Extending SFIA support to clinical roles in digital healthcare

New skills proposed for SFIA 9 | Further opportunities to extend SFIA coverage

Background

SFIA (Skills Framework for the Information Age) is a well-established, trusted, and actively maintained framework that provides a structured approach to defining and managing skills and competencies across various professional domains. First published in 2000, SFIA has evolved through successive updates with expert input from its global users, ensuring it remains relevant and useful to industry and business needs.

Originally developed for the ICT community, SFIA has expanded through contributions from a worldwide community of practitioners. It now defines the skills and competencies required by a range of professionals who design, develop, implement, manage, and protect the data and technology that drive the digital world.

The rapid advancements in digital technologies, data, machine learning, and AI have blurred the lines between the professional skills needed for clinical and non-clinical roles.

While SFIA has a proven track record in non-clinical roles, its application to clinical roles in digital healthcare presents an opportunity to enhance workforce management and professional development in this sector.

Extending SFIA to clinical roles can bridge the skills gap, ensuring that both clinical and non-clinical professionals are equipped to meet the demands of the evolving digital health landscape.

Rationale

Extending SFIA coverage into clinical roles in digital healthcare offers numerous benefits, including standardisation, professional development, and strategic workforce planning. By leveraging the proven framework of SFIA and collaborating with industry experts, healthcare organisations can ensure that their clinical workforce is equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to deliver high-quality patient care in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. This approach not only enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery but also supports the continuous professional growth of clinical professionals.

Key points on applying SFIA to digital healthcare roles

1. Proven framework for non-clinical roles

SFIA has been successfully used to develop and maintain skills frameworks and job/career architectures for non-clinical roles in digital healthcare, such as IT operations, data management, and cybersecurity
The framework’s flexibility and comprehensive nature make it suitable for a wide range of roles, ensuring that skills and competencies are clearly defined and aligned with organisational needs

2. Reusability of SFIA Skills for clinical roles

Many SFIA skills can be adapted for clinical roles with the addition of specialised clinical knowledge. For example, skills in data analysis, data science, scientific modeling information management, and cybersecurity are relevant to both clinical and non-clinical settings with the addition of knowledge and contextualisation for clinical applications
This adaptability allows for a seamless integration of SFIA into clinical roles, leveraging existing skills and a proven 7-level framework while addressing the unique needs of the healthcare environment.

3. Identification of additional skills for clinical Roles

Clinical roles may require additional skills that are specific to healthcare. These skills can be developed and added to the SFIA framework in collaboration with industry experts and professional bodies
By incorporating these specialised skills, SFIA can provide a more comprehensive and relevant framework for clinical roles, ensuring that all necessary competencies are covered.
For example - in SFIA 9 we have proposed skills for clinical coding and for records management

SFIA 9 changes

SFIA skill - name	Code	Levels	SFIA skill - concise description	Changes for SFIA 9
Analytical classification and coding	ANCC	2 - 6	Interpreting information and assigning classifications or labels based on domain-specific knowledge, standards, and guidelines to enable data analysis and use.	New for SFIA 9
Records management	RMGT	1 - 5	Planning, implementing and managing the full life cycle of organisational records.	New for SFIA 9
Data management	DATM	2 - 6	Developing and implementing plans, policies, and practices that control, protect and optimise the value and governance of data assets.	updated to include reference to 'developing and enforcing data governance policies to ensure data quality, compliance, and ethical usage' 'update to reference 'analysing information structures, including logical analysis of taxonomies, ontologies, data, metadata, and industry reference data'
Data modelling	DTAN	2 - 5	Developing models and diagrams to represent and communicate data requirements and data assets.	updated to include reference to 'incorporating industry reference data standards to ensure consistency, interoperability, and compliance.'

4. Benefits of extending SFIA to clinical roles

Standardisation and clarity: Extending SFIA to clinical roles can standardise job descriptions and role profiles, providing clarity and consistency across the healthcare sector. This helps set clear expectations, reduces role overlaps, and enables skills-based organisations to function more effectively.
Professional development: Using the SFIA framework allows healthcare professionals to identify and develop different strands of professional growth:
- Professional skills: Developing increased responsibility, accountability, and impact in a healthcare environment as described in SFIA.
- Healthcare/clinical knowledge: Vital for clinical roles, although outside SFIA's scope, this knowledge is essential for effective healthcare delivery.
- Behaviours and workplace skills: Enhancing skills such as communication, collaboration, leadership, and planning to improve overall workplace effectiveness.
Career pathways: The seven-level structure of SFIA supports clear career pathways for clinical professionals, helping them understand how they can progress within the organisation and what skills they need to develop. This framework enables both specialist and managerial career pathways, offering a transparent roadmap for career advancement.
Workforce planning: SFIA helps in identifying skill gaps and planning for future needs, ensuring that the healthcare workforce remains capable of meeting evolving challenges. This proactive approach to workforce planning supports a more resilient and adaptable healthcare system.

5. Collaborative development with industry

Extending SFIA to clinical roles requires collaboration with healthcare professionals, employers, and professional bodies to ensure that the framework accurately reflects the skills and competencies needed in clinical settings.

Broad families of roles in digital health

The digital health sector encompasses a wide range of roles that integrate technology, data, and healthcare to improve patient outcomes and streamline healthcare operations.

These roles can be grouped into several broad families, each with specific job titles and responsibilities. Below is a summary of the types of roles associated with digital health, how they are grouped, and some example role titles.

Patient services

Roles in this family support patient interactions and manage patient data. These roles ensure efficient communication between patients and healthcare providers, and accurate handling of patient information.

Example roles: Patient Data Coordinator, Patient Support Specialist, Health Information Officer

Information governance

This family ensures compliance with data protection and governance standards. Roles in this area focus on maintaining the integrity and security of health data, ensuring that all processes comply with relevant regulations.

Example roles: Data Protection Officer, Information Governance Manager, Compliance Specialist

Clinical safety

This family focuses on ensuring the safety and effectiveness of clinical systems and processes, often working closely with regulatory standards and protocols.

Example roles: Clinical Safety Officer, Clinical Risk Manager, Health Safety Compliance Officer

Cyber security

Roles in this family protect digital health systems from cyber threats. They are responsible for safeguarding sensitive health information against unauthorised access and ensuring robust security measures are in place.

Example roles: Cyber Security Analyst, Information Security Manager, Cyber Defence Specialist

Clinical informatics

This family bridges clinical practice and digital technology to improve healthcare delivery. Roles here involve analysing and implementing technological solutions to enhance clinical workflows and patient care.

Example roles: Clinical Informatics Specialist, Health IT Consultant, Clinical Data Analyst

Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics roles are typically involved in the intersection of biology and data science, applying computational techniques to analyse and interpret biological data.

Example roles: Bioinformatician, Bioinformatics Scientist, Genomic Data Analyst, Computational Biologist

Digital leadership roles

These roles provide strategic direction and leadership in digital health initiatives. They are responsible for guiding the overall digital strategy and ensuring alignment with organisational goals.

Example roles: Chief Digital Officer, Digital Health Director, Digital Transformation Lead

Learning and development

Roles in this family focus on training and developing digital health skills. They design and deliver educational programmes to ensure that healthcare staff are proficient in using digital health technologies.

Example roles: Digital Health Trainer, Learning and Development Coordinator, Educational Technologist

Knowledge management

This family includes roles that manage and use healthcare knowledge and information. They work to organise, store, and retrieve critical health information efficiently.

Example roles: Knowledge Manager, Health Information Librarian, Clinical Knowledge Specialist

Architecture

Roles in this family focus on designing and implementing the structural framework of digital health systems. They ensure that all components of the digital health infrastructure work seamlessly together.

Example roles: Solution Architect, Health IT Architect, Systems Designer

Data and analytics

This family includes roles that manage, analyse, and govern healthcare data to derive insights and support decision-making. They play a key role in translating data into actionable information.

Example roles: Data Analyst, Health Data Scientist, Data Governance Manager

IT operations

Roles in IT operations ensure the smooth functioning of digital health systems and infrastructure. They are responsible for maintaining and supporting IT systems used in healthcare settings.

Example roles: IT Operations Manager, Health IT Support Specialist, Systems Administrator

Product and delivery

This family focuses on the development and delivery of digital health products and services. They oversee the lifecycle of digital health solutions from concept to deployment.

Example roles: Product Manager, Delivery Lead, Digital Health Project Manager

Quality assurance testing

Roles in this family ensure that digital health products meet quality standards and function correctly. They are involved in testing and validating digital health solutions to ensure reliability and effectiveness.

Example roles: Quality Assurance Tester, Health Software Tester, QA Manager

Software development

This family includes roles that develop and maintain software applications for digital health. They design, code, and implement software solutions to meet the needs of healthcare providers and patients.

Example roles: Software Developer, Health IT Programmer, Application Developer

User centred design

Roles in this family focus on designing patient-friendly and user-friendly digital health solutions. They ensure that digital health products are intuitive and meet the needs of users.

Example roles: UX Designer, User Experience Researcher, Health Interface Designer