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What is the Knowledge and Skills Framework?

The KSF is essentially a development tool and will provide the basis for pay progression within bands. It is made up of a number of dimensions. The dimensions form the main components of the framework.

Six dimensions have been defined as core to the NHS – these dimensions will occur in everyone’s job. A further 16 specific dimensions have been identified – these relate to some jobs and not others. No hierarchy is intended in the numbering of the dimensions in the KSF – the numbering is purely to aid easy recognition and referencing.

The Knowledge and Skills Framework – An Introduction

An individual would need to apply the knowledge and skills in a number of dimensions to achieve the expectations of their job. Most jobs will be made up of the core dimensions and about 3 – 6 of the specific dimensions (although a few jobs might involve more than this).

Each dimension of the KSF is further elaborated by a series of level descriptors. The levels show successively more advanced levels of knowledge and skill and/or the increasing complexity of application of knowledge and skills to the demands of work. Each level builds on the preceding level(s).

The number of level descriptors varies from one dimension to another (although this is being kept under review in case development work reveals that there are a set number across all of the dimensions). A synopsis of the KSF’s dimensions and levels is included on pages 9-11 for ease of reference.

The core and specific dimensions in the KSF are:

Core dimensions

  1. Communication

  2. Personal and people development

  3. Health, safety and security

  4. Service development

  5. Quality

  6. Equality, diversity and rights

Specific dimensions

  1. Assessment of health and wellbeing needs

  2. Addressing individuals’ health and wellbeing needs

  3. Improvement of health and wellbeing

  4. Protection of health and wellbeing

  5. Logistics

  6. Data processing and management

  7. Production and communication of information and knowledge

  8. Facilities maintenance and management

  9. Design and production of equipment, devices and visual records

  10. Biomedical investigation and reporting

  11. Measuring, monitoring and treating physiological conditions through the application of specific technologies

  12. Partnership

  13. Leadership

  14. Management of people

  15. Management of physical and/or financial resources

  16. Research and development

 Attached to each level descriptor are:

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indicators
these describe the level at which knowledge and skills need to be applied and are designed to enable more consistent and reliable application of the dimensions and descriptors across the NHS.

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examples of application
to illustrate how and to what the dimensions, level descriptors and indicators could be applied across the jobs in the NHS. The examples relate both generally to all jobs (e.g. in relation to individual’s rights) and specifically (e.g. in relation to a particular area of work, or technologies).

bullet

references
to enable users to find further information and connections to the framework and more detailed descriptions of competence for specific areas of work.
The references will include:
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regulatory requirements/competences

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National Occupational Standards

bullet

QAA benchmarks

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other nationally developed competences

bullet

policy documents and services frameworks

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national guidance

Guidance has been produced for organisations that have already produced their own local competencies to illustrate how these may link to the KSF. This is available on the website.

Level descriptors

Each Dimension has level descriptors:

Level 1    Contribute to own personal development

Level 2  

Develop own skills and knowledge and provide information to others to help their development
Level 3  Develop own skills and knowledge & contribute to the development of others

Level 4  

Develop knowledge and practice in an area of work
Level 5   Develop own and others’ knowledge and practice across professional and organisational boundaries

Download summary in Portable Document Format (PDF, 81K)

 

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