ACCEND programme
The Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development (ACCEND) programme is a national initiative to support cancer nurses, cancer support workers and allied health professionals to increase their core knowledge, skills and capabilities in supporting people affected by cancer.
It is hoped the nationally-led programme will transform the education, training and career pathways of those delivering cancer care.
The core components of ACCEND are:
- Component 1: Career pathway – Provides clear guidance for people working in cancer care on how they can grow and develop in their careers. It helps individuals understand the skills, knowledge and experience needed for different roles and supports them to plan their next steps, whether they are just starting out or looking to progress further in cancer care.
- Component 2: Core cancer capabilities in practice – Describes the essential attributes and capabilities professionals need to provide high-quality, person-centred care for people affected by cancer. The capabilities help ensure wherever someone receives cancer care they are met with compassionate and consistent support from professionals who are confident and well-prepared in their roles.
- Component 3: Education framework – Outlines high-level learning outcomes, syllabus content and assessment strategies aligned to different stages of a cancer care career. This framework supports the development of the knowledge and skills defined in the core capabilities.
Learn more about the national ACCEND programme.
ACCEND in North Central London
In North Central London, we are committed to localising and implementing the components of ACCEND. We aim to create meaningful development opportunities for nurses and allied health professionals working in cancer care, as well as cancer support workers, from early career starters to those in advanced practice and leadership roles.
We are aligning local cancer workforce initiatives with ACCEND by:
- Embedding the national career pathway and education framework into local workforce planning across our sites.
- Facilitating the provision of training and education for chemotherapy nurses, cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) and cancer support workers, ensuring access to a training suite that aligns with workforce needs and the education framework.
- Creating a digitally-enabled and pathway-based model for student placements, including T Levels and pre-registration learners.
- Collaborating with providers, academic institutes and Integrated Care System (ICS) partners to build sustainable cancer care career pathways.
- Agreeing core cancer capabilities for cancer support workers using the national ACCEND supportive and assistive guide and a plan to rollout across trusts by 2028.
Get involved
Whether you are a healthcare professional, educational lead or simply interested in understanding more about working in cancer care, there are ways to engage with the ACCEND programme in North Central London.
Please get in touch with our Cancer Workforce team if you are interested in career development or training opportunities, contributing to placement models or partnering on our workforce projects.