Support services
Staff working in Support Service roles provide a wide variety of services ranging from Domestic Services to Estates Management
All support staff are needed to support the delivery of
first-class healthcare. Together, they make up one of the largest
staff groups within NHSScotland, with approximately 19,500
staff. This section of the website is dedicated to issues
related to the learning and development of staff working in all
these particular areas.
NES is committed to support the development of learning
opportunities for all staff in NHSScotland and is funding the
Administrative, Clerical and Support Services (ACS) Programme to
establish a framework of support for educational development for
administrative and support services staff. To date the programme
has funded a range of publications and produced a number of
workstreams including:-
• Testing Facilities Management Skills Maps
NHS Boards have been invited to bid for funding to support a small
number of project sites to test the NES Facilities Management
Skills Maps. The skills maps have the potential to support a range
of activities including workforce planning and role or service
redesign. The closing date for submissions is 8th June 2012. Follow
the links below for further information including an invitation letter to
Boards, guidance notes and application form or
contact Elaine Pacitti
• Career Pathways for Support Services staff NES is working with partners in NHS Boards and NHS NSS Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) to develop career pathways.
• Support Services Portal NES is also
working with these partners to develop a new portal which will link
to a 'family' of web based resources for Support Services staff
including the VQ
Finder, the Admin Centre and
the Healthcare
Support Workers Toolkit. Useful consultations with the
service were held in early 2012, feedback from these will be used
in the development of the portal.
• Workbooks for Facilities Staff NES
supported Health Facilities Scotland to develop a suite of
workbooks to help staff in NHSScotland Facilities Services
demonstrate that they have the essential knowledge and skills
needed to help deliver safe, effective and person-centred
healthcare. More information is available following this link
• SVQ3 in Facilities Management NES, working
in partnership with NHS Boards and HFS, is funding a trial
programme for the delivery of the new SVQ3 in Facilities
Management. A cohort of 20 staff from NHSS Boards started the
programme in June. With significant numbers of staff at AfC
Bands 4-6 expected to retire over the next 2-3 years, this new
qualification may support existing staff to move into available
higher level posts.
• Modern Apprenticeships in NHSScotland NES
is working with SDS and other partners to support the uptake of MAs
in NHSS. A report and
guide have been
produced and further work is underway. More information will
be available in 2012.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about the
work NES is doing as part of the ACS Programme, please contact the
ACS Programme Team at ACS.Project@nes.scot.nhs.uk
