Core Competencies

Developmental Services Workforce InitiativeThe Provincial NetworkOntario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services

Core Competencies reflect the needs of our workforce by recognizing the professional nature of Developmental Services, recruiting the right people, building leadership capacity and ultimately enhancing the lives of the people we support.

Developmental Services Workforce Initiative

The Developmental Services Workforce Initiative was formed with the focus to address one aspect of Journey to Belonging: Choice and Inclusion, namely, Planning for a Skilled Workforce. This part of the plan is about supporting a skilled, diverse and professional workforce that will help people participate meaningfully in their communities and live good lives.

Modernizing the Core Competencies is one component to support this outcome.

Core Competencies are available in English and French.

Visit the Developmental Services Workforce Initiative Page to learn more.

Explore Core Competencies
Explorer les Compétences de base

Monthly Core Competency Café

The Core Competency Café is a limited series of events taking place virtually.

Please Note: The Core Competency Café is open to and geared toward those who are leading the implementation of the new Core Competencies within their agency, families who hire their own staff , and members of colleges.

Core Competency Cafe

Date & Time: Thursday September 3, 2026; 12:00PM – 1:00PM EST
Topic: Core Competency Cafe – Core Competencies and Practical Leadership at Karis Disability Services

Join us for a 1-hour interactive session to discuss and share information or ideas on how people are implementing Core Competencies across the province. This is a time to come together, hear more about the intentions of the work and learn from each other about emerging practices to roll out this work.

Register Here!

Core Competency Café Presentations

Session TopicDateVideo RecordingResources
Core Competencies and the Emerging Leaders Program at Karis Disability ServicesMay 14, 2026Click Here for RecordingN/A
Lancement de la version française du site des compétences de base en services de développement ! (Launching the French Core Competencies Website)March 5, 2026Click Here for RecordingN/A
Spotlighting Core Competency Website ResourcesFebruary 19, 2026Click Here for RecordingN/A
Spotlighting the Strategic Thinking CompetencyMay 20, 2025Click Here for RecordingN/A
Spotlighting the Resource Management CompetencyApril 16, 2025Click Here for RecordingN/A
Spotlighting the Valuing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion CompetencyMarch 12, 2025Click Here for RecordingClick here for PowerPoint Presentation
Spotlighting the Resilience CompetencyFebruary 12, 2025Click Here for RecordingClick here for PowerPoint Presentation
Spotlighting the Problem Solving & Decision Making CompetencyJanuary 15, 2025Click Here for RecordingClick Here for The Martian Video Clip
Spotlighting the Inclusive Leadership CompetencyNovember 13, 2024Click Here for RecordingClick Here for Inclusive Leadership Definition Video
Click Here for Ted Lasso Video Clip
Spotlighting the Facilitating Growth and Development CompetencyOctober 16, 2024Click Here for RecordingClick Here for Facilitating Growth and Development Definition Video
Click Here for Karate Kid 2 Basic of Life Video
Spotlighting the Championing Change and Innovation CompetencySeptember 18, 2024Click Here for RecordingClick Here for Championing Change and Innovation Definition Video
Click Here for Ted Lasso Edited Change Video
Spotlighting the Building Relationships CompetencyJuly 8, 2024Click here for RecordingN/A
Spotlighting the Advocacy CompetencyMay 29, 2024Click here for RecordingClick here for Advocacy Definition Video
Click here for Erin Brockovich Video
Streamlining Implementation: Core Competency Templates for Busy ProfessionalsApril 29, 2024Click here for RecordingClick here for PowerPoint presentation
Meet Corey Competency!March 27, 2024Click here for RecordingN/A
Mentorship & CoachingJanuary 17, 2024Click here for recordingClick here for PowerPoint presentation
How to Get Buy-InDecember 4, 2023Click here for recordingClick here for PowerPoint presentation
Sharing Your Core Competency Implementation JourneyOctober 18, 2023Click here for recordingN/A
Self-AssessmentsJune 7, 2023Click here for recordingN/A
Behavioural-Based InterviewingMay 3, 2023Click here for recordingN/A
Ideas on How to Create a Core Competencies Implementation Plan for your WorkplaceApril 5, 2023Click here for recordingClick here for documents
Click here for infographic documents
Examining the Core Competencies' Growth StagesMarch 1, 2023Click here for recordingClick here for documents
IntroductionFebruary 1, 2023Click here for recordingClick here for documents

Share the resources and tools you’re using to implement Core Competencies with other agencies across the DS Sector.

Core Competency Resources

Document Name
Individual Core Competencies – At A Glance
Core Competencies - Advocacy
Core Competencies - Building Relationship
Core Competencies - Championing Change and Innovation
Core Competencies - Facilitating Growth and Development
Core Competencies - Inclusive Leadership
Core Competencies - Problem Solving and Decision Making
Core Competencies - Resilience
Core Competencies - Resource Management
Core Competencies - Strategic Thinking
Core Competencies - Valuing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Core Competencies - Introduction
Core Competencies - Introduction to Core Competencies PowerPoint Presentation
Core Competencies - Core Competencies Detailed PowerPoint Presentation
Core Competencies - Core Competencies Abridged PowerPoint Presentation
Core Competencies - Dictionary (2022)
Core Competencies - Roll Out Work Plan
Core Competencies - Implementation Plan and Introduction to the Mentorship Program
Core Competencies - Poster
Core Competencies - Posters
Core Competencies Activity - Crossword
Core Competencies - Newsletters
Core Competencies - Newsletter Intro
Core Competencies - Newsletter - Volume 1
Core Competencies - Newsletter - Volume 2
Core Competencies - Newsletter - Volume 3
Core Competencies - Newsletter - Volume 4
Core Competencies - Newsletter - Volume 5
Core Competencies - Onboarding
Core Competencies - Sample Job Description
Core Competencies - Sample Job Interview Questions
Core Competencies - Behaviour Based Interview Package
Core Competencies - Behaviour Based Interview Guide
Core Competencies - Interview Package
Core Competencies - Pre-Employment Reference Check
Core Competencies - Development Resource Guide (2022)
Core Competencies - Discussion Planner
Core Competencies - Performance Review
Core Competencies - Demonstrated Core Competency Review
Core Competencies - RECOGNIZED! Nomination Form
Core Competencies - Identifying Codable Data Exercise - Answers
Core Competency - Valuing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
Core Competencies - Valuing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Definition - Detailed Version
Core Competencies - Valuing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Definition - Abridged Version
Core Competencies - Valuing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Poster
Core Competency - Strategic Thinking
Core Competencies - Strategic Thinking Definition - Detailed Version
Core Competencies - Strategic Thinking Definition - Abridged Version
Core Competencies - Strategic Thinking Poster
Core Competencies - Strategic Thinking Activity - Thinking to Develop
Core Competency - Resource Management
Core Competencies - Resource Management Definition - Detailed Version
Core Competencies - Resource Management Definition - Abridged Version
Core Competencies - Resource Management Poster
Core Competencies - Resource Management Activity - How to Play Legos
Core Competency - Resilience
Core Competencies - Resilience Definition - Detailed Version
Core Competencies - Resilience Definition - Abridged Version
Core Competency - Problem Solving and Decision Making
Core Competencies - Problem Solving and Decision Making Definition - Detailed Version
Core Competencies - Problem Solving and Decision Making Definition - Abridged Version
Core Competencies - Problem Solving and Decision Making Poster
Core Competencies - Problem Solving and Decision Making Activity - Steps for Problem Solving

Core Competency - Inclusive Leadership
Core Competencies - Inclusive Leadership Definition - Detailed Version
Core Competencies - Inclusive Leadership Definition - Abridged Version
Core Competencies - Inclusive Leadership Poster
Core Competencies - Inclusive Leadership Activity - Building a Bridge of Respect
Core Competency - Facilitating Growth and Development
Core Competencies - Facilitating Growth and Development Definition - Detailed Version
Core Competencies - Facilitating Growth and Development Definition - Abridged Version
Core Competencies - Facilitating Growth and Development - Poster
Core Competencies - Facilitating Growth and Development Activity - Design Your Ideal Day
Core Competencies - Facilitating Growth and Development Activity - Personal Goal Setting

Core Competency - Championing Change and Innovation
Core Competencies - Championing Change and Innovation Definition - Detailed Version
Core Competencies - Championing Change and Innovation Definition - Abridged Version
Core Competency - Building Relationships
Core Competencies - Building Relationship Definition - Detailed Version
Core Competencies - Building Relationship Definition - Abridged Version
Core Competencies - Building Relationship - Poster
Core Competencies - Building Relationship Activity - Team Collaboration
Core Competency - Advocacy
Core Competencies - Advocacy Definition - Detailed Version
Core Competencies - Advocacy Definition - Abridged Version
Core Competencies - Advocacy Newsletter
Core Competencies - Advocacy - Poster
Core Competencies - Advocacy - Poster
Core Competencies - Advocacy Personal or Team Activity - Scenario
Core Competencies - Advocacy Activity - Matching
Core Competencies - Advocacy Activity - Advice
Core Competencies - Advocacy Activity - Word Search