Advancing Practice

The aim of this policy is to provide a consistent set of requirements that support advancing clinical practice across all healthcare professions, which in turn will provide a platform for the organisation to deliver a sustainable and progressive approach to advancing practice.

This policy also seeks to improve workforce planning, governance arrangements, education, training and evaluation, and to ensure that the disciplines, where appropriate have profession specific road maps that support services and individuals aspiring to these roles.

The policy is for use across NHS Lothian, recognising that national frameworks are being developed for some professions and are well established for others. This provides a baseline in the absence of detailed national guidance and will be revised as and when national guidance is published or updated.