Career development framework and pathways

Workstream overview

The NHSE funding supported work for all levels of practice and, in addition to the support workforce priorities we focused on the following:

Students

Develop CPD content and support events
Development of Point of Care Foundation Facilitators
Engagement with the development of the NHS WTE AHP pre-registration student hub

Enhanced-level practice

Socialisation of enhanced practice
Scoping of education provision/planning across HEIs and service

Advanced-level practice

Review the Scope of Practice for the profession and the advanced practice role considering both traditional roles within imaging and oncology but also provide guidance for new roles which require radiographer registration but which maybe outside these traditional areas of practice for the profession.
Review Code of Conduct for SoR members.
Align the CoR postgraduate programme approval with CoR advanced practitioner recognition.

Consultant practice

Continue to grow and develop the consultant radiographers’ network and to develop resources that promote and showcase inclusivity at a consultant level.

To view the resources associated with each project, click the links below.
Please note, some resources will be made available shortly.

6B.1 CPD Content for Students

A new Student Radiographer Podcast was launched using NHSE funding. This innovative initiative created a platform for discussions about the radiography profession, focusing on wellbeing and providing guidance to aspiring radiographers. The podcast series successfully produced six episodes, offering valuable insights and support for students embarking on their journey in the field of radiography. This commission also enabled the production of a new Students' and New Professionals' Employability Series in collaboration with Skilled Personnel.

6B.2 Point of Care Foundation Facilitators

A Schwartz Round is a structured event to help members tackle emotional and difficult healthcare topics in a supportive environment. The Point of Care Foundation (PoCF), a charity that works to humanise health and social care, is the licence holder for Schwartz Rounds in the UK. The NHSE funding supported an event held in November 2024. A SoR site visit was carried out by the PoCF mentor to give feedback to the facilitators. SCoR facilitators are now able to run Schwartz Rounds independently.

Society of Radiographers inaugural Schwartz Round

6B.3 National Student Hub

The SoR has provided a direct link to the SoR Students web page for the AHP learning hub catalogue. (Please note you will need to log-in to view the NHS learning hub).

NHSE Learning Hub

6C.1 Enhanced Level Practice Implementation

The Championing Enhanced Practice in Radiography (CHEERs) project, undertaken by experts from Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Bradford, aimed to elevate awareness and understanding of enhanced practice within the radiography profession.

Strategic stakeholder engagement and the establishment of a network of champions have been instrumental in transforming workplace culture and increasing confidence in discussing enhanced practice at all levels. The project produced educational materials (animation and posters) that were identified as needed by the profession, with support from the involvement of a diverse and inclusive stakeholder group.

6C.2 National Scoping Study and Gap Analysis

The Workforce and Education needs - Scoping the Enhanced, Advanced and Radiography Consultant cHallenges and opportunities (WE-SEARCH) project was undertaken by a collaborative team from the University of Bradford and Sheffield Hallam University. It sought to identify current and future service needs including workforce expectations and to review whether present, and planned, academic provision is fit for purpose.

Through a mixed-method approach across three phases, the project sought to identify the potential for growth in enhanced, advanced and consultant level practice through the identification of clinical need and formal postgraduate education provision. Utilising information from UK-wide data collection, the nine-month project identified the current and emerging clinical development needs and review gaps in education provision.

Workforce and Education Needs: Scoping the Enhanced, Advanced and Radiography Consultant Challenges and opportunities (WE-SEARCH)

6D.1 Advanced Community of Practice

The Advancing Practice in Radiography Special Interest Group (AP-RAD SIG) was launched at UKIO in June 2024. The workspace has been designed to develop a community across the radiography professions, specifically around advancing practice. Membership includes those thinking of moving into this space, trainees and experienced practitioners at each level (enhanced, advanced and consultant). The group provides support to share and develop practice.

Advancing Practice in Radiography Special Interest Group (AP-RAD SIG)

6D.2 Scope of Practice and Code of Conduct

The Society of Radiographers developed three important documents to support the professional practice of members.

The three documents are entitled ‘Code of Professional Conduct’, ‘Scope of Practice’ and ‘Guidance on scope of practice for advanced practitioners and consultant practitioners’. Each new document has been uploaded to the SoR’s policy and guideline library, direct links can be found below.

6D.3 Supporting Advanced Practice for Radiographers: ECF Framework

Aligned to the CoR EDF, a project to change the CoR accreditation of individual practitioners working at the advanced and consultant levels of practice, to align with the CoR post-registration programme approval processes and taking account of the NHS England Centre for Advancing Practice. Ultimately, this will support individual practitioners towards advancing practice through implementation of the ECF into practice through the development of learning needs analysis mapping resources at the enhanced, advanced and consultant levels of practice.

Supporting Advanced Practice for Radiographers: ECF Framework report
ECF Advanced Level Mapping Tool
ECF Enhanced Level Mapping Tool
ECF Consultant Level Mapping Tool

6E.1 Consultant Community of Practice

The aim of the project was to provide support to develop SoR Trainee Consultant and Consultant Radiographer and Sonographer Community of Practice. The community consists of a network that is managed through an online workspace - overseen by a SoR professional officer who is the workspace manager.

Consultant Practitioner Radiographers

6E.2 Consultant Resources

The aim of the project was to explore workplace conditions, experiences, and effects on the occurrence of imposter phenomenon among the trainee consultant and consultant radiographer and sonographer CoP. It was anticipated that might be linked to issues of equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging of members. A paper has been submitted to a peer reviewed journal.