West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership launch workforce plan

Posted on: 8 June 2018

West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (WY&H HCP) have published their workforce plan ‘A healthy place to live, a great place to work’.

The publication describes how the health and social care workforce of over 100,000 in West Yorkshire and Harrogate is changing to meet the current and future needs of the 2.6 million people living across the area.

Reshaping healthcare requires a reshaping of the health and care workforce. New teams are emerging with an increased role for non-medical staff to work alongside medical staff; non-registered staff to work alongside registered professionals and new roles alongside traditional ones.

The plan also recognises the huge contribution community organisations and volunteers make; and the vital role of the 260,000 unpaid carers who care for family and friends day in day out and whose numbers are more than that of the paid workforce.

Supporting working carers is also an important partnership priority.

The publication also highlights the greater role for people working outside of hospitals, where most health and social care support takes place.

Dr Ros Tolcher, CEO Partnership Lead for Workforce and CEO for Harrogate and District 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.  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’.

The plan also set out the new opportunities for workforce development, so staff can continue to do the best for people they serve.

Dr Tolcher went on to say ‘Staff knowledge, expertise, hard work and professionalism are at the heart of the services we provide. They are our biggest asset and this plan sets out our ambitions to ensure they are well supported’. 

Mike Curtis, Local Director for Yorkshire and Humber, Health Education England said: ‘Creating a workplace where staff are engaged, motivated and fulfilled is the backdrop to the development of the plan. Our plan sets out how this will be achieved in the context of joining up health and care to provide a seamless service to people and one that importantly makes the most of latest technology, equipment and training opportunities’.

Rob Webster CEO Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership said: ‘The health and care system is facing unprecedented demand in a time of change. The quality of care has been maintained in the toughest climate that most can remember which is testament to the efforts of frontline staff, managers and leaders. The plan sets out how we will support our staff to manage these unprecedented times and move towards a better future for everyone working and living in West Yorkshire and Harrogate’.

You can read ‘A healthy place to live, a great place to work’ at https://www.wypartnership.co.uk/our-workforce-strategy

A public summary, EasyRead and BSL version will be available on the website.

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