Table 2.

Competencies included in illustrative topics within Foundation and Behaviour Change Competency Domains

Foundation domain	Behaviour change domain
Topic F5: Ability to engage client	Topic BC1: Knowledge of health behaviour and health behaviour change
1. Ability to initiate a discussion about potential health behaviour problems	1. Knowledge of common health behaviour problems during assessment and when carrying out interventions, including knowledge of national guidelines for health behaviours, e.g. alcohol consumption limits, recommended physical activity levels, etc.
2. While maintaining professional boundaries, an ability to show appropriate levels of warmth, concern, confidence and genuineness, matched to client need	2. Knowledge of factors associated with the development and maintenance of health behaviours
3. An ability to engender trust	3. Knowledge of the usual patterns of health behaviour problems
4. An ability to develop rapport	4. Knowledge of the ways in which health behaviour problems can impact on health and functioning
5. An ability to convey an appropriate level of confidence and competence	5. Knowledge of the usual knowledge and misinformation that people may have about health behaviour problems
6. An ability to avoid negative interpersonal behaviours (such as impatience, aloofness, or insincerity)	6. Knowledge of main terms and concepts used in epidemiology and the basis of calculations related to these terms
7. An ability to adjust the level and structure of the session to the client’s needs	7. Knowledge of different models, principles and approaches to preventing risk and threats to population health
8. An ability to adapt personal style so that it meshes with that of the client	8. Knowledge of different models, principles and approaches to improving the health of individuals