What are the key skills and competencies that you look for when hiring or promoting human services staff?

I look for the right attitude that fits into my organization - it is the will that drives the skill. I look for those traits that makes a person resilient and persistent in his/her intent to contribute meaningfully before seeking recognition.

When considering the hiring or promotion of human services staff, I prioritize a unique blend of empathy, adaptability, and effective communication. it's crucial to have individuals who can connect with others on a profound level, understanding the diverse challenges they may face. Adaptability is equally essential; the ability to navigate change and address unforeseen circumstances ensures a resilient and responsive team. Effective communication is the linchpin for success. It's not just about conveying information; it's about fostering a supportive and collaborative environment. These qualities, combined with a genuine passion for making a positive impact, are the key ingredients that I seek to cultivate within the human services team.

Effective communication is needed. Language barrier should be restricted. Communication is the language of leadership, doesn't matter in which language we communicate.

Problem-solving skills are essential for human services staff to be able to effectively support their clients. In addition to using case studies, role-plays and work examples, I have also given potential hires case studies to test their problem solving competencies to learn how they would navigate potential scenarios.

After many years of being apart of multidisciplinary teams in various settings and also leading teams, I feel that it is team work skills Team work skills are an essential part of human service staff’s skill set. Effective team work allows staff to coordinate efforts, share responsibilities, and work together to better meet the needs of their clients. It also helps foster a culture of collaboration, understanding and trust within teams, which is necessary for providing quality care. Additionally, team work skills help human service staff develop the interpersonal relationships needed to identify and understand the root causes of a client's problem in order to resolve it in a timely manner.

In my experience, having ethical skills are essential for human service workers, as they provide the framework needed to ensure effective, competent and ethical practice in the social work profession. Ethical skills help human service workers maintain professional integrity and protect the safety of their clients. Ethical skills also ensure human service workers are able to identify and act on any potential ethical dilemmas that may arise in their work. As such, having strong ethical skills is a vital component of providing quality care to their clients.

I totally agree with this ! Technical skills are an essential component of effective human service practice. Technical skills help human service workers to understand and use the tools, resources, and technology needed to carry out their work. Technical skills also help human service workers build relationships with clients and provide them with meaningful, evidence-based interventions. Having strong technical skills is key to providing quality services that meet the needs of all individuals. As technology evolves so must the skills of all providers that interact with the clients they serve in order to maintain a strong delivery system.

Personalities are key for me to hire someone - it is key. I do not want people with experience with personal skills of a chair. We are building leaders, we need people with the right personal skills (soft skills) to help you move the team forward as a group.

A critical consideration for me when hiring is the ability of the new hire to bring a fresh perspective to what we are currently doing. When promoting, I am interested in someone already punching above their recognised 'weight' and commitment to the organisation's values and bottomline. There are times though that I could promote someone to a higher level of responsibility to allow them unlock more of their hidden potential and grow into a new role.

In addition to all that the article has talked about, Multi-cultural competence is another skill that should be considered. Being a Human Service staff means, one will have to work with clients from different background.

Attitude, mindset and cultural understanding,making a serious effort to be part of a team whose output is much more than the proverbial sum of its parts...

"Ownership" which, though, is often considered a mindset or a characteristic more than a specific skill. However, it is a crucial aspect of an individual's approach to work and can be reflected in various skills and behaviours. I believe individuals who exhibit ownership contribute positively to the organization's culture and are more likely to drive projects and tasks to successful completion.