Development of a best practice resource for capability development within and throughout HEE's Developing Sonography Career Framework.

Introduction:

Quotations are invited for the provision of a delivery partner to facilitate the development of a resource which will articulate methods, tools and best practice approaches, to capability development within and throughout HEE's developing sonography career framework.

Project Outcomes

The outcome of this project is to provide documentation to serve as an authoritative reference for imaging service managers, sonographers, potential sonographers and other interested parties, which articulates:

The starting point, in terms of competence and capability, of a newly qualified undergraduate sonographer (and if appropriate, newly qualified, direct-entry postgraduate sonographers). Examples of the scope of practice of a sonographer at career level 5. Identification and description of the competency gap between career level 5 and career level 6 sonographers. Examples of methods and mechanisms for sonographers to improve competence and capability, in order to be eligible to progress between career level 5 and 6. Additionally, the documentation must cover:

Examples of sonographer scope of practice at career levels 6, 7 and 8. Identification and description of the competency gap between the different career levels. Examples of methods and mechanisms for sonographers to improve competence and capability, in order to be eligible to progress between the career levels. Throughout the production of these resources it is important that:

Common assumptions about sonographic practice and service delivery methods, including the scope of practice of sonographers and their required level (e.g. that practice must be at career and academic level 7) are critically appraised and challenged, if needed. The standards/practice defined in the resources are broadly couched - rather than being overly-prescriptive, or at risk of becoming quickly out-of-date - and able to be applied across different geographies and contexts. The resources produced, and process of production should correlate and align with:

The direction and instructions set out by the Sonography Implementation Group (SIG) and their representatives. Expectations to regulate sonographers upon initial qualification. The draft HEE sonography career outline. Learning aims and outcomes set out in the recently produced CASE Standards for Sonographic Education document. The QAA qualifications framework and its particular characterisation of level 6 and level 7 learning. The ongoing development of the sonography apprenticeship standard. Parallel work, taking place under the authority of the SIG, which is defining and developing a preceptorship resource for sonographers. HCPC standards of proficiency (both generic for all the professions regulated by the HCPC, and the standards that are specific to radiography). The multi-professional advanced clinical practice (ACP) framework (HEE, 2017). Work progressed by Skills for Health in 2017 on behalf of HEE to develop national