Introduction
The term ‘non-technical skills’ (also called
Crew Resource Management skills) came
from the European aviation regulator in
the 1990s, in relation to individual airline
pilots’ skills. This concept is now used to
underpin training and workplace-based
assessment in a number of safety-critical
occupations,1-3 including healthcare.
Non-technical skills can be defined as ‘the
cognitive, social and personal resource
skills that complement technical skills,
and contribute to safe and efficient task
performance’.4
The following non-technical skills are
typically required in clinical settings:
− situational awareness
− decision making/problem solving
− leadership
− teamwork
− communication
− managing stress and fatigue.
The precise set of non-technical skills for a
given occupation needs to be customised
for the clinical tasks, workplace conditions
and the organisational/professional
culture. A more detailed description of
the psychological background to the main
non-technical skill categories can be found
in Flin et al (2008).4
Non-technical skills are protective against
human fallibilities and consequent adverse
events. They are not new or mysterious
behaviours. In fact, they represent what
the safest and most efficient workers do
on a consistent basis and the rest of us do
‘on a good day’. They help to reduce errors,
increase the capture of errors and can aid