ACCEND Programme and Framework
What is the Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development (ACCEND) Programme and Framework
The ACCEND Programme. (Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development) is a UK- wide initiative led by NHS England and co-delivered with Macmillan Cancer Support. It was launched to transform the career pathways, education, and training for healthcare professionals who care for people affected by Cancer.
Purpose of ACCEND
- To provide clear guidance on the knowledge, skills, and capabilities required for cancer care across various roles.
- To support career progression and workforce development in both generalist and specialist cancer services.
- to address the lack of nationally agreed competency framework and defined career routes for nurses, allied health professionals (AHP), and support workers in cancer care.
Who It's For
The supportive, assistive, nursing and allied health professions workforce who provide care to people affected by cancer in general and specialist cancer settings, services and roles, including.
- support workers
- Nursing associates
- Registered nurses
- Allied health professionals (AHPs)
- Pharmacists
- Psychologists
The ACCEND Framework
Published in January 2023 (and due to be updated in 2025), the framework consists of three key components:
Career Pathway
Defines levels of practice from supportive and assistive roles to consultant-level professionals. It provides a structures route for career development.
Core Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs)
These are colour-coded attributes (knowledge, skills behaviors) tailored to each level of practice across seven domains. They help ensure consistent, high-quality care.
Core Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs)
These are colour-coded attributes (knowledge, skills behaviors) tailored to each level of practice across seven domains. They help ensure consistent, high-quality care.
Education Framework
Sets out core knowledge descriptors and learning outcomes:
- Foundations in Cancer Care for Supportive, Assistive and Pre -registration levels.
- Fundamentals in Cancer care for Registration, Enhanced, Advanced, and consultant levels.
- Postrgraduate Certificates and specialists qualifications for advanced roles.
Impact and Implementation
- Supports workforce transformation and succession planning.
- Enables commissioning of education and training aligned with workforce needs.
- Promotes staff wellbeing and retention by offering clear career development opportunities.
ACCEND Course Explorer – Now Live!
We're pleased to share the launch of the ACCEND Course Explorer- a new national website designed to support the cancer workforce with learning and career development.
The course Explorer brings together education, training and useful resources from across the UK, all linked to the Aspirant Cancer Career Education and Development (ACCEND) framework. It is easy to navigate and helps you understand what learning is available, how it links to ACCEND, and how itc an support your development in cancer care.
What's included?
Course finder: search for cancer courses by trust, topic or ACCEND level of practice, helping you find the right learning for tour role and career goals.
Capabilities Explorer: See how different courses align with ACCEND capabilities, with filters by domain and level of practice to help you find relevant options.
Level of Practice Tool: Answer a few short questions to get a suggested ACCEND level, helping you understand where you are and what your next steps could be
Directory of Resources: Access additional courses, tools and learning resources recommended by ACCEND working groups, including e-learning and guidance.
You can access the ACCEND Course Explorer via the ACCEND homepage, the ACCEND NHS Futures page, or directly at https://www.ACCEND-Course-Explorer.org.uk/
Whether you are a nurse, an AHP, or part of the wider supporting cancer workforce, the Course Explorer is here to help you explore how education, training and resources align with ACCEND and can support your career pathway.