West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership has revealed its priority funding areas as part of a far reaching health and social care workforce strategy.
A one million pound funding envelope, from Health Education England and the Local Workforce Action Board, has now been made available to support a range of high impact workforce programmes including suicide prevention training and support packages for young carers.
The investment plan has been developed following Partnership conversations to ensure support is offered to staff, volunteers and carers at the right place and right time across West Yorkshire and Harrogate.
With ambitious plans to improve the health and social care of people across West Yorkshire and Harrogate, the overall workforce strategy looks at recruitment and retention; new roles and skills and support to all who provide care across all sectors – including the important role of unpaid carers.
These investments support specific workforce needs required to advance joined up care programmes that have transformational potential. These include:
- The roll out suicide prevention training across West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Services
- Bringing physical and mental health provision closer together by piloting and evaluating the placement of clinical psychologists in general practice
- Supporting members of the workforce with caring responsibilities as part of a strategy to improve retention (many working carers leave employment or reduce hours as a result of caring responsibilities)
- Improve access to (and affordability of) Continuing Professional Development for registered staff by working together across West Yorkshire and Harrogate to procure courses
Dr Ros Tolcher, CEO Partnership Lead for Workforce and CEO for Harrogate and District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Having a capable and motivated workforce is crucial to sustaining high quality care of all types. Our workforce strategy is designed to ensure that West Yorkshire and Harrogate will have the right workforce to deliver its ambitious plans now and in the future. Reshaping existing roles and teams whilst making the many different jobs available rewarding and fulfilling is a priority for the Partnership. It’s essential that employers do this together so that we don’t compete for scarce skills to address the recruitment and retention gaps we have in health and care – whether in a hospital, community or a care home.”
Mike Curtis, Local Director for Yorkshire and Humber, Health Education England said:
“Health Education England is very pleased to be able to support West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership and its far-reaching and forward-thinking workforce strategy.”
Robin Tuddenham, Chief Executive of Calderdale Council said:
“By working together with our health partners, we want to ensure that people receive joined up health and care services delivered by talented staff who we support to reach their full potential. This investment in our workforce is a fundamental part of improving health and social care outcomes for everyone in West Yorkshire and Harrogate.”
Rob Webster CEO Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership said:
‘We want West Yorkshire and Harrogate to be a healthy place to live and a great place to work. This targeted investment is part of our plan to support staff and carers across all sectors. It will help us to make progress in these challenging times and move towards a better future for everyone working and living in West Yorkshire and Harrogate.”
You can find out more information at https://www.wyhpartnership.co.uk/our-workforce-strategy(external link)
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