Education, Training and Workforce Planning

The first report of the session 2012-13 was published on 23rd May 2012

In its report the Committee calls for a review of the education and training of the whole health and care workforce, making the following comments:

• Whilst the Committee welcomes the remit of the Centre for Workforce Intelligence to tackle deficiencies in workface data, it is concerned by the lack of clarity around how it will fit into the new workforce planning system.
• There must be contractual arrangements for all NHS providers to provide full, accurate and timely workforce data.
• The DH should develop guidelines for the training requirements of healthcare assistants, and the Committee believes that independent professional regulation of healthcare assistants provides the best assurance to patients.
• Arrangements for workforce planning should reduce the importance to the NHS of locum and agency staff.
• Greater clarity is needed about how Health Education England (HEE) plans to ensure that it develops a dynamic view of changing education requirements.
• There must be greater clarity around how postgraduate deaneries will operate in the future.
• The Government must make clear its intentions for Local Education and Training Boards.
• Whilst the Committee welcomes the intention to link innovation with education and training through the creation of the Academic Health Science Networks, it recommends that bodies and structures must be rationalised to avoid creating a complicated landscape.
• The Committee welcomes the Government’s intention to move payment onto a tariff basis; however it warns that a transition to a new system must not undermine the quality of clinical services. 
• The Government must safeguard education and training budgets in light of the financial pressures facing the NHS.