NEWS
Call for evidence for HEE ’ s strategic framework
Members in England are invited to provide insight to guide RCOT ’ s response to Health Education England ’ s ( HEE ) strategic framework call for evidence .
HEE has been commissioned to work with partners to review long-term strategic trends for the health and social care workforce . This will review , renew and update the existing 15-year strategic framework for workforce planning – Framework 15 .
While Framework 15 focused on health only , this new update will be encompassing regulated professionals in social care , including occupational therapists , for the first time .
A ‘ call for evidence ’ has been issued to identify the factors that may have the greatest impact on demand for the health and social care sector over the next 15 years , and what this means for the workforce supply , to support people who need care and assist the population of the future .
RCOT is asking members to share qualitative and quantitative material that can be included in its overall response for the occupational therapy community . All members , including learner and apprentices from all sectors , are encouraged to take part .
Visit the RCOT website to find out more about how it suggests members might contribute , and for the direct link to the survey : www . rcot . co . uk / news / call-evidence-health-education-englandstrategic-framework .
Online ‘ one-stop-shop ’ for advanced practice in England launched by HEE
A new website has been launched by the Centre for Advancing Practice , to provide a dedicated online information hub for all Health Education England ’ s ( HEE ) advanced practice work ; providing a ‘ one-stop-shop ’ for stakeholders to explore , learn and engage .
HEE established the Centre for Advancing Practice to oversee the workforce transformation of advanced level practice , by establishing and monitoring standards for education and training , accrediting advanced level programmes , supporting and recognising practitioners , and growing and embedding the advanced and consultant practice workforce .
The centre will deliver this through its five key functions : programme accreditation ; practitioner recognition ; the establishment of an advanced practice directory ; HEE credentials ; and workforce solutions .
Although there is variation in advanced practice itself , by accrediting advanced level programmes the centre aims to consistently assure education quality . Programmes will be accredited against the HEE ‘ Multi-professional framework for advanced practice in England ’ and the Standards of Education and Training , also set by HEE .
Completion of an accredited pathway will become one of the benchmark routes to recognition for practitioners , who will then be able to join the centre ’ s practitioner directory , which is currently under development .
Seven regional Faculties for Advancing Practice have also been established , to drive pioneering workforce transformation for advanced practice across England , to develop modern pathways of care , and to improve patient safety .
The faculties will work across their local systems to identify workforce demand , commission high-quality education and training , optimise practice-based training , supervision and assessment and support communities of practice to drive ongoing development and support to improve patient care .
The new website also includes details about the centre ’ s use and recognition of ‘ multi-professional credentials ’, the term used to
describe standardised , structured units of assessed learning that are designed to meet workforce development needs in areas that are high-priority and exist at scale .
Credentials are expected to increase advanced practice capability and capacity and thereby support sustainable , highquality approaches to meeting population needs and delivering patient benefit .
Finally , the hub holds a number of online resources to support the uptake of the opportunities for workforce and service transformation afforded by advanced practice .
Paul Cooper , RCOT lead professional sdviser , states : ‘ RCOT and its members have been working for some time to support the development of the centre , as we know that occupational therapists can and do contribute a great deal to advancing levels of practice across health and care .
‘ As a profession we have a lot to offer the people in receipt of our services and the systems we work in . I would encourage members in England to engage with the centre ’ s work and read RCOT ’ s new informed view on advancing practice , which aims to support members in articulating their offer across the UK .’
To find out more , visit : https :// advanced-practice . hee . nhs . uk / welcome /. Access the informed view at : www . rcot . co . uk / aboutoccupational-therapy / rcot-informed-views .
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