PSPPOL501A
Develop organisation policy

This unit covers the development or review of 'in house' policy in an organisation, formulated to facilitate the implementation of government or board directives. It includes anticipating and confirming the need for policy development or review; planning the policy development process; gathering and analysing information; determining policy direction; and drafting, releasing and promoting policy. In practice, developing organisation policy may overlap with other generalist or specialist work activities such as developing client services, complying with public sector legislation, acting ethically, engaging the community, coordinating research and analysis.This unit combines and replaces and, for qualification purposes, is equivalent to PSPPOLD501A Develop organisation policy + PSPPOLD502A Manage the policy development process.

Application

Not applicable.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Anticipate and confirm the need for policy development or review

1.1 Internal and external factors, issues, events, directions or government/board policies likely to cause changes to organisation policy are identified

1.2 The likely implications and impact of these factors that might require policy development are identified in consultation with stakeholders

1.3 A critical analysis of the need for new or revised policy is conducted that includes a scan of the wider internal and external environment, that checks related policies for context and identifies other policies likely to be impacted

1.4 Priority areas for policy development/review are recommended in accordance with organisational procedures

1.5 Confirmation of the need for policy development/review and supporting evidence is detailed in accordance with organisational procedures

2. Plan the policy development process

2.1 The approving authority is confirmed and organisational procedures and protocols for policy development are confirmed and applied

2.2 Issues likely to impact on the policy development process are identified, analysed (in terms of risk) and addressed in policy development planning

2.3 Policyrequirements are outlined in a policy development plan in accordance with organisational procedures

3. Gather and analyse information for policy development

3.1 Stakeholders are identified and engaged through the establishment and maintenance of a representative and relevant policy network

3.2 Information required to support the policy development process is identified, gathered, analysed and interpreted

3.3 An analytical framework for the development of the policy is determined and applied

4. Determine policy direction

4.1 A range of policy options and criteria for choice are developed and communicated in a timely and understandable way to those responsible for selecting the policy direction

4.2 Where appropriate, specific policy options are promoted to executive within the organisation

4.3 Preferred policy option is recommended and risk treatments are determined in accordance with the policy development plan

4.4 Approvals/endorsements are obtained in accordance with the policy development plan and organisational procedures

5. Draft policy

5.1 Policy is drafted and a cyclical process of consultation, feedback, identification of changes and re-drafting is implemented in accordance with the policy development plan

5.2 Risk management processes are implemented in accordance with the policy development plan to ensure progress of the process against the timeframe and milestones

5.3 An implementation plan is included in the policy that details responsibilities for implementation and strategies for transition, change management, initial and ongoing training and maintenance of the policy

5.4 Mechanisms for monitoring compliance with the policy, quality assurance of the policy, and evaluation of the policy are included within the policy

5.5 The policy is developed in accordance with organisational requirements for style, format and contents

6. Release and promote policy

6.1 Policy is cleared through organisational channels, and agreement of critical stakeholders is gained in accordance with organisational procedures

6.2 All stakeholders, particularly those who will be responsible for implementing the new or revised policy, are fully informed of the outcomes, and fallout from dissenting stakeholders is managed in accordance with the policy development plan

6.3 The policy is released and promoted in accordance with organisational requirements

Required Skills

This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Skill requirements

Look for evidence that confirms skills in:

reading and evaluating complex and formal documents such as policy and legislation

researching, analysing and presenting information

preparing written reports requiring precision of expression and language and structures suited to the intended audience

working as a member of a team to consult on and validate policy

adjusting communication to suit different audiences

responding to diversity, including gender and disability

dealing with different points of view and dissenting stakeholders

accessing policies and legislation electronically or in hard copy

identifying and addressing the environmental, sustainability and occupational health and safety implications of policy/s being developed

Knowledge requirements

Look for evidence that confirms knowledge and understanding of:

policy development processes and practices in the public sector

policy cycles

analytical policy development frameworks

current policies underpinning the work area

organisation and government procedures and protocols

public sector code/s of ethics and code/s of conduct

equal employment opportunity, equity and diversity principles

environmental, sustainability and occupational health and safety implications of policy/s being developed

Evidence Required

The Evidence Guide specifies the evidence required to demonstrate achievement in the unit of competency as a whole. It must be read in conjunction with the Unit descriptor, Performance Criteria, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Public Sector Training Package.

Units to be assessed together

Pre-requisite unitsthat must be achieved prior to this unit:Nil

Co-requisite unitsthat must be assessed with this unit:Nil

Co-assessed units that may be assessed with this unit to increase the efficiency and realism of the assessment process include, but are not limited to:

PSPCOM502A Develop and implement community engagement strategies

PSPETHC501B Promote the values and ethos of public service

PSPGOV502B Develop client services

PSPGOV503B Coordinate resource allocation and usage

PSPGOV504B Undertake research and analysis

PSPGOV505A Promote diversity

PSPLEGN501B Promote compliance with legislation in the public sector

Overview of evidence requirements

In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms:

the knowledge requirements of this unit

the skill requirements of this unit

application of the Employability Skills as they relate to this unit (see Employability Summaries in Qualifications Framework)

development of organisation policy in a range of (2 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)

Resources required to carry out assessment

These resources include:

public sector policy and legislation

public sector standards, procedures and protocols

policy development guidelines

Where and how to assess evidence

Valid assessment of this unit requires:

a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered when developing policy, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and breakdowns in routine

development of organisation policy in a range of (2 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands, such as literacy, and the needs of particular groups, such as:

people with disabilities

people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

women

young people

older people

people in rural and remote locations

Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this competency may include, but are not limited to, a combination of 2 or more of:

case studies

portfolios

projects

questioning

scenarios

authenticated evidence from the workplace and/or training courses

For consistency of assessment

Evidence must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments


Range Statement

The Range Statement provides information about the context in which the unit of competency is carried out. The variables cater for differences between States and Territories and the Commonwealth, and between organisations and workplaces. They allow for different work requirements, work practices and knowledge. The Range Statement also provides a focus for assessment. It relates to the unit as a whole. Text in italics in the Performance Criteria is explained here.

Internal and external factors may include

internal:

restructuring

new service models

amalgamation with other departments/agencies

new work practices

external:

legislative changes

changing social trends

economic/technological change

Events may include

restructure

amalgamation

changes to legal risks

changes in strategic direction

changes to legislation and whole of government policies

pilots or trials of policy

Organisation policy may include

any aspect of an organisation's business, such as policies relating to:

core business

client services

business structure

human resources

administration

financial management

work practices

training

information technology

technical/professional requirements

legal requirements

environmental and sustainability practices

Stakeholders may include

all those individuals and groups both inside and outside the organisation that have some direct interest in the organisation's conduct, actions, products and services, including:

employees at all levels of the organisation

other public sector organisations

private sector organisations

non-government organisations

other jurisdictions

union and association representatives

boards of management

government

Ministers

clients

the public

special interest groups

Approving authority may include

chief executive officer

delegated officer, such as policy manager

senior management

board of management

managing director

Issues may include

political sensitivities

social and cultural sensitivities/factors

equity in service delivery and employment practice

resource implications (of policy implementation)

technological influences/implications

jurisdictional boundaries/crossovers

'sunk cost' restrictions

non-consenting stakeholders at the end of the policy development process

existing awards or agreements impacting on staff, including enterprise bargaining agreements

Policy requirements may be defined in terms of

context

rationale

issues to be addressed

expected outcomes

timeframe

research methods

resource requirements for development

key stakeholders

communication strategy

feedback mechanisms for review

milestones

precedents

risk analysis

possible complications

success measures

impact on equity

possible resource implications for implementation

Policy development plan may include

policy objectives/outcomes

timelines

methodology - a cyclical process of consultation, feedback, identification of changes, and re-drafting

stakeholders

risks/risk management

performance criteria to inform review and evaluation

dissemination and promotion activities

implementation issues

Establishment and maintenance of a policy network may include

communication and information strategy to capture required range of opinions

range of communication channels for providing information

range of input strategies for obtaining information

Information gathering may include

consulting with stakeholders, including specialists in relevant issues

focus groups

developments in other public sector or private sector organisations

evaluation of similar policies

benchmarking against other organisations/work functions

accessing information in current and closed files

surveys

literature reviews

Internet

Analytical frameworks may include

logical/rational (including best practice)

incremental

radical transformation

Criteria for choice of preferred policy option may include

likely effectiveness in terms of:

meeting policy objectives

minimising risks

impact on day-to-day implementation throughout the organisation

practicality at the coal-face

competing priorities in the workplace

constraints

structure and culture of the organisation

implementation timeframe and costs (including infrastructure)

interaction with other policies (existing or being developed)

consistency with broader government agendas

Organisational requirements for style, format and contents may require policies to be

forward-looking

outward-looking

principles-based

innovative, creative, flexible

evidence-based

inclusive

consistent

self-contained, with adequate coverage of the subject matter

accessible to the intended audience/understandable to all users

gender-neutral and written in non-discriminatory language

version-controlled to support evaluation and revision

Outcomes of the policy development process may include

nature of the policy change

the outcomes expected by stakeholders

issues

expected costs

timelines

contextual factors (including any impact on other related policies)

Promotion of policy may include

formal launch

information sessions

presentations

ongoing advice

intranet

web site

advertising where policy is located and how to access it


Sectors

Not applicable.


Competency Field

Policy


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.