Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Zone

This is a framework for non-specialists, not for staff who work in antimicrobial stewardship, IPC or immunisation.

But this framework will be useful for those new to a specialist post in AMS/IPC. Specialists/leaders will also find the framework useful to identify learning needs in their wider team and for signposting or directing those who are thinking about working in the field or are interested in developing specialist competencies. All AMS/IPC/Health Protection specialists should be familiar with this framework.

The framework covers very broad groups of staff and students, and it applies to you if you:

• work or are preparing to work within health and social care in Scotland and you interact/will interact with those in care or their families/carers
• are involved in direct care or in a supporting role
• work in a laboratory and provide provide diagnostic expertise and laboratory reports which are essential for the treatment of infections
• are in a management roles and can influence and direct the provision of services.

The framework covers all care settings, from primary care to hospitals, from care homes to care at home. The content of the framework is generic, and statements have not been aligned to a specific care setting.

The UK Government has published sets of quiz questions for different staff groups:

Antibiotic awareness: quizzes and crosswords

You can also complete the short Antibiotic Guardian quiz.

• Identify knowledge, skills and behaviours for your role in health and social care.
• Identify knowledge and skills areas to discuss with a manager/supervisor during a personal review.

• Assess if there is a need for individual or team development.
• Highlight in conversations with staff their role and contribution to AMS in practice.
• Discuss the importance of AMR and AMS during appraisals.
• Encourage staff to undertake personal development to improve their knowledge and skills.

• Identify and highlight the required knowledge and skills during recruitment.
• Create specifications for the commissioning of any bespoke education and training.

• Analyse the content of existing AMR and AMS education and training resources to identify any gaps.
• Check other education and training resources and identify areas where references to AMR and AMS can be included to increase awareness.
• Create bespoke training resources and interventions to support specific staff groups.

You will find more information on using the framework on this site. If you are still unsure we advise that you speak to your line manager, team leader, or a trusted colleague.

Yes, you can download and print the framework via this link:

Full framework – accessible Word document

You can use the learning log template to make notes on your identified development areas and any learning activities you would like to undertake or have undertaken.

You can find learning resource that cover the different domains under AMR and AMS learning resources. Further national resources will be developed in the future.

You can log your identified learning needs and any learning you have completed in the Containing and controlling antimicrobial resistance - learning log template. This also includes a field for any reflections on your learning.

We would be very grateful to receive feedback on the knowledge and skills framework and this Turas Learn Zone, so we can improve the first version. There are two ways you can feed back:

1.       Feed back on the framework: You can feed back on the framework itself, even if you have not used or implemented the framework yet, or if you have used or implemented the framework: Knowledge and skills framework feedback form

2.       Feed back on the Turas Learn Zone: Turas Learn Zone feedback form

Next page: Framework feedback