How can I use Core Capabilities Frameworks?

A Core Capabilities Framework identifies the essential skills, knowledge, and behaviours required to perform effectively in specific roles or functions within the healthcare sector. These frameworks are developed through extensive consultation with organisations and partners, ensuring they reflect current healthcare practice.  

These frameworks focus on core capabilities rather than specific tasks allowing for transferable and adaptable skills that healthcare professionals need to meet diverse patient and service needs. They provide clear, structured guidance to what good practice looks like across various areas of healthcare delivery.  

Why use a Core Capabilities Framework?  

Core Capabilities Frameworks are valuable for individuals and organisations, offering benefits such as:  

• Standardisation: Ensuring consistency in skills and knowledge across roles, leading to enhanced efficiency and high-quality care. 
• Clarity: Providing clear expectations for competencies (skills, knowledge, and experience) at different career stages. 
• Development: Supporting personal and professional growth by highlighting areas for learning and development. 
• Flexibility: Enabling adaptation to changing healthcare needs by focussing on core, transferable skills.  

Key Features of Core Capabilities Frameworks 

While each framework focusses on a specific area of care, they share key features that help professionals deliver high-quality, patient-centred services.

Collaborative working and communication 

These frameworks emphasise the importance of communication and teamwork. They help healthcare professionals: 

• Build strong relationships with patients, carers, and colleagues.
• Use active listening, empathy, and clear communication to understand and respond to individual needs.
• Promote collaboration to achieve shared goals in care. 

The Core Capabilities Frameworks of Supporting People with a Learning Disability and Supporting Autistic People are two examples that highlight the importance of effective communication and collaboration, detailing how to support individuals with learning disabilities and autism, ensuring their unique needs are understood and addressed. 

Assessment and diagnosis 

Healthcare professionals are guided to: 

• Use evidence-based practices to assess, investigate, and diagnose effectively.
• Focus on delivering the best outcomes for patients by reflecting on their practice.

The Mental Health Core Capability Framework demonstrates the importance of assessment and diagnosis. This framework offers guidance on supporting mental health professionals in identifying and addressing a wide range of mental health conditions. 

Condition management and treatment 

Frameworks provide practical support for: 

• Developing and implementing personalised care plans in partnership with patients. 
• Choosing treatments and interventions based on clinical evidence and patient preferences. 
• Ensuring care is tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs. 

National Wound Care Workforce Framework for England is an example of a framework that offers practical support for condition management and treatment. This framework provides guidance on delivering evidence-based wound care, ensuring effective condition management and treatment for optimal patient outcomes. 

Leadership, education, and innovation 

Professionals are encouraged to: 

• Lead and manage effectively under pressure, prioritising safety and quality. 
• Foster continuous learning, self-reflection, and innovation to address challenges and enhance care delivery. 

An example of a framework encouraging leadership, education and innovation is evident in the Primary Care & General Practice Nursing Career & Core Capabilities Framework. This framework supports nurses to take on leadership roles while fostering a culture of learning and innovation in primary care. 

How to use a Core Capabilities Framework  

For individuals  

• Self-assessment: Use the framework to evaluate your current capabilities against the expectations of your role. 
• Identify development needs: Pinpoint areas where further training or experience is needed.
• Career planning: Understand the competencies required for advancement and map out your professional growth.  

For employers  

• Role design: Develop job descriptions and recruitment criteria that align with the framework’s capabilities. 
• Training and development: Create targeted learning opportunities to address skills gaps.
• Performance management: Use the framework as a benchmark for evaluating staff performance and identifying areas for improvement.  

Summary  

Core Capabilities Frameworks are a versatile and practical tool for enhancing workforce development and improving patient care. By focussing on transferable and adaptable skills, they empower healthcare professionals to meet the evolving demands of modern practice. Whether you’re an individual seeking career growth or an employer aiming to build a resilient workforce, these frameworks provide a structured, evidence-based approach to achieving your goals.  

Want to know more?  

Find out more about Core Capabilities Frameworks and how we can support you.