Development Pathway Framework

Departments that employ professional services staff are recognising a skills shortage in specific areas and recruiting and retaining staff is becoming increasingly difficult if they have a requirement for a scarce skill set.

Setting up a developmental role may help in recruitment and retention in departments and can introduce a visible career pathway for professional services staff where it is implemented. This approach can also form part of succession planning within a team, department or Directorate or School where team members showing potential can be nurtured and developed.

The Development Pathway Framework sets out a framework for a development pathway which is clear at appointment stage for the manager and employee. In these cases, the employee knows at the outset the skills, knowledge and/or qualifications they need to achieve in order to move to a higher grade. The manager has also planned the developmental support that is required for the employee to achieve it.

Where to start

The line manager works with their HR Partner/Adviser to follow the Development Pathway Framework shape the development pathway roles (before and after), manage the postholder and support their development and it gives steps to take to change the grade of the employee once they have successfully completed their development pathway.