ACCEND workstreams

Cancer Support Workforce roles have been recognised both nationally and locally as best practice in reaching innovative solutions to support the cancer workforce and improve patient experience. 

The exponential growth of the workforce requires investment in training, education, and the development of a career framework to encourage recruitment and retention, so there are clear routes into the profession and routes for progression.  The first phase of the programme is complete and involved scoping the range of supportive/assistive cancer workforce roles implemented across all Cancer Alliance areas in England, as well as associated competency frameworks and education/development plans. 

The workstream has 3 main aims:

 - To develop a capability and competency framework for the cancer support workforce
 - To establish consistent ‘core and more’ training & education for the cancer support workforce.
 - To map roles to a core competency / capability framework and standardise the roles and career pathway for this workforce. 

The workstream is embedded into the NHSE-led Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development Programme (ACCEND) which aims to provide transformational reform in the education, training, and career pathways for nurses and AHP’s supporting people affected by cancer.

In Q1 2022/23 CMCA  delivered a pilot ‘Principles of Care Cancer Programme’ (PCCP) across the North-West of England.  The PCCP provided an opportunity for remote learning for a cohort of 28 CSWs and included  ‘core’ modules based on learning needs of all those in a cancer support role as well as ‘more’ modules to  provide the opportunity for tailored learning based on specific role requirements.

The CSW workstream team

John Gale - ACCEND Cancer Support Workforce - Workstream Lead
Lucie Conway - ACCEND Cancer Support Workforce - Project Officer
June Davis – Chair of the National ACCEND Cancer Support Workforce steering group
Maggie Tween - Advisory Task & Finish Group (1) National Framework - Working Group Lead
Molly Pipping - Advisory Task & Finish Group (2) Training & Education - Working Group Lead
Sharon Rowe - Advisory Task & Finish Group (2) Workforce and Educational Lead for the Principles in Cancer Care
Professor Richard Griffin - Advisory Task & Finish Group (3) Standardisation Working Group Lead
Janet Keeling - Person with Lived experience – National Steering Group
Dr Clare Byrne – Expert in Cancer Services
Joanne Kinsley – Cancer Nurse Specialist advice and guidance
Gill Nolan – Support Worker advice and guidance

For more information about the role of Cancer Support Workers, watch the videos below.

Clinical Nurse Specialist Rosie Forrest discusses the role of Cancer Support Workers

Cheshire & Merseyside Cancer Alliance - Cancer Support Workers - Dr Claire Byrne

All health care professionals will be involved with people affected by cancer and thus it is essential that pre-registration health care professional students have fundamental knowledge and understanding of cancer and its consequences. The purpose of this work stream is to:

 - increase cancer education within all pre-registration health care programmes
 - develop specialist cancer education resources for pre-registration students
 - provide pre-registration students who aspire to work in cancer services opportunities to experience cancer care through a bespoke fellowship programme
 - inspire the next generation of health care professionals to feel confident to care for those affected by cancer.

The ACCEND Registered Professional Development Workstream aims to support the education, training and development of registered health care professionals who may be new to cancer services or working at or towards an enhanced level of practice. The programme will align to a Career and Education Capabilities Framework, which will be mapped to existing competence frameworks.  The programme will include learning opportunities that align to the four pillars of professional practice: clinical practice; leadership and management; research/evidence-based practice and quality improvement; and specialist education within the context of cancer care. Programmes of learning will additionally include content on self-care and resilience.

Cancer Care Professional Development and Clinical Leadership Programme

The overarching aim of this workstream is to develop a training and education framework for registered level practitioners appointed to enhanced and advanced roles.

This workstream plans to:

 - demonstrate the value of both CNS and specialist AHP roles in providing expert care and support to people living with and affected by cancer
 - provide clear pathways into both roles and develop innovative additional entry routes for qualified professionals to pursue a cancer speciality
 - provide training and development opportunities that enables the specialist workforce to remain resilient and able to continuously professionally develop
 - improve retention of our existing nursing and AHP workforce and recruitment of our future specialist workforce.

Advanced Clinical Practice

ACPs can help in reducing workforce gaps, improve recruitment and retention, create prominent and credible career development pathways for the workforce which encompass education, clinical practice, research, and leadership within the roles.

This workstream aims to:

 - identify and build on the current ACP work in cancer underway across the UK
 - set out and identify clear offers and opportunities, including development of credentials to support the development of ACP roles as part of the ACCEND cancer career and education pathway 
 - enable practitioners to practise to their full potential and to optimise their contribution to meeting population and individuals,’ families’ and carers’ needs through different models of service delivery and multidisciplinary working
 - link this work with the NHSE consultant practitioner framework being developed from ACP through to consultant practitioner
 - understand and map the current supervision and mentoring for ACP roles in cancer. Develop a network of facilitators to deliver online professional supervision and facilitate collaboration and networking
 - pilot/develop trainee roles in different settings across the country (e.g. ACP specialist in cancer care with a Primary Care Network, ACP specialist in Cancer Care with a community hub, ACP in cancer care within diagnostic hubs, ACP tumour site specific based in secondary care but boundary spanning with different areas of focus) to establish the effectiveness and provide recommendations for roles to be developed as business as usual.

The Purpose of the Cancer Strategic Leader Development Workstream is to develop a framework for cancer leadership, identifying competency and capability requirements, and the education and development to achieve them.

The goals of the workstreams are to:

 - consider the drivers and deliverables for the overall project and ensure leadership workstream aligns with these.
 - develop & agree work-stream project plan.
 - complete stakeholder mapping.
 - identify existing learning and development opportunities for aspiring leaders aligned to the career and capability framework and identify gaps.
 - support development of the career and capability framework to ensure all aspects of leadership are included Set out, agree, and implement a communications and engagement strategy with stakeholders.
 - support testing and evaluation of outputs.

This workstream will:

 - develop and promote a nationally agreed, multi-level education framework and career pathway for those nursing and allied health professionals aspiring to work at all levels (Registered, Enhanced, Advanced, Consultant and Strategic) in specialist cancer roles/services
 - use the agreed career pathway and education framework to ensure the future and existing workforce delivering general and specialist cancer care have access to relevant pre and post-registration education, learning and development opportunities which enable practitioners to achieve the underpinning knowledge, skills and capabilities required for their role/service, wellbeing and career aspirations, and enable their employers to deliver high quality services to people affected by cancer, support workforce transformation and the health and wellbeing of staff
 - enable nursing and allied health professionals to evidence their knowledge, skills and capabilities in a national digital portfolio
 - promote the agreed career pathway and education framework and the range of pre and post-registration education, workplace-based and e-learning development opportunities through the creation of national e-lfh cancer hub.