Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic Services which presents a briefing paper by the Leeds Health and Care Academy on the challenges relating to the health and care workforce and the strategic approach being taken to address these.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report which presented a briefing paper by the Leeds Health and Care Academy on the challenges related to the health and care workforce and the strategic approach being taken to address these.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Cllr Fiona Venner, Executive Member for Adult and Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships

·  Cllr Salma Arif, Executive Member for Public Health and Active Lifestyles

·  Cath Roff, Director of Adults and Health

·  Victoria Eaton, Director of Public Health

·  Kate O’Connell, Director of Leeds Health and Care Academy and Leeds Strategic Workforce

·  Laura Smith, Director of Workforce, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust

·  Shona McFarlane, Deputy Director Social Work and Social Care Service

·  John Crowther, Chief Officer Resources and Strategy, Adults & Health

·  Phil Evans, Chief Officer, Operations and Active Leeds

The Director of Leeds Health and Care Academy and Leeds Strategic Workforce was invited by the Chair to lead on introducing the briefing paper that had been provided by the Leeds Health and Care Academy.  In doing so, Members were advised of the benefits of having an integrated workforce that focuses on person-centred care rather than being constrained by individual organisational boundaries.  It was highlighted that Leeds is taking a proactive approach in this regard through the leadership of the Leeds One Workforce Strategic Board and the establishment of the Leeds Health and Care Academy, which is regarded as the vehicle to enable collaboration to happen in practice and connect relevant partners together, including those within the independent, education and voluntary sectors.

Reference was also made to the key challenges facing the workforce, as set out within the briefing paper.  While acknowledging that such challenges are not unique to Leeds, Members were advised that Leeds does also provide specialist clinical services for a much wider geographical footprint and subsequently is balancing additional, competing demands.

Management of risk and creating solutions to workforce issues will be done through a prioritisation approach, creating sequences in anticipation of future needs and work pressures too.  Key elements of this will involve improving communication between services aimed at reducing competition and demand for the same staff; improving staff access to health and wellbeing services; narrowing inequality and enabling better employment opportunities within less affluent communities.  It was highlighted that Leeds is also strongly connected regionally with the West Yorkshire Integrated Care System and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, as well working with the Department for Health and Social Care.

The Executive Member for Adult and Children’s Social Care and Health Partnerships and the Director of Workforce, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust were also given the opportunity to address the Board and in doing so had particularly reiterated the importance of maintaining and building upon the existing collaborative approach given the very challenging landscape across the health and care sector nationally.

The following points were also raised during the Board’s consideration of the report:

·  There was an acknowledgement that NHS workers tend to earn more on average than those working in social care, as well as benefiting from the NHS pension scheme.

·  The Board noted that while the foundation work in Leeds remains strong, both the successes and limitations of existing initiatives continue to help inform subsequent work leading to new and innovative approaches for future planning and actions. The Board therefore expressed a wish to continue monitoring progress, which was supported by the Director Leeds Health and Care Academy and Leeds Strategic Workforce.

·  The Board recognised that a core level of digital capability is critical in delivering integrated health.  Reference was made to actions being taken as part of the broader 100% digital initiative which also recognises the value of developing digital skills for both patients and staff in terms of improving future service provision and efficiency.

·  Examples of existing projects were shared with Members to help clarify the distinction between integration and collaboration models, as well as highlighting how partners in Leeds have worked innovatively to address any potential barriers to such models, which are often linked to policy and funding structures, particularly as social care services are also means tested and therefore a chargeable service compared to NHS services.

·  In response to a question from members regarding comparison for local and international recruitment it was confirmed that the West Yorkshire ICS is at the forefront for international recruitment as a result of long-term reciprocal partnership arrangements.  Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust (LTHT) historically has also been very active around international recruitment and has well established pathways and therefore work is underway to look at how that can be expanded further to assist other areas of the local health and care system linked to an existing strategy and ambition.  It was also highlighted that domestic recruitment efforts are being prioritised, which involve close links with local colleges and universities as well offering apprenticeship opportunities.

·  The Board discussed the practicalities surrounding the flexible working redesign project, which included flexible working patterns and the use of technology that would also aid remote working.

The Chair thanked everyone for their valuable contributions and again relayed the Board’s interest in continuing to monitor progress surrounding the strategic approach being taken by the Leeds Health and Care Academy.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report be noted.