time to reflect on what you have You give people opportunities to provide You recognise your own strengths and learned from your work experiences feedback and respond appropriately limitations, and minimise the impact of your limitations You remain calm under pressure You develop and maintain a network of You actively seek feedback and negotiate contacts outside and across the organisation improvements

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MANAGING YOURSELF AND YOUR DEVELOPMENT - Takes responsibility for managing own performance and strives for personal improvement
Business Support Grades with team leader Managers grades H - F Managers grades E - A responsibility You reflect and learn from the Management You reflect regularly on your own experiences You take time to reflect regularly on your Development training, Inset days and and use these to guide future action own performance and set targets for essential training, and put into everyday use. improvement You are confident in your own skills and You are punctual and present a professional You are able to control your emotions in stressful situations abilities, remaining calm under pressure image at all times You communicate in a concise and fluent manner, being confident invoicing your opinions. You facilitate or lead group discussions in a confident manner You present information logically and, You promote and support Management concisely in ways that promote understanding Development training , Inset days and essential training You reflect and learn from Management You prepare thoroughly and use a range of Development training, Inset days and communication styles when presenting essential training, and encourage others to do information to different groups the same You model behaviour that shows respect, You communicate by using examples, helpfulness and cooperation comparisons and benchmarks You project an air of enthusiastic confidence You can relate to people at all levels, taking time to establish common ground You deliver presentations informative, well paced You have the confidence to admit mistakes and accept constructive criticism

MANAGING CHANGE & QUALITY - Responds positively to changing circumstances and consistently works to high standards, always looking for ways to improve
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MANAGING CHANGE - Responds positively to changing circumstances Business Support Grades with team Managers grades H - F Managers grades E - A leader responsibility You are flexible and receptive to change, You recognise changes in circumstances You respond positively to changing business reacting quickly and implementing promptly and adjust plans and activities circumstances and readily adapt your accordingly behaviour to maintain effective positively performance You are able to change current work plans You are open minded, and take change in You make the best of a new situation even if they are not working your stride, embracing it in a positive when it is a difficult one, driving the manner change forward in a positive manner You are able to identify your key tasks in a You look for implications in a change change project programme and delve deeper, considering the what ifs, and the impact on other areas. You highlight problems and make You think outside the square and beyond improvement suggestions. the College for new ideas to improve your work You concentrate on the key issues in a change programme, without getting bogged down in the detail You see the bigger picture, anticipate challenges and obstacles and plan to overcome them

You find practical ways to overcome You produce and recognise imaginative and You engage your teams and encourage barriers innovative solutions them to challenge ways of working and implement improvements You recognise recurring problems and You show an interest in the future and promote changes to structures, systems recognise the potential impact this will and processes to resolve these. have College-wide You ensure that there are processes in place to validate the reliability of information

MANAGING QUALITY - Consistently works to high standards, always looking for ways to improve
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Business Support Grades with team leader responsibility

Managers grades H - F

Managers grades E - A You take pride in co-ordinating delivery of high quality work the

You take pride in delivering work that You take pride in delivering high quality work, and invest time in checking details meets or exceeds the expected standards for accuracy, validity and reliability You create streamlined processes to You question processes and challenge rules deliver a quality service that are inefficient and stand in the way You pay attention to detail and ensure tasks are completed accurately and on time You constantly seek to develop and improve performance You are keen to adopt improvements and procedures

You champion improvements in performance by enhancing processes and service standards

quality You follow things through to ensure they are completed.

You suggest better ways of doing things for You use imagination to solve problems and the greater good of the College are alert to opportunities to improve the quality of provision You balance urgency with a strong sense of You adopt and promote best practice quality and efficiency across the College You are vigilant for potential risks

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