JA/RB - HSCWP 31st October 2007
Steve George, Clerk to the Committee
Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee
Assembly Parliamentary Service
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff CF99 1NA
Dear Mr George
Committee Inquiry - Health and Social Care Workforce Planning
Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments to the Health, Wellbeing and Local Government Committee’s inquiry into workforce planning for health and social care in Wales. I am pleased to submit written comments on behalf of Blaenau Gwent Local Health Board.
Workforce development and workforce planning for the future have been key considerations and challenges for Blaenau Gwent LHB since its establishment in 2003. This has been particularly apparent in primary care services in the County Borough, where the LHB has needed to focus significant development and investment over the last four years. This has included an innovative partnership with Cardiff University through the Heads of the Valleys Scheme for GP development and recruitment. The LHB’s activity has succeeded in having a very positive impact on local service delivery and the performance and expertise of staff. During the last year alone there have been six new GPs taking up posts in both independent and directly managed GP practices. Recruitment of GPs is the best it has been since the LHB’s inception. Long-term vacancies are down to two from six positions. However, there are a number of likely retirements over the coming years, which will mean that there will continue to be pressure on the LHB to respond to the age profile of our GP population.
The LHB has also been committed to ensure that all GP practices have practice nurses as part of their primary care teams in Blaenau Gwent, which was not the case when the LHB was established. Work has continued to support GP practices to introduce new roles, such as Healthcare Support Workers throughout the County Borough. Two Practice Development Nurses, who are accredited assessors, continually support nursing staff to develop their competence and effectively function in their role.
Discussions have also taken place regarding the development of a Health and Social Care Diploma. This would provide an alternative to the NVQ route to develop skills and competencies for support workers. The added advantage of this route would give the students undertaking the Diploma, a pathway into nurse or social worker training in the future.
The LHB has therefore made significant progress with workforce modernisation, especially in relation to the development of the overall nursing contribution to general practices. The LHB has developed a partnership with the University of Glamorgan and has been granted institutional approval. This enables the LHB to deliver directly in Blaenau Gwent educational programmes (Diploma and Degree programmes) accredited by the University. The LHB’s Head of Nursing has been given Honorary Lecturer status and is involved in the curriculum planning process with the University.
The LHB has also identified new roles that are required locally. The LHB last year appointed a Nurse Consultant for Stroke. The post will further develop the partnership with the University of Glamorgan and provide a focus for the local research and development agenda.
The LHB, Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust and Social Services Department in Blaenau Gwent continue to work together closely on workforce issues. Workforce development groups have been established locally to take forward the development and modernisation agenda to plan for the future to respond to new models of care and service delivery. This is particularly important with the development of Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan the new Local General Hospital in Blaenau Gwent by 2010 as part of the Gwent area Clinical Futures programme. Also, at the same time as the hospital development, the LHB is developing the future model of out of hospital care through the Blaenau Gwent 2010 Strategy. The Strategy has been developed with the Trust and Social Services Department and again this will require a workforce in the future with different and enhanced skills and competencies to deliver new service models.
Blaenau Gwent LHB recognises that local workforce planning is not only about numbers and types of roles required for the future, but also about developing our existing workforce to meet the local needs and developments over coming years. It is also recognised that this should not be done in sectoral or organisational isolation. It has become apparent that increased partnership approaches are required between health, social care and education to meet future needs and this will need to be allied with effective recruitment campaigns and approaches to all key disciplines and roles. This will rely on the public sector clearly being seen as employers of choice and a sector that provides real opportunities and benefits.
Emphasis has been placed on the local dimensions of required activity. However, the LHB also wishes to highlight that it considers that national, regional and sub-regional approaches will also be crucial. Influence will be important to ensure that in parallel the independent and voluntary sectors are also developing in a co-ordinated way, alongside future planning with Universities, colleges and other educational establishments.
It is recognised that workforce planning in its purest sense is a specialised discipline that will require suitably trained and skilled individuals with real expertise, but it is also important to stress that these individuals wherever they are based need to continue to be connected to the local level where services are in the main delivered. Therefore, planning NHS and wider services for the future cannot rely on small teams focusing on workforce planning which might be disconnected from local service delivery. The LHB considers that Welsh public services need to build workforce planning expertise and capacity at all levels. This could be taken forward further by approaches to develop regional service commissioning and it will be vital that workforce issues inform and shape the future commissioning of services.
The LHB hopes that this information is helpful to the Committee. Should you wish to discuss this submission or obtain further information on any aspects raised within it, please do not hesitate to contact Richard Bevan, Director of Corporate Development and Partnerships at the LHB on 01495 325424.
Yours sincerely
Joanne Absalom
Chief Executive
Llys yr Einion/Anvil Court
Heol yr Eglwys/Church Street
Abertyleri/Abertillery
Blaenau Gwent, NP13 1DB/Blaenau Gwent, NP13 1DB
Ffôn: 01495 325400/Telephone: 01495 325400
Ffacs: 01495 325425/ Fax: 01495 325425
e-bost:enquiries@blaenaugwentlhb.wales.nhs.uk e-mail: e
