The ACCEnD programme provides guidance on the knowledge, skills and capabilities required by all nurses and allied health professionals who care for people living with cancer in generalist and specialist cancer services and roles as part of multi-professional teams across the four UK nations.
The ACCEnD programme is a cancer career and education development programme that supports aspirant cancer nurses and allied health professionals towards increasing their knowledge, skills, and capability. This will increase and improve the supply of the cancer health care professional workforce in the future. It also provides the existing cancer workforce with access to the education and training needed to match the competencies required for their role.
Using a range of learning opportunities, including this e-learning programme, ACCEnD provides a definitive career and development pathway for those aspiring to work in cancer care.
ACCEnD is underpinned by learning related to the four pillars of professional practice – clinical practice; leadership and management; research/evidence-based practice and quality improvement; and specialist cancer focused education.
Further information about the ACCEnD programme can be found on the HEE website or at the link below : https://skillsforhealth.org.uk/info-hub/cancer-cns-framework/
Workstream 1. Aspirant Cancer Professional Student Programme
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:
Workstream 2. Registered Professional Development Programme
The ACCEnD programme Work Stream 2 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.
Workstream 3 (A and B) Cancer Care Professional Development and Clinical Leadership Programme
3a) Cancer Care Professional Development and Clinical Leadership Programme
The overarching aim of the 3a workstream is to develop a training and education framework for registered level practitioners appointed to enhanced and advanced roles.
This workstream plans to:
3b) 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:
Workstream 4 – Cancer Strategic Leader Development Programme
The Purpose of workstream 4 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:
Workstream 5 – Cancer Career and Education Framework
This workstream will:
The elearning content for the ACCEnD programme is currently in development.
For further information on the programme please visit the HEE website, or email: accend@hee.nhs.uk