Struggling with Training and Competence

[JodiB]

Until the time they are competent you need to do extra while they do work. This could include additional supervision or sign off of their work by a competent operator.

Fully agree. This is where you "unwrap yourself from the axle". They have to be competent in order to perform their work unsupervised. Until that time, while you are taking the necessary measures to get them competent, there must be a level of supervision of their work.

We used a Competency Evaluation Checklist, where knowledge, understanding, and demonstration of skills were checked as being either No, Yes, or With Supervision. These are easy to create. Simply look at the task and determine what sort of knowledge, understanding, and skills would be needed to satisfy you that they could perform the task/job competently. Give them an initial evaluation within the first week or two, and then create a training plan to address any shortcomings. And determine the type of supervision that would be appropriate. Then re-evaluate at a future time, and as often as needed/ desired until they are then deemed competent across the board.

When you are creating the evaluation checklist, don't forget things like HSE issues.