Proven role templates for a skilled and flexible workforce
Learn from the best. Don't re-invent the wheel.
Frontline services across the UK face the challenge of continually improving access and reducing waiting times. In response, we have developed a range of role templates to support new ways of working that create a more flexible workforce and reduce waiting times.
Read more about the reducing waiting times initiative.
What are the role templates?
We have developed a range of role templates to support new ways of working, to create a more flexible workforce and reduce waiting times. We call these templates “Nationally Transferable Roles” (NTRs). They provide a structured approach to developing relevant, transferable and nationally endorsed roles across different locations and services, with the flexibility to add locally relevant competences where required.
Each template provides:
- Competences required for the role
- The career framework level descriptors
- Indicative learning and development needs.
The first 30 NTRs focus on improving access to key specialties and diagnostic services.
There are four groupings:
Benefits of using Nationally Transferable Role templates:
- Reduced waiting times across a range of services
- Enhanced productivity and cost savings
- Consistent and comparable quality of patient care
- Ease of competence based education and workforce commissioning
- A more flexible and transferable workforce
- Employers can expect consistent skills, knowledge and competences when selecting staff
- Portability and transferability of learning and development, skills competences and qualifications.
“The extended scope hand therapist nationally transferable role has reduced consultant waiting times for selected hand and wrist diagnosis first appointments from 10-12 weeks to 2 weeks; and follow-up appointments from 6 to 2 weeks. It has also delivered cost savings of £10k per year in consultant time which can now be diverted to increased surgery time.”
Elizabeth Maclennan
Head Occupational Therapist, Guys & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Who are the templates for and when should they be used?
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Education and service commissioners
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Workforce planning and development specialists
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Service managers and staff
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Education providers.
Commissioning bodies can use information in the NTR templates as a way of quickly understanding the skills and competences required for the role. It also helps identify associated learning that is fit for purpose.
NTR’s can also be used when undertaking role or service redesign, or when addressing skills mix issues.
How to use Nationally Transferable Roles
The library of NTRs is an excellent resource when undertaking workforce redesign. The following process can be undertaken to identify appropriate NTRs for your service:
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Look at patient pathway or journey
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Identify the functions and tasks along that pathway
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Identify who undertakes those functions and tasks
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Identify any functional or skills gaps
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Search the Nationally Transferable Role library to see if any of the exemplar roles meet your requirements.
The impact of the roles
The following are real life examples of how the NTR’s have had an impact in organisations:
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North Cumbria University Hospital NHS Trust. Developed a ‘Myocardial Perfusion Stress Testing Supervision’ NTR and reduced diagnostic waiting times from 72 weeks to 2-6 weeks.*
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Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals FT introduced the surgical care practitioner NTR, which has enabled the addition of 16 extra operating lists each week.*
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South Devon Healthcare NHS FT transferred 8 lists, previously covered by a consultant anaesthetist, to a new advanced practitioner NTR. It has been “particularly cost effective”.*
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Dudley PCT’s orthopaedic assessment service reduced their orthopaedic referrals to secondary care by 75% using an advanced practitioner role – one of the roles now available. For those who are referred, preparation and follow up is done by the same practitioner, ensuring greater continuity of care.*
* From the Skills for Health report ‘Impact of Nationally Transferable Roles on Productivity – Building an Evidence Base’. March 2010.
Download the report ‘Impact of Nationally Transferable Roles on Productivity – Building an Evidence Base’