The SoR has welcomed the Non-Surgical Oncology Advanced Practice Area Specific Capability and Curriculum Framework, developed by the Centre for Advancing Practice.
Since 2020, the Non-Surgical Oncology Advanced Practice Area Specific Capability and Curriculum Framework (NSO) has been in development, with backing from Health Education Northeast and Cumbria (HEENE) and the Northern Cancer Alliance (NCA).
The project focused on developing a training curriculum for advanced practitioners in non-surgical oncology to support workforce innovation in the Northeast of England.
'To ensure they were represented'
This initiative was prompted by a 2019 service review by the NCA, which highlighted risks to service delivery due to challenges in accessing a suitable skill mix within the workforce.
Initially led by Dr Nicola Storey, now a retired consultant oncologist from South Tees NHS Foundation Trust, the project's aims were mirrored by work undertaken by Professor Ric Khine, and the projects were therefore merged to develop a national curriculum.
Upon Dr Storey's full retirement, Melanie Clarkson, a senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, took on the role of project lead and oversaw the broader development of the working party involved in the NSO development and the evidence-based approach.
Melanie said: “It was really important that the framework reflected all the professions who work in non-surgical oncology. There are some restrictions for voluntary regulated professions from accessing funding and education for advanced practice roles, but we wanted to ensure they were represented and this could apply to them if guidance or mandatory regulation changes.”
To ensure the curriculum was fit for purpose, Melanie led the evidence-based development of the NSO, which included a local evaluation, a national Delphi study, and patient and carer involvement sub-projects. These are now all published in peer-reviewed journals, ensuring a robust and reliable approach to curriculum development.
Standardisation and consistency
The NSO will address standardisation and consistency of training for advanced practice healthcare practitioners in non-surgical oncology, supporting education and training providers and wider stakeholders in developing standardised yet bespoke training plans.
Melanie explained: “The NSO uses Capability in Practice (CiPs) to support the development of the advanced practitioner (AP). This is because we want our APs to be competent AND capable of applying that competence in complex situations. This is not about role or task substitution but the development of workforce innovation and skill mix.”
The CiPs are divided into three groups:
- Generic (completed by all to develop the practitioner humanistic behaviours across the four pillars of practice)
- Core oncology (completed by all to upskill the practitioner across oncology regardless of professional background to reduce unconscious incompetence)
- Speciality (selected to support the individual's scope of practice)
In addition to the NSO, there is also an implementation document to support stakeholders in developing MSc programmes and training plans.
The Sheffield Hallam University MSc Advanced Practice in Non-Surgical Oncology will commence in Sept 2026, and they are currently working with the Centre for Advancing Practice and The College of Radiographers to gain accreditation and approval for the new programme. Find more information on the programme here.
Find out more information about the framework online here.
Or contact Melanie Clarkson [email protected]