What is the skills framework?

The framework describes core ODP skills, job families and role profiles we see across the Operational Delivery Profession. It sets out the range of careers available and defines the skills and experience needed for ODP roles.

It includes:

Core ODP specialist skills
Common set of role profiles
Career journeys
Learning curriculum to support the development of core ODP skills.

Who is it for?

Those working in ODP or those interested in working in ODP, seeking to understand core ODP skills, common job families, roles and learning & development.

For managers, the framework will help you build role profiles for recruitment, hold personal development conversations with teams and understand what learning is recommended for your teams to develop ODP skills.

Why it was created?

We know there is a lack of clear, measurable standards and specialist skills in operational delivery roles, impacting career progression and skill development across all levels of ODP.

It can be challenging to understand how you might progress in your role or move to another role and how to access appropriate learning.

It is also challenging navigating the various products and services already available across the Civil Service which includes the Government Skills Campus taxonomy of skills, line management standards and wider profession and function frameworks.

To address this we have:

Worked with colleagues in ODP roles, Heads of Profession and Capability Leads to develop a comprehensive understanding of your needs and to co-create a framework for operational delivery professionals.

From March 2023, we met with a number of ODP colleagues from various organisations, representing the diverse nature of ODP roles and organisations to co-create the framework.

The skills framework has been developed for the ODP by operational delivery colleagues across Government and represents the diverse breadth of roles we see in the Civil Service.

Whether you work in an operational delivery role already, or you are looking to move into operational delivery from another profession, the skills framework will support you in your career planning.

The framework:

provides a clear way of setting out core ODP skills, job families and roles. Individuals will be able to use the framework to assess themselves against, understand their strengths, and areas for skill development.
features career journeys from colleagues showing personal experiences of career progression and development to aid individual career planning.
helps address skills gaps through our learning offer which is aligned to the skills framework, signposting relevant learning and development to support with progression in role or promotion.

It includes:

Core ODP specialist skills
Common set of role profiles
Career journeys
Learning curriculum to support the development of core ODP skills.

How do I use it?

Career planning

The framework allows you to map out your career journey across ODP by understanding the skills, experience and learning to support your progression in role or promotion. It supports the identification of skills and learning for development in role and or moves into a different role. It is a tool to facilitate discussions with your line manager to identify and address any professional development needs. The framework will help you plan and manage your own career, including examples of career journeys showcasing the breadth of opportunities and roles across the profession.

Recruitment

The core ODP skills form the technical element of Success Profiles and cluster role profiles allow you to see and understand the typical responsibilities and expected skill levels across common ODP roles that can be used to develop job descriptions. Driving consistency in recruitment practices.

Learning and development

The framework is underpinned by the ODP learning curriculum signposting specific ODP learning against the core ODP skills. Allowing you to understand what learning is recommended to support your career development.

Skills assessment

Helps you to assess your skills against the core ODP skills, to identify any skills gaps and access recommended ODP learning.

How do I access it?

Through the ODP website, the framework will be interactive allowing you to navigate each section with ease

When should I use it?

You should regularly review the core ODP skills, job families and cluster role profiles. This will help you discuss your personal development with your line manager and consider the level (awareness, working, practitioner, expert), you are progressing towards and how to develop your expertise and recommended learning to support your development. If you are considering a job move, the framework will allow you to explore different career opportunities across ODP. If you are a manager, the framework will help you with recruitment as the core ODP skills form the technical element of Success Profiles. Helping to drive consistency in recruitment practices.

Links to other frameworks

The framework outlines core roles across ODP.

There are many other roles that support operational delivery. These roles feature on other frameworks including: Analysis, Communications, Government Digital and Data Profession, Finance, Policy, HR, Knowledge and Information Management, Project Delivery and Tax.

The framework should be considered alongside the Line Management standards and skills taxonomy.