The Health Service Executive’s requirement for delivery of the SKILL (Securing Knowledge Intra Lifelong Learning) Programme exists within the context of the need to design and deliver a Programme to   • Enable support staff to update and extend their knowledge, skills and experience in order to make them more effective and efficient in the jobs they perform and consequently improving services to patients/clients. • Develop areas of expertise to progress the “skill mix” requirements and the People Strategy of the Health Services and to optimize the resources available within the Health Services having regard to workforce and succession planning issues.  • Where appropriate to enable support staff to develop new skills and knowledge to fulfil higher level duties. • Provide support staff with an opportunity to return to learning and acquire a QQI accredited qualification that ensures they have the necessary competencies required for their role meeting all the quality standards required for effective patient/client care.  • Guide support staff in their personal development and career planning and through providing a professional qualification which ensures greater mobility and flexibility to enhance their career opportunities.  All the modules developed by the SKILL Programme in conjunction with subject matter experts have been rigorously and independently evaluated to validate their relevance and appropriateness to the competency works and the Health Service context.  Module development is integral to the SKILL initiative.  Information on the HSE SKILL Programme is available on the HSE website.