NHS pay review body: twenty-sixth report 2012 - Official Documents

Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF)
7 5.54 We noted in our Twenty-Fifth Report that KSF is an integral part of the Agenda for
Change structure. We expressed concern at the low level of staff appraisals being carried
out and that the level needs to be significantly higher to ensure KSF plays its intended
role within the Agenda for Change structure. In that report, we also noted that the
Department and NHS Employers commissioned an independent review of KSF’s structure
by the Institute for Employment Studies in 2010. The recommendations included:
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The need for a stronger link between KSF and staff appraisals;
Simplification to allow greater flexibility and to meet local needs; and
The need for better support for NHS organisations in delivering KSF at local levels.
Information from the Parties
The Health Departments
5.55 The Department of Health informed us that, following review, a new simplified version
of the KSF had been launched which was hoped would increase appraisal completion
rates. It added that a range of tools were available via the NHS Employers’ website to
help support trusts in increasing compliance.
5.56 The WG reported that the Welsh Partnership Forum had set up a Task Group to review
and refine use of the revised KSF to help support the staff performance and development
review process and to drive implementation across NHS Wales.
5.57 The DHSSPSNI reiterated that, while it did not consider the KSF to be mandatory
in Northern Ireland, Health and Social Care organisations (HSC) were continuing to
implement the Framework in line with the national agreement and a regional group
met regularly to share knowledge, good practice and monitor progress. The NHS Staff
Council had endorsed new simplified guidance on KSF and employers in Northern Ireland
had welcomed this development. Progress across HSC organisations was variable ranging
from 45% cover to over 99% for KSF outlines and 38% of the current workforce with a
completed Personal Development Review.
5.58 SGHSCD told us that implementation of the KSF in Scotland had progressed very well. At
a national level 85% of staff had development reviews and PDPs completed and recorded
on the electronic online tool which supports the KSF process by 31 March 2011. The
2010 NHS Staff Survey in Scotland reported a majority of staff as having meetings with
their managers in the last 12 months to appraise their performance and agree a personal
development plan or equivalent. The SGHSCD expected that having the KSF and eKSF
fully implemented would improve staff engagement, competence and job satisfaction
which would in turn lead to increased recruitment and retention.
NHS Employers
5.59 NHSE informed us that the simplified guidance relating to the KSF had been broadly
welcomed by employers across the service. The NHS Staff Survey results showed a
continuing improvement in the percentage of staff who had an appraisal in the last
12 months – an increase of 8% to 77% of staff in 2010.
7 NHSPRB (2011), Twenty-Fifth Report, TSO (Cm 8029), paragraphs 5.30 - 5.39.