One year of Nursing Competency Framework means enhanced specialist rehabilitation care for Cheshire and Merseyside patients
The Cheshire and Merseyside Rehabilitation Network (CMRN) is celebrating a year of implementing and promoting its Specialist Rehabilitation Nursing Competency Framework (NCF) across varied settings, from hyper-acute, hub, spoke and extended rehabilitation services.
Focusing on 16 domains, the NCF encompasses key knowledge and skills relevant to specialist rehabilitation nursing. They cover care aspects ranging from neurological and respiratory care to psychological, mental health and family-centred rehabilitation care. Each domain has three levels of competency, from competent to highly specialised and is designed to meet the training needs of all non-registered and registered members of the nursing team.
Over the last 12 months, the NCF has been applied throughout the network, with evaluation evidencing it increases clinical knowledge, enhances multidisciplinary (MDT) collaboration and supports a clearer profile and identity of the rehabilitation nurse.
CMRN Manager Angela Harrison said: “We're delighted that the uptake of this landmark initiative has become standard practice across the Cheshire and Merseyside region. In collaboration with our commissioners and partner organisations, we have been able to support professional growth and embed consistently high-quality practice.
“This milestone reflects not only the commitment of individual nurses but also the collective strength of our specialist rehabilitation team and the collaborative spirit.”
CMRN, hosted by The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, includes seven inpatient units across the region, with 103 beds. Each unit is delivered by a multidisciplinary team, combining specialist healthcare workers with dedicated rehabilitation environments. The new framework has achieved national praise at various conferences, sparking interest from rehabilitation nursing teams across the country.
Assistant Chief Nurse for Neurology and Rehabilitation at The Walton Centre Sarah Flynn said: “Dedication, professionalism and collaboration of our nursing teams has punctuated the NCF's first year. The framework not only strengthens clinical practice, but also recognises rehabilitation nursing as a core MDT role. Our teams have embraced this with enthusiasm, and the positive impact on patient care is already clear.”
Hyperacute Rehabilitation Ward Manager Jade Gerrard said: “I'm incredibly proud of our hyper-acute rehabilitation nursing team. Completing this first‑of‑its‑kind competency framework shows just how committed our nurses are to delivering safe, specialist, and person‑centred rehabilitation care. It also highlights the vital role rehabilitation nurses play within the MDT - their expertise is central to every patient's journey.”
The British Society of Physical & Rehab Medicine (BSPRM) Standard says that 30-45% of nursing staff working in rehabilitation should receive specialist training. The framework was created to match this standard for our healthcare population and gained early endorsement by the BSPRM.
Chair of the BSPRM Educational Committee and Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine Dr Fahim Anwar said: “This framework is more than just a training tool — it's a way to support and empower the nursing teams and wider MDT, giving them the skills and confidence to provide the best possible care for their patients.
“Rehabilitation nursing is a highly specialised field, and this framework reflects the network's commitment to ensuring that every nurse and healthcare assistant has the training, knowledge, and support they need to deliver high-quality, person-centred care.”
For more information on the framework, please contact the CMRN
Watch an animation about the framework here
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Notes to editors
Further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on 0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.
For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Lower Lane, Fazakerley, Liverpool L9 7LJ
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