Northern Ireland Practice and Education
Council for Nursing and Midwifery
Career Pathway
for
Nursing and Midwifery
Project Initiation Document
CONTENTS
1.0
Introduction
2
2.0
Background
4
3.0
Project Aim and Objectives
6
4.0
Scope of Project
7
5.0
Methodology Overview
7
6.0
Resources
8
7.0
Dissemination and Implementation
8
8.0
Project Screening
9
9.0
Evaluation
9
10.0
References
10
11.0
Appendices
Appendix One
List of Policy Directions and Strategies
11
Appendix Two
Membership of the Task and Finish Group
12
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1.0
Introduction
1.1
Health and Social Care (HSC) in Northern Ireland is focused on achieving the
DHSSPS’s modernisation and reform agenda, as laid out in the Transforming
Your Care agenda (DHSSPS, 2011). The success of the strategy depends partly
on the development of an appropriately trained and educated clinical workforce,
particularly on the development of nurses and midwives.
1.2
Nurses and midwives form the largest group of staff in the HSC in Northern
Ireland and are a crucial part of the healthcare team. Nurses work in every health
setting from accident and emergency to patients' homes, with people of all ages
and backgrounds.
1.3
It is essential that Northern Ireland accelerates the development of nurses and
midwives to meet the challenging demands of health care, in particular with the
Transforming Your Care agenda (DHSSPS 2011), driving the transition of service
delivery from predominantly acute-based to community settings. More nurses in
particular will be needed with skills in complex case management, advanced
specialist practice knowledge, and the confidence to work independently in
community rather than acute hospital settings.
1.4
To meet the nursing and midwifery workforce required, the Chief Nursing Officer
(CNO), Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS)
2
asked the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and
Midwifery (NIPEC) to lead the development of a Career Pathway for Nursing and
Midwifery across Northern Ireland.
1.5
It will provide a pathway for all bands, from newly qualified nurses through to the
DHSSPS Chief Nursing Officer and will cater for careers in clinical, education,
research, management, commissioning and policy areas. It will also guide those
who are considering a career in nursing or midwifery.
1.6
The pathway will reflect current government policy on recruitment and retention
and workforce planning and will make it easy for nurses and midwives to link with
Agenda for Change (DH, 2004), the Knowledge and Skills Framework (DH,
2004) the Leadership Framework (NHS Leadership Academy, 2011) and a range
of competence assessment tools to help clarify the competencies and level of
performance required to support their learning and development.
1.7
It is suggested that the pathway could also contribute to the development of an
academic structure within nursing and midwifery. In this way, nurses and
midwives could be more proactive in their pursuit of continuous professional
development and academic involvement.
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2.0
Background
2.1
It is an exciting and challenging time to be part of the nursing and midwifery
workforce in Northern Ireland. Throughout a recent unprecedented period of
change, the delivery of safe, high quality, effective and compassionate care has
heavily relied upon the community of nurses and midwives working across a
diverse and wide range of settings with the aim of providing person centred care
24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. In Northern Ireland, a range of recent
policy directives have reflected the changing context of Health and Social Care
and set the direction for future service delivery (Appendix One).
2.2
It is essential that Nurses and Midwives embrace the future opportunities and
challenges that the professions face and exercise the direction outlined in
strategic policies and strategies to help shape our future HSC.
2.3
While the HSC remains the largest employer of Nurses and Midwives, increasing
numbers are now being employed in community, voluntary and private
organisations and charities. In addition, new opportunities have or will be created
with Transforming Your Care (DHSSPS, 2011), particularly specialist nursing
roles.
2.4
In order to maximise job and role prospects, the Career Pathway for Nursing and
Midwifery will encourage nurses and midwives to be flexible in their approach to
4
considering the broader range of sectors that employ nurses and midwives. The
proposed website as part of this project will provide an overview of the health and
social care sector in Northern Ireland and more detailed insight into the more
popular career pathways for nurses and midwives.
2.5
The website will also offer an overview of the Midwifery and Nursing professions
where information will be provided on progression routes and training as well as
a ‘Frequently asked Questions’ section. A more detailed insight into Nursing and
Midwifery with real life video case studies and an exploration of the breadth of
opportunities available to those who hold a nursing and midwifery qualification
will also be available.
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3.0
Project Aim and Objectives
3.1
Aim
The aim of the project is to support person-centred practice through the
development of a Career Pathway for Nursing and Midwifery, endorsed by the
DHSSPS Chief Nursing Officer, which meets the needs of nurses and midwives
in supporting them to plan their career.
3.2
Objectives
The objectives are as follows, to:
I.
Undertake a literature review to inform the project
II.
Scope the current nursing and midwifery career pathways available and/or
being utilised by nurses and midwives in Northern Ireland
III.
Develop and agree a career pathway and relevant resources for nursing
and midwifery with key stakeholders, which will meet the needs of nurses
and midwives in planning their career
IV.
Host the agreed Career Pathway for Nursing and Midwifery on NIPEC’s
website
V.
Quantify any additional resource required to support on-going evaluation
and monitoring of the career pathway
VI.
Submit a project report to the DHSSPS Chief Nursing Officer with
recommendations to support the implementation and evaluation of the
regional career pathway to support nurses and midwives in planning their
career.
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4.0
Scope of Project
4.1
The project is intended to support the impetus and direction of an effective,
competent high quality nursing and midwifery workforce. The Career Pathway
will therefore include nurses and midwives working within all sectors across
Northern Ireland, including the statutory, independent, voluntary and private
sectors and within the areas of clinical, education, management, research,
commissioning and policy.
5.0 Methodology Overview

The Project will be completed over a nine month period. The overall Project
will be led by Dr Carole McKenna, supported by Frances Cannon, NIPEC
Senior Professional Officers (SPOs).

NIPEC will establish a Task and Finish Group, chaired by an HSC Trust
Executive Director of Nursing and will include representation from the
following organisations: DHSSPS, Independent and Voluntary Sectors, HSC
Trusts, Public Health Agency, Queen’s University Belfast, University of Ulster,
Open University, HSC Clinical Education Centre, RQIA, Royal College of
Nursing, Royal College of Midwifery and Staff Side (Appendix Two).

A range of workshops with relevant stakeholders will also be conducted as
required to progress the development of the Pathway within the agreed
timescale.

The Career Pathway will be published by NIPEC and available via NIPEC’s
website.
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
Evaluation of project management processes will be completed by NIPEC at
the end of the Project.
6.0
Resources
6.1
NIPEC will provide project management and administrative support to ensure the
delivery of the Project.
6.2
Any additional support required will be discussed and agreed by NIPEC’s
business team.
7.0
Dissemination and Implementation
7.1
Communication and consultation processes will be ongoing throughout the project
using various mechanisms including the NIPEC website, NIPEC News and CNO
News bulletins, along with utilisation of key stakeholders’ communication
mechanisms. This will reflect the progress of the project and encourage
individuals’ to contribute to and participate in the project at various stages.
7.2
On completion, the project will be summarised in a Final Report which will be
available on NIPEC’s website. An official launch of the Pathway developed as
part of the project will also be considered with the DHSSPS.
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8.0
8.1
Project Screening Assessment
To ensure NIPEC and its stakeholders are meeting its legal obligations in relation
to Equality, Personal and Public Involvement and Governance, the project plan,
its aims, objectives and proposed outcomes have been screened for any issues
relating to the following areas:

Risk Management

Equality and Human Rights

Privacy Impact Assessment

Personal Public Involvement
9.0
Evaluation
9.1
Ongoing evaluation of the management of the project will be conducted through
NIPEC and will ultimately feed into the progress and outcomes of the project.
This evaluation will address the achievements of the objectives outlined in the
project plan and the project management process.
9.2
The final project report will include a record of the project management and
evaluation processes.
9
References
Department of Health (2004) Agenda for Change - Final Agreement. Available for
download at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/d
igitalasset/dh_4099423.pdf
Department of Health (2004) The NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (NHS KSF)
and
the
Development
Review
Process.
Available
for
download
at:
http://www.baat.org/KSF_Handbook.pdf
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (2011) Transforming Your
Care: A Review of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland. Belfast: DHSSPS.
NHS Leadership Academy (2011) Leadership Framework. Available for download at:
http://www.leadershipacademy.nhs.uk/discover/leadership-framework/
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Appendix One
List of Relevant Policy Directions and Strategies
A Healthier Future: A Twenty Year Vision for Health and Wellbeing in Northern Ireland
(DHSSPS, 2004)
Improving the Patient and Client Experience (DHSSPS, 2008). Produced for DHSSPS
by NIPEC in partnership with RCN
Transforming Your Care:
(DHSSPS, 2011)
A Review of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland
Transforming Your Care: Strategic Implementation Plan (DHSSPS, 2013)
Quality 20:20. A 10 year Strategy to Protect and Improve Health and Social Care in
Northern Ireland (DHSSPS, 2011)
Making Life Better. A Whole System Strategic Framework for Public Health (DHSSPS,
2014)
Delivering the Bamford Action Plan 2012-2015 (DHSSPS, 2012)
Delivering Excellence Supporting Recovery: Professional Framework for Mental Health
Nursing 2011-2016 (DHSSPS, 2010)
A Partnership for Care. Northern Ireland Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery 2010-2015
(DHSSPS, 2010)
A Strategy for Maternity Care in Northern Ireland 2012-2018. ( DHSSPS, 2012)
Modernising Learning Disabilities Nursing Review Strengthening the Commitment.
Northern Ireland Action Plan (DHSSPS, 2014)
Improving Dementia Services in Northern Ireland. A Regional Strategy (DHSSPS, 2011)
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Appendix Two
Membership of Task and Finish Group
Nicki Patterson (Chair)
SEHSCT
Carole McKenna (Project Lead)
NIPEC
Caroline Lee
DHSSPS
Janet Montgomery
Independent Health Care Providers
Melanie Bowden
Four Seasons Health Care
Liz Henderson
Macmillan Cancer Care
Loretta Gribben
NI Hospice and liaison with Marie Curie
Brendan McGrath
WHSCT
Jacqui Lowry
BHSCT
Lynn Fee
SHSCT
Allison Hume
NHSCT
Breedagh Hughes
RCM
Rita Devlin
RCN
Deirdre Cunningham
HSC CEC
Kevin Gormley
QUB
Kevin Moore
UU
No nomination
OU
No nomination
PHA
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For further Information, please contact
NIPEC
Centre House
79 Chichester Street
BELFAST, BT1 4JE
Tel: 028 9023 8152
Fax: 028 9033 3298
This document can be downloaded from the NIPEC website
www.nipec.hscni.net
May 2014
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