The Career Framework makes it possible to identify and construct career pathways within and across different occupations and professions. These pathways enable people to develop skills and progress along a career path according to their own preferences, potential and abilities. Opportunities generated by the Career Framework meet individual needs and those of employers when planning and developing the wider workforce.
The Framework provides a guide for the NHS and partner organisations in implementing flexible careers. It allows an individual member of staff with transferable competences and skills to develop in a way that is beneficial to them and where they work.
It balances national consistency with maximum flexibility for local health organisations and provides a method whereby the level of practice for a particular job can be identified. It is unique in that it can be applied to any job in any area of practice throughout the healthcare sector and is therefore very flexible.
Over the last 12 months Skills for Health has facilitated the development of the Career Framework and its principles can be applied across all four UK countries.
There is only one Framework; however it can be applied in a number of ways, current examples being in the areas of Public Health, Health Informatics, Allied Health Professionals and Nursing in Northern Ireland.
