Developing a practice profile as a tool to support professionals

Aim: This presentation will discuss practice profiles as a tool to support professionals to better deliver evidence-based effective components. A practice profile describes the activities of professionals in a specific setting and in a concrete and ‘action-based manner.’ This provides a tool to support ‘learning on the job.’ We will describe what a practice profile is, how it can be developed in co-creation and what benefits it provides for professionals. Relevance: Currently, there is a lack of action-based knowledge regarding the delivery of evidence-based effective components of interventions or programs. As a consequence, professionals are aware of the importance of delivering certain elements but are unequipped to actually deliver those elements in a context-appropriate manner. It is therefore important to improve our understanding of how to support professionals to acquire and develop this action-based knowledge. Method and findings: We developed a practice profile for professionals working in a residential setting for young people, and a practice profile for volunteers providing support to families with young children. We will discuss the steps undertaken to develop these practice profiles, which included a review of the literature / documentation, interviews, and vetting during work sessions with various stakeholders. We will also show how the practice profile can be applied in various ways, for example as a tool to coach students, or as a card game to use during supervision. Both practice profiles are currently being pilot tested in clinical practice. Initial findings regarding their applicability will be shared
during the session.