Workforce

The ongoing transformation of cancer services to address the evolving needs of the population is contingent upon having an adequate workforce capable of delivering new treatments, supporting innovative approaches, and enhancing patient experiences.  The new national cancer plan acknowledges the importance of the cancer workforce being at the heart of improving patient outcomes and quality of care.

As an Alliance we need to work together to identify the workforce impact of future service models, to assess, plan and implement the investment and services required to ensure we can make the most of working with new developments.

A critical aspect of strategic workforce planning and development is ensuring that current staff have access to the necessary training and education to adapt and meet evolving demands. The growing availability of accessible training and educational resources supports skill and capability enhancement for both the medical and non-medical workforce, all of whom play a pivotal role in the patient journey from early diagnosis onward.

For the non-medical workforce, the Aspirant Cancer Career Education & Development (ACCEND) framework will play a crucial role in facilitating career advancement, standardising capabilities, and ensuring access to high-quality training.

The ACCEND framework is expected to be adopted across all levels of practice within both specialist and generalist cancer workforce settings.

Centred on the capabilities and levels of practice defined by the ACCEND framework, the Greater Manchester Cancer Academy ePortfolio provides a comprehensive, digital platform for recording learning achievements. This interactive tool offers users the ability to:

• Identify areas for professional development,
• Facilitate more informed and meaningful appraisal discussions,
• Strategically plan and enhance career progression.

As part of our commitment to supporting the non-medical cancer workforce, we have secured a licence for the Greater Manchester Cancer Academy ePortfolio. This enables staff to document their educational activities, reflections, case study analyses, accreditations, and certifications.  The ePortfolio is designed to remain accessible and supportive, regardless of changes in role or organisation.

We also have a library of lunch and learn webinars led by subject matter experts on a wide range of topics.

To book a place on any upcoming webinars visit the education and events section in our professionals area.

To find links to training and educational opportunities go to our Learning & Development page.

More information about workforce planning, training and education frameworks & guidance can be found via the following links:

👉 Health Education England Workforce Planning and Intelligence

👉 NHS England Workforce, Training and Education Directorate

👉 NHS England Long Term Workforce Plan