Training boost for health workers
East Midlands healthcare services will benefit from a staff development fund to improve patient care. Both the NHS East Midlands and LSC will contribute equally to a Joint Investment Framework (JIF), which will represent an additional investment of £10 million per annum across the region.
The JIF was launched in April by Phil Hope, minister for the East Midlands at the Skills for Health East Midlands Sector Skills Agreement consultation event. Phil Hope, said: "The JIF is a shining example of what can be achieved through effective partnership working. Today's event is an important step forward in helping us work together to ensure the healthcare sector in the East Midlands has a workforce with the right skills, education and experience to meet the needs of those people living and working in the area. It marks the beginning of a collaborative process that will help reshape our region's healthcare workforce in line with patient needs."
Janet Monkman, director of workforce, NHS East Midlands, added: "We are delighted to be a partner in the JIF. In the NHS, the people that patients come into contact with are most often the staff working in support roles such as receptionists, care workers, porters or cleaners. Therefore, the development of this part of our workforce is an essential part of providing excellent care. The new Joint Investment Framework will have a direct and tangible impact on improving the knowledge and skills of these staff and the care they offer to patients."
Karen Woodward, director of regional skills, LSC East Midlands, concurred, she said: "We see the JIF as a tremendous opportunity to develop the skills of NHS employees across the East Midlands. Our role is to source and offer public funding to support high quality training, leading to nationally recognised qualifications to meet the skills demands identified across the region, which in turn will lead to improved patient care, sharing the investment costs and working in partnership with the NHS and Skills for Health."
NHS East Midlands, the East Midlands Strategic Health Authority, Northamptonshire Teaching PCT, Lincolnshire Teaching PCT and Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT all signed the Skills Pledge at the event.
The East Midlands Ambulance Services NHS Trust signed the Skills Pledge the day before with David Lammy, the Parliamentary under secretary of state for skills and Anne Keen the Parliamentary under secretary of state for health, John Rogers, chief executive Skills for Health and Professor Bob Fryer CBE, the national director for widening participation in learning at the Department of Health.
For further information about the JIF, please contact JIF partnership manager Julie Bellm, T:07825 725197, E:julie.bellm@eastmidlands.nhs.uk
Pictured at the Skills for Health East Midlands SSA consultation event (left to right): Karen Woodward - director of regional skills LSC East Midlands, John Rogers - chief executive Skills for Health, Phil Hope - minister for the East Midlands, Janet Monkman - director of workforce NHS East Midlands (sitting).