The ACCEND Framework has been designed to support workforce development across the cancer pathway. Whether you work in a specialist cancer role, support people affected by cancer as part of a wider healthcare role, or are part of the supportive workforce, ACCEND can help you identify your strengths, recognise development needs, and plan your future learning and career development.
The framework is built around Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs), which describe the knowledge, skills and behaviours required to deliver high-quality cancer care at different levels of practice.
ACCEND is not a competency checklist. It is a developmental framework that helps you reflect on your experience, identify opportunities for growth, and create a personalised development plan.
The NHS England ACCEND Framework is available as a single PDF document. It includes the career framework, levels of practice and Cancer Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) to support your self-assessment and professional development.
Access the complete ACCEND Framework here
Work through an interactive learning package designed by the national ACCEND team that introduces the Framework, levels of practice, self-assessment and professional development.
Access the ACCEND Framework eLearning here.
Prefer to learn through video? Watch a short introduction to ACCEND from Professor Vanessa Taylor, covering the purpose of the framework, levels of practice, and how it can be used to support professional development.
Watch on YouTube here
Follow our South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw step-by-step guide below to understand the framework, identify your level of practice, complete your self-assessment and plan your development.
Before completing a self-assessment, familiarise yourself with the ACCEND levels of practice and consider which level is most relevant to your current role.
As a general guide:
For many healthcare professionals working outside specialist cancer services, the most relevant levels will be Supportive/Assistive or Registered, depending on whether they hold a professional registration.
Typically, practitioners working at Enhanced, Advanced and Consultant levels are employed within specialist cancer services and have significant cancer-specific responsibilities. Examples may include Clinical Nurse Specialists, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Consultant AHPs, senior pharmacists, and strategic workforce or service leaders.
However, ACCEND is designed to be flexible. Your level of practice is determined by the knowledge, skills, experience and responsibilities required within your role, rather than your job title alone. You may find that aspects of your role align to different levels, or that you are working towards a higher level as part of your career development. You can also use the ACCEND Level of Practice Tool here.
The purpose of ACCEND is not to place people into rigid categories, but to help individuals and teams understand their current capabilities, identify development opportunities, and plan future progression.
Top Tip: Don't worry about finding the "perfect" level before you begin. Select the level that most closely reflects your current role and responsibilities. Your self-assessment and discussions with your manager will help refine this over time.
There are two ways to complete your ACCEND self-assessment.
The recommended approach is to use the digital ACCEND framework hosted within NHS Digital Learning Solutions (DLS).
The digital framework allows you to:
Current Access in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw
At present, colleagues working within Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust may already have access to the digital ACCEND framework through their organisation. If this applies to you, please speak with your Lead Cancer Nurse for guidance on accessing the system.
Don't Have Access?
If you work for an NHS organisation and do not currently have access to DLS, or are unsure, you can register for an account using the guidance available here:
Register for Digital Learning Solutions
If you do not currently have access to DLS, or would prefer to work through the framework manually first, paper versions of the ACCEND framework are available. If you later gain access to DLS, you can transfer your self-assessment into the digital platform.
Many people find it helpful to begin by reviewing the framework using a simple traffic-light approach:
Green = I am confident and can demonstrate this capability
Amber = I have some knowledge or experience but would benefit from further development
Red = I need to develop this capability
Access paper-based ACCEND self-assessment user implementation guides here.
Once you have identified your level of practice, review the relevant Capabilities in Practice (CiPs). Consider:
Not every capability will be relevant to every role. For example, a Cancer Navigator would not normally be expected to demonstrate advanced care planning capabilities, whilst a Physiotherapist may not prescribe and/or administer medication.
Where you and your manager agree that a capability is not relevant to your current role, it can be marked as Not Applicable.
The ACCEND framework is designed to help you capture your professional development journey. Evidence may include:
When a capability has been achieved through formal education, simply record the activity against the relevant capability.
For example:
"Obtained through Foundations of Cancer Care eLearning."
or
"Developed through completion of Advanced Communication Skills Training, April 2026."
After completing your self-assessment you will have a clear picture of your strengths and development needs. Use this information alongside your manager to:
For example, if a Capability in Practice requires you to:
Lead MDT coordination for complex cancer pathways
but you have not yet undertaken this responsibility, your action plan might include:
You can also use the ACCEND Course Explorer to find courses, explore capabilities, identify your level of practice, and access resources to support career development and progression in cancer care.
ACCEND should not be viewed as a one-off exercise. As your role develops, you gain experience, complete training, and take on new responsibilities, your self-assessment should be reviewed and updated.
Many organisations use ACCEND as part of:
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.
Follow us on social media: @CanAlliance_SYB
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