Specialist/Senior Practitioners at Level 6 in Vaccination Services within NHS Scotland possess a critical understanding of the complex theoretical and practical aspects of immunisation and public health delivery. They apply this knowledge to lead the design, coordination, and continuous improvement of vaccination services across a variety of settings, including fixed-site clinics, schools, care homes, outreach programmes, and mobile or mass vaccination centres.

• Proactive leadership role in service planning and delivery—identifying population needs, interpreting national immunisation policy, and implementing local strategies to improve uptake, reduce inequalities, and manage risk.
• Demonstrate clinical expertise in managing complex vaccination cases, such as individuals with multiple co-morbidities, allergies, or vaccine hesitancy, and provide expert guidance and support to multidisciplinary teams.
• Clear responsibility for supervising and developing teams, including HCSWs, Assistant Practitioners, Level 5 Practitioners, and students.
• Contribute to workforce planning, training, performance monitoring, and fostering a culture of learning and quality improvement.
• Instrumental in leading service development initiatives—for example, redesigning vaccination pathways, improving access for underserved groups, or integrating digital solutions for booking, consent, and data capture.
• Demonstrate initiative, creativity, and resilience in problem-solving, often working collaboratively across services and agencies to meet both public health goals and patient needs.
• Consistently demonstrate compassionate, person-centred leadership.
• Committed to their own continuous professional development to ensure that vaccination services remain responsive, equitable, and evidence based.

• Registered as a Nurse or Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council or registered with an appropriate regulatory body such as the Health and Care Professions Council.  

• SCQF Ordinary or Honours degree
• Graduate Diploma
• Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ 4)
• Postgraduate expertise within speciality / area of practice that demonstrates the required breadth of knowledge to lead safely, effectively and efficiently.

• Completion of training in basic life support and anaphylaxis management, statutory and mandatory topics (e.g., infection control, public protection), safe sharps and waste handling, vaccine preparation and administration, and demonstrate understanding of legal frameworks.
• Completion of the Promoting Effective Immunisation Programme (PEIP) for registered healthcare practitioners.
• Demonstrates completion and facilitation of advanced and targeted training in population-specific vaccination (e.g., immunosuppressed, pregnancy, children and young people).
• Supports others to engage with vaccine-specific learning resources and maintains currency with national guidance across all relevant immunisation programmes
• Keep up to date with immunisation knowledge through guidance like the Green Book and CMO letters and regularly engage in reflective practice and CPD to maintain competence and confidence.
• Understand how consent is obtained in line with legal and ethical principles, considering competence, parental responsibility, and appropriate decision-makers for children and adults in varied care arrangements.

Outlined below are the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) required for Level 6 practitioners, aligned to the four pillars of practice. This includes core KSBs from the NMAHP Development Framework, followed by vaccination-specific KSBs reflecting the unique needs of the vaccination workforce.

Clinical Skills

Facilitation of Learning

Leadership 

Evidence, Research and Development