2025 - November and December - page 12
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| Issue number | 404 |
|---|---|
| ISSN | 2632-7171 |
| Publication date | 1st November 2025 |
| Transcription |
magazine Professional Development News Professional Registration News Chris Sheriden discusses the launch of new ARA competency frameworks ARA has launched three competency frameworks to support the professional development of Archivists, Archive Conservators and Records Managers, as well as those in related roles across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Building on the original framework launched in 2017, the new frameworks were developed during an extensive consultation with the sector during 2023 and 2024. Their purpose is to develop national standards of competence for record keepers, outlining the knowledge and skills needed to carry out record-keeping roles effectively across traditional and digital, mixed collections and records. They’re a useful tool for professional development and for improving everyday practice, reflecting the wide range of roles and career paths in the sector. The frameworks are also interconnected, recognising that record keepers will build competencies from more than one framework as their careers progress. Why create new frameworks? Many professions in the UK and Ireland use competency frameworks to help them stay relevant by guiding the education and professional development of students and professionals. Frameworks, therefore, need to be reviewed to ensure those professions stay relevant as the economy, technology, regulation and good practice impact on what we do and how we do it. ARA’s review led to the creation of three frameworks, recognising the need for clearer definitions of records management and archive conservation competencies. This work also informs ARA’s university programme accreditation process and the Archive Conservation Training Scheme. The new frameworks follow the structure of the original framework, with each competency described at five levels and each level illustrated with some activities that support career development and underpin ARA’s professional registration routes — Foundation, Registered and Fellow. Alongside consulting with record keepers and employers, we reviewed 100 record-keeping job descriptions 12 advertised in 2023 and 2024. We found that 97% of the person specifications specified communication as a key competency, followed by planning and organisation (59%), digital (45%), staff management (including volunteers) 40%, customer service (35%), problem solving (25%) and project management (24%). Other requirements were managing budgets and outreach. Getting started The Archivist framework includes 27 competencies, while the Records Manager and Archive Conservator frameworks each have 26. Competencies in the Archivist and Records Manager frameworks are grouped into three main areas, whereas the Archive Conservator framework has four. All three frameworks share the Organisational and Management area, a key area where the three disciplines intersect. These competencies cover the strategic and managerial context of a service, your awareness and actions within it, setting aims and objectives, managing resources (financial, people, skills, equipment and spaces), professional development and team performance. The other areas focus on competence in archival, records management or archive conservation practice. These areas are then organised under Functions, such as ‘Governance, Leadership and Management’ and then broken down into specific competencies, like ‘aims and objectives’ or ‘working with people.’ A good place to start is by looking at the competencies most relevant to your role or organisation, then reflecting on your strengths, how you want your career and practice to grow and the competencies you’d like to develop. Employers should encourage their staff to do the same. The framework can also be used by employers to develop job descriptions and person specifications, plan staff training and create competency-based interview questions. Professional registration The new frameworks will continue to underpin the route to professional registration. ARA members currently |