ACCEND (Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development) supports everyone involved in the care of people affected by cancer. Whether you work in specialist cancer services or in a wider healthcare setting, ACCEND can help you identify the knowledge, skills and development opportunities relevant to your role.
Developed to standardise and strengthen cancer career pathways, capability frameworks and education across the workforce, ACCEND provides a clear structure for professional development. It supports nurses, allied health professionals (AHPs), pharmacists, psychologists, support workers, nursing associates and other healthcare professionals who contribute to cancer care.
Built around the well-established four pillars of practice and organised into seven domains, ACCEND uses defined Levels of Practice to support career progression, workforce development and the delivery of high-quality cancer care. By helping individuals understand their current capabilities and identify their next steps, ACCEND enables a more skilled, confident and sustainable cancer workforce.
ACCEND is formed of three core components which work together to support career development, identify learning needs, and help individuals understand the knowledge, skills and capabilities required to provide high-quality cancer care.
These are:
Career Pathway Where am I now? Where am I going?
Core Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) What can I do? Where can I develop?
Education Framework What do I know? What can I learn?
ACCEND is designed to be flexible. Whether you're looking to understand how cancer care relates to your role, learn more about ACCEND, discover learning and development opportunities, or reflect with the self-assessment and framework, you can begin wherever feels most relevant to your experience and learning needs.
You may wish to Explore the ACCEND Framework further or visit our dedicated ACCEND Education page at SYBCA Learning and Development.
Select below a tile that best describes your role (current or aspirational) to learn more about how ACCEND is relevant to you.
What is ACCEND? ACCEND (Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development) is a national framework designed to support the development of the cancer workforce. It provides a structured approach to career progression, education and capability development for professionals involved in caring for people affected by cancer.
Who is ACCEND for? ACCEND is relevant to all staff involved in cancer care, including nurses, allied health professionals (AHPs), pharmacists, psychologists, support workers, nursing associates and other healthcare professionals working in both specialist and non-specialist services.
How can ACCEND help me? ACCEND can help you understand the knowledge, skills and capabilities expected for your role, identify development opportunities, and plan your career progression within the cancer workforce.
Why is ACCEND important in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw? ACCEND supports the development of a skilled and sustainable cancer workforce across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. It helps staff access relevant education and training, supports career progression, and contributes to delivering high-quality cancer care.
What are the ACCEND Levels of Practice? The Levels of Practice describe the capabilities expected at different stages of your career. They provide a clear pathway for professional growth, from entry-level roles through to advanced and consultant practice.
How do I know which ACCEND level is right for me? The ACCEND Course Explorer includes a Level Checker tool that can help you identify your suggested level of practice based on your current role and experience. Find your Level of Practice here.
What is the ACCEND Course Explorer (ACE)? The ACCEND Course Explorer (ACE) is an online directory of education and training opportunities mapped to the ACCEND Framework. It helps you find courses and resources that support your professional development.
Where can I find out more? You can explore the ACCEND Framework, access learning resources, and search for training opportunities through the ACCEND Course Explorer (ACE) and NHS England ACCEND resources.
Still have questions? For those who work at Barnsley Hospital, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, The Rotherham Hospital or Sheffield Teaching Hospitals you can contact your Lead Cancer Nurse.
Outside of this, you can contact the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Cancer Alliance workforce team for further information and support with ACCEND implementation and development opportunities.
If you're new to ACCEND, we recommend:
If you require further support, please contact the Helen Teasdale, SYBCA ACCEND Implementation Lead at helen.teasdale4@nhs.net or speak with your local Lead Cancer Nurse.
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