Select Committee · Health and Social Care Committee

Workforce: recruitment, training and retention in health and social care

Status: Closed Opened: 23 Nov 2021 Closed: 26 Apr 2023 38 recommendations 35 conclusions 1 report

Reasons behind staff leaving the health and social care sectors and how to tackle them will be examined in a new inquiry. Workforce recruitment and training will also be explored. The Committee has heard repeatedly that more staff will be needed to meet future demand and deal with the backlog caused by the pandemic. Existing …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report - Workforce: recruitment, training and retenti… HC 115 25 Jul 2022 73 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

6 items
1 Conclusion Third Report - Workforce: recruitment, … Accepted

Lay objective, transparent, independently audited workforce projection reports for health and social care.

We welcome the previous Secretary of State’s determination to meet his duties under section 41 of the Health and Care Act. To meet these duties, the new Secretary of State must lay before Parliament objective, transparent and independently audited reports on workforce projections for health, public health, and social care …

Government response. The government committed to publishing a Long Term Workforce Plan shortly, which will include independently-verified projections for doctors, nurses, and other professionals needed in 5, 10, and 15 years, building on the HEE strategic framework.
Department of Health and Social Care
2 Recommendation Third Report - Workforce: recruitment, … Accepted

Publish comprehensive NHS workforce strategy report with gap analysis and future projections.

Without full and frank transparency on projected workforce gaps, the public and NHS staff can have little confidence that the Government has grasped the depth of the workforce crisis, and little confidence in Framework 15 or the NHS workforce strategy. The Government must authorise arm’s length bodies to publish data …

Government response. The government agrees with the recommendation for robust, long-term workforce planning and has commissioned the NHS England Long Term Workforce Plan, which will include independently-verified projections for 5, 10, and 15 years and is committed to publishing it shortly.
Department of Health and Social Care
7 Recommendation Third Report - Workforce: recruitment, … Accepted

Implement immediate recruitment and retention actions in maternity services for positive birthing experiences.

Maternity services in England and Wales are under unsustainable pressure. We welcome the commitments that the Government has made in response to the Ockenden report, whilst recognising that these changes will come too late for some mothers and babies. The Government must intervene with immediate action on recruitment and retention …

Government response. The NHS is allocating £127 million to trusts to boost staffing numbers and improve leadership, training and working culture, funding an e-rostering tool, and investing in training for staff. They have also increased midwifery training places by 26% since 2017, …
Department of Health and Social Care
21 Recommendation Third Report - Workforce: recruitment, … Accepted

Insufficient NHS workforce modelling fails to account for impact of flexible working.

Managed well, the trend towards less-than-full-time and flexible working will be a powerful force in making the NHS a more attractive employer. However, in order to maintain standards of care for patients and offer truly flexible working to staff, the NHS will have to increase its overall staff headcount. It …

Government response. The government accepted the recommendation, stating they have commissioned the NHS England Long Term Workforce Plan and the HEE Framework 15 to provide independently-verified projections for 5, 10, and 15 years, committing to publishing it shortly.
Department of Health and Social Care
66 Conclusion Third Report - Workforce: recruitment, … Accepted

Wider market forces impede health and social care worker recruitment and retention.

Wider market forces, including the rising cost of living, a lack of affordable housing, and a lack of public transport in remote locations are having an impact on the recruitment and retention of health and social care workers. These issues manifest differently across the country, and it is clear that …

Government response. The government agrees with the statement, detailing existing and announced support for the cost of living, including energy bill relief and wider support, and referencing the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme to address housing issues.
Department of Health and Social Care
72 Conclusion Third Report - Workforce: recruitment, … Accepted

Require Labour Market Enforcement bodies to disseminate employment rights information in social care.

Labour Market Enforcement bodies must work closely with external partners in social care to find ways to disseminate information and raise awareness about employment rights and the enforcement powers of Labour Market Enforcement bodies among employers (including those receiving direct payments), workers, and Local Authorities.

Government response. The government agrees with the recommendation, stating that Labour Market Enforcement bodies already have an active, ongoing programme of engagement with external partners in the social care sector to disseminate information about employment rights and enforcement powers.
Department of Health and Social Care

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
28 Jun 2022 Chevonne Baker · Right at Home UK, Dr Claire Fuller · Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System, Dr Hugh Porter · Nottingham City Integrated Care Partnership, Matthew Taylor · Good Work Review, Saffron Cordery · NHS Providers, Sarah Sweeney · National Voices View ↗
7 Jun 2022 Amanda Pritchard · NHS England, Matthew Style · Department of Health and Social Care, Michelle Dyson · Department for Education, Professor Stephen Powis · NHS England, Rt Hon Sajid Javid · Department of Health and Social Care View ↗
24 May 2022 Danny Mortimer · NHS Employers, Dr Denise Chaffer · Royal College of Nursing, Dr Navina Evans · NHS England, Gill Walton · Royal College of Midwives, Ian Trenholm · Care Quality Commission (CQC), Professor Em Wilkinson-Brice · NHS England, Ravi Sharma · Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Shawn Charlwood · British Dental Association (BDA) General Dental Practice Committee, Simon Williams · Local Government Association View ↗
11 May 2022 Dr Latifa Patel · British Medical Association (BMA), Isaac Samuels, Health and social care community campaigner and social care recipient, Lara Akinnawonu · Cardiff University, Professor Colin Melville · General Medical Council, Professor Hazel Scott · University of Liverpool, Professor Malcolm Reed · Medical Schools Council, Professor Roger Kirby · Royal Society of Medicine, Professor Scott Wilkes · University of Sunderland, Sophie Weaver, Town councillor and social care recipient, Trevor Wright, lived experience witness View ↗
22 Mar 2022 Dr Vishal Sharma · Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, Dr Wen Wang · University of Leicester, Jacqui McBurnie · NHS England and NHS Improvement Menopause Group, Nina Hemmings · Nuffield Trust, Prema Fairburn-Dorai · Primary Homecare in Suffolk, Professor Carol Atkinson · Manchester Metropolitan University, Professor Carol Woodhams · University of Surrey, Professor Dame Clare Gerada · NHS Practitioner Health, Shilpa Ross · The King's Fund, Wayne Jaffe · University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust View ↗
1 Mar 2022 Chris Hopson · NHS England, Dr Emma Hayward · University of Leicester, Gamu Nyasoro · Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Jane Ashcroft CBE · Anchor Hanover, Lara Bywater · LDC Care, Nicola McQueen · NHS Professionals, Oonagh Smyth · Skills for Care, Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard · University of Birmingham, Rachael Dodgson · Dimensions, Sarah McClinton · Association of Directors of Adult Social Services View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
6 Sep 2022 Correspondence from the Chief Executive of NHS England on Workforce: recruitme…