Competency Profile for CADA Councillors

Diverse Dental Assisting Experiences

• general and/or specialty dental practice
• administrative
• education
• sedation/general anesthetic
• emerging technologies
• dental sales and/or service
• insurance

Governance Experiences

• condo, community group, association board
• meeting proceedings
• policy development and implementation
• separation of management and governance functions

Business Management Experiences

• understands how groups, teams and individuals function
• understands operational systems and processes
• anticipates impact of decisions on the organization, stakeholders, the public and individuals
• considers legislation, legal responsibilities and fairness

Human Resources Experiences

• understands employment legislation
• supervisory experience
• familiar with employment contracts
• differentiates between employer rights and employee rights

Financial Experiences

• understands the difference between statement of financial position and statement of operations
• understands the budget process
• relates progress on strategic initiatives to budget

Risk Management Experiences

• understands the benefits and limitations of insurances
• understands privacy and confidentiality requirements
• understands vulnerabilities/security in digital technology

Public Relations Experiences

• ability to establish and maintain respectful relationships
• committed to and supportive of the profession
• committed to and supportive of the College and the Council

Volunteer Experiences

• demonstrates successful volunteer experiences in a variety of settings
• understands the commitment required to be a successful volunteer
• willing and able to prepare for, attend and participate in activities of Council and the College

Trends in Dentistry

• understands evolving best practices
• knowledge of the current standard of care and patient-centred care

Emerging Technology

• understands the impact of new technologies on dental assisting practice
• proactively evaluates professional development needs and opportunities with respect to new procedures and equipment

Dental Industry Expectations and Needs

• ability to envision the dental assistant of the future
• ability to anticipate the regulatory environment to support the dental assistant of the future

Trends in Dental Workplaces

• anticipates changes in the workforce environment or the practice environment of dental assistants
• anticipates changing competencies to ensure dental assistants continue to provide safe, competent care in evolving environment

Leadership

• ability to engage colleagues and create effective teams
• communicates effectively
• inspires
• mentors new Councillors
• effectively evaluates performance of self, Council as a whole and Registrar & CEO

Teamwork

• supports and encourages colleagues
• creates inclusive environment
• recognizes Council’s authority is as a whole, no individual authority to make decisions

Strategic Thinking

• forward thinking, to anticipate health care developments that impact dental assistants
• visualizes challenges and opportunities from a variety of perspectives
• ability to visualize more than one future and evaluate potential outcomes

Strategic Planning

• the ability to create pathways to achieve the goals identified in strategic thinking

Critical Thinking

• the ability to identify multiple solutions to complex issues
• the ability to evaluate information impartially

Problem Solving

• the ability to research and adapt based on sound data
• the ability to envision desired outcomes and find ways to achieve them

Professionalism

• understands and abides by the Council Code of Conduct and Oath of Office
• respectful, thoughtful and productive member of Council
• respects confidentiality
• prepares thoroughly for meetings
• understands the College role and responsibilities
• understands and follows governing legislation, bylaws, mission, vision and values
• willingly participates in professional development opportunities to enhance and improve performance as Councillor

Ethical

• impartial, unbiased
• recognize, declare, avoid conflicts of interest
• reflect before making important decisions:
• consider who will be impacted by decisions, what is motivating my response, laws, policies and expectations related to issues
• acts in the best interest of the College, following governing legislation
• represents the profession as a whole not individuals or sub-groups of dental assistants
• maintains professional boundaries

Respect

• the ability to separate issues from persons
• arrives on time and prepared for meetings and events
• listens when others are speaking, refraining from sidebar conversations or disruptive behaviours

Communication

• expresses opinions and participates in meetings openly, honestly and with respect
• listens thoughtfully to the opinions and concerns of others

Decision-making

• effectively makes decisions by obtaining and evaluating all applicable information
• employs effective decision-making strategies
• seeks expert advice as necessary
• supports the decisions of Council