Following five years of research and development, the Centre for Advancing Practice has accepted an area-specific capability framework for the advanced training of healthcare professionals in non-surgical oncology.
Like many regions, severe workforce shortages and advancements in cancer treatment necessitated innovation in the workforce and the need for advanced practitioners in non-surgical oncology (NSO), including systemic anti-cancer therapies, radiotherapy, and acute oncology.
However, with no nationally available non-surgical oncology training curriculum for advanced practice, Therapeutic Radiographer Melanie Clarkson and a multi-professional working party developed an evidence-informed framework.Professor Ricardo Khine also led work in 2018/19, highlighting the same recommendations.
A comprehensive workforce transformation
A national working group was initially led by training programme director (TPD) Dr Nicola Storey,as part of her funded Health Education England North East and Yorkshire post, from 2019 up until 2021. Dr Fiona McDonald then took over as TPD after Nicola's retirement.
Melanie, meanwhile, entered the group as lead for the continuation of the work from 2021.
The working group developed an area-specific capability framework (ASCF) within the field, underpinned by the current frameworks and specialty training curricula.
In accordance with the Centre for Advancing Practice’s efforts to oversee a comprehensive workforce transformation, the framework includes:
- Clearly defined capabilities tailored to clinical or professional areas
- Guidance for education providers, supervisors, and employers on supporting learning and assessment
- Alignment with national standards and the Multi-professional Framework for Advanced Practice (2025)
- Support for both individual development and workforce planning
'A structured framework is urgently needed'
The first version of the framework was implemented in the northeast in 2021, and a local evaluation was undertaken in 2023. A refreshed version was then shared to gain national consensus on the core principles of the document and the framework. Finally, in 2024, the third revised version was shared with patients and the public for feedback via surveys and focus groups, which helped ensure that the patient voice was clearly represented. The results of the papers have now been published or are under review.
Melanie explained: “With the support of a robust job description, job plan, and scope of practice, it is clear what the service requires from the trainee advanced practitioner. Feedback from the development of the NSO-ASCF has indicated that a structured framework is urgently needed by many professionals working in NSO who are advancing their practice.
"With an amazing working party, members have ensured that the framework is current but also flexible for future innovation across NSO It was also important that this framework was evidence-informed to support its implementation.”
Appropriate education and training
The NSO-ASCF has now been endorsed by the Centre for Advancing Practice (NHSE), Macmillan and the Society and College of Radiographers. Primarily, the aim is that it will also be used to support the development of specialist, accredited MSc advanced practice programmes, ensuring relevant training is undertaken for non-surgical oncology advanced practitioners. Individual professionals working in non-surgical oncology can also utilise it to track their continuing professional development or identify any gaps in their education and training.
Therapeutic Radiographers moving into advanced practice level within non-surgical oncology will now undertake an appropriate education and training pathway for their scope of practice, rather than a “disjointed” route with numerous level 7 modules, or a generic path that does not meet the requirements of the individual or their scope of practice.
Proposed publication dates have not been announced yet; however, more information can be found online here regarding area-specific capabilities.
(Image: Melanie Clarkson)