Musculoskeletal (MSK) Advanced Practice and Governance Framework

Introduction and background

Developing and retaining the Advanced Practice workforce is a strategic priority for the NHS. The NHS Long-Term Plan recognises the potential of advanced level practitioners meeting short term and long-term workforce demands; whilst the NHS People Plan is heavily supportive of scaling up and delivering new roles and models of advanced level practice.

Health Education England (HEE) is leading this agenda by working collaboratively across the health and care system, to develop safe and effective advanced level practitioners which the system can learn to recognise and utilise within new models of care.

To create transferable, recognisable ongoing Advanced Practice education and training, there is a need to create, for each area of practice, a framework of learning outcomes and assessment methods, to be delivered by education providers working in partnership with service. Often, this will be as part of approved level 7 (Master’s level) learning, but this may not be the only model of learning.

The Framework articulates the capabilities required for the current and future workforce to deliver services within new models of care. A clinical career pathway and targeted continuing professional development have the potential to support the retention of highly valued and skilled staff and facilitate workforce transformation.

Achievement will be evidenced by a range of methods including qualifications or awards which are aligned, evidence of prior learning and/or demonstration of current competency to carry out specific professional related activities. This combined clinical and academic delivery will better meet the needs of service, offering standardised and nationally transferable training routes for the workforce, recognisable to employers, employees and individuals.

A key component of this work is the development by HEE of a Centre for Advancing Practice, which will validate Advanced Practice programmes. Successful completion of a HEE validated Advanced Practice programme will enable recognition as being educated to the national standard of advanced level of practice.

Further information is at: https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/advanced-clinical-practice

Purpose and scope of this framework

The framework identifies the capabilities required by clinicians demonstrating musculoskeletal advanced practice. The MSK Advanced Practice Standards ‘the standards’, apply to all advanced roles across MSK sub-specialties and settings.

The core capabilities at the level of advanced clinical practice articulated in this framework apply across all advanced musculoskeletal clinical practice roles, regardless of the health and care professional’s background or professional association.

The fundamental principles and opportunity for workforce transformation are relevant across all healthcare sectors.

The framework demonstrates:

• The definition of ‘Advanced Practice’ roles
• The educational standards for advanced practice in musculoskeletal settings
• Educational routes to achievement of advanced practice status
• The governance framework for educational providers

Development of the framework

The framework project is led jointly by Health Education England and the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists and a Steering Group with representative membership of professional special interest groups, and Higher Education Institutions. The steering group feed into wider key stakeholders via the MSK partnership group who representation from all MSK professional bodies, arm’s length bodies, professional MSK special interest groups and patient representation and has oversight from The International Federation of Orthopaedic and Manipulative Therapists.