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CAPABILITIES In development · Expected launch H1 2027
Capabilities In development · Expected launch H1 2027

Capability and career frameworks, alongside your competencies

As clinical careers progress, the broader skills, knowledge and behaviours that people bring to their work matter as much as the tasks they are signed off for. Compassly's Capabilities module will bring capability and career frameworks into the same lifelong learning passport as competencies and programmes, with the evidence for each capability gathered over time in one portfolio.

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Competency or capability?

Because competencies and capabilities are assessed differently, it is worth being clear on the difference. A competency is a defined standard of performance, focused on the outputs of work and what can be observed. Its scope is specific, so achievement can be assessed against objective, agreed criteria. A capability is broader: the skills, knowledge and behaviours a person brings to their work, set out as directional statements that call for professional judgement.

A clinical example shows both. Inserting a cannula is a competency, and understanding and addressing a patient's concerns is a capability. Inserting a cannula safely and sympathetically in a distressed patient draws on both.

The terms are not used the same way everywhere, and many respected professional bodies use "competency" to cover both. The distinction is still a useful one when you design how skills are assessed.

Why the difference matters

Different ways to assess. Competencies suit checklist-style assessment, with clear performance criteria that any assessor familiar with the topic can apply consistently. Capabilities rely more on the judgement of an experienced practitioner, ideally supported by evidence such as examples and rationale, other views, relevant training and a portfolio of practice.

Different routes between organisations. Because competencies rest on agreed criteria, they move between organisations far more easily. Capabilities can travel too, but the evidence behind them needs to be rigorous and transparent.

Different stages of a career. Early in a career, people often have more competencies to develop. As they progress, broader capabilities play a larger part.

Read the full article, Competencies and capabilities

What Capabilities will add

Compassly's Competencies module already takes competencies from first assessment through to renewal. Capabilities will bring capability and career frameworks into Compassly, building on the same lifelong learning passport and portfolio of evidence.

Already live: My Files. Capabilities rest on evidence gathered over time, so the first feature is a personal file library. Each person can add a certificate or document once and use it as evidence wherever it applies across the whole app. My Files also brings together the files used in Competencies, Requirements and Programmes, so each person has a complete view of every document in their portfolio, ready for capabilities when they arrive.

Competencies

Built for frameworks you use

Capabilities is being designed to handle the kinds of national frameworks clinical staff already work to, so your teams can follow a recognised framework rather than rewrite one. Examples include:

  • ACCEND, the career pathway and core cancer capabilities framework for everyone who cares for people affected by cancer
  • The multi-professional framework for advanced practice in England, with its four pillars of clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research
  • Core capabilities frameworks from Skills for Health and NHS England, such as frailty, mental health and end of life care
  • Specialty frameworks such as the RCN emergency nursing framework and the CC3N step framework for adult critical care nurses

If your organisation works with frameworks like these, or with one of its own, we're happy to talk through how Capabilities will fit alongside your competencies.

ACCEND Capabilities in Practice on Compassly

Capabilities will join Competencies, Programmes for preceptorship and Requirements.

CompetenciesAssess, sign off and renew every competencyExploreProgrammesPreceptorship and other programmes, start to finishExploreRequirementsPolicies, reading and training, confirmed onceExploreCapabilities In developmentCapability and career frameworksYou are here

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