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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 39 recommendations 34 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 … Show more

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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

7 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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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Department of Health and Social Care
4 Recommendation Third Report - Workforce: recruitment, … Accepted

Re-recruiting medical retirees challenging without addressing pensions and poor workplace cultures.

It will not be possible to re-recruit those who have voluntarily surrendered their medical licences without addressing the factors which caused them to do so. For many retirees, this means addressing pensions and the development of “retire and return” policies, for others, this means addressing poor workplace cultures. We will … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the need to address these factors, highlighting existing initiatives like the NHS People Plan and "Our Plan for Patients" which commit to increasing pension flexibilities, supporting overseas staff registration, and expanding recruitment to retain NHS staff.
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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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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, launched a recruitment campaign, and …
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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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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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 … Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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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. Read more

Government response AI summary
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.
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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 ↗

Who gave evidence

50 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Amanda Pritchard · Chief Executive Officer NHS England 1
Chevonne Baker · Care Worker Right at Home UK 1
Chris Hopson · Chief Strategy Officer NHS England 1
Danny Mortimer · Chief Executive NHS Employers 1
Dr Claire Fuller · Chief Executive-designate Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System 1
Dr Denise Chaffer · President Royal College of Nursing 1
Dr Emma Hayward · GP and clinical teacher University of Leicester 1
Dr Hugh Porter · GP and Clinical Director Nottingham City Integrated Care Partnership 1
Dr Latifa Patel · Interim Chair British Medical Association (BMA) 1
Dr Navina Evans · Chief Workforce, Education and Training Officer NHS England 1
Dr Vishal Sharma · Consultant Cardiologist Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust 1
Dr Wen Wang · Associate Professor in Human Resource Management,… University of Leicester 1
Gamu Nyasoro · Clinical skills and Simulation Manager Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 1
Gill Walton · Chief Executive Royal College of Midwives 1
Ian Trenholm · Chief Executive Care Quality Commission (CQC) 1
Isaac Samuels, Health and social care community campaigner and social care recipient — 1
Jacqui McBurnie · Chair NHS England and NHS Improvement Menopause Group 1
Jane Ashcroft CBE · Chief Executive Anchor Hanover 1
Lara Akinnawonu · Medical Student and Co-Chair of the BMA Medical S… Cardiff University 1
Lara Bywater · Registered manager and owner LDC Care 1
Matthew Style · Director General for Secondary Care and Integrati… Department of Health and Social Care 1
Matthew Taylor · Chair Good Work Review 1
Michelle Dyson · Director for Qualifications, Curriculum and Extra… Department for Education 1
Nicola McQueen · Chief Executive Officer NHS Professionals 1
Nina Hemmings · Researcher in Health Policy Nuffield Trust 1
Oonagh Smyth · Chief Executive Officer Skills for Care 1
Prema Fairburn-Dorai · Director Primary Homecare in Suffolk 1
Professor Carol Atkinson · Professor of Human Resource Management Manchester Metropolitan University 1
Professor Carol Woodhams · Professor of Human Resource Management University of Surrey 1
Professor Colin Melville · Medical Director and Director of Education and St… General Medical Council 1
Professor Dame Clare Gerada · Medical Director NHS Practitioner Health 1
Professor Dame Helen Stokes-Lampard · Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges an… University of Birmingham 1
Professor Em Wilkinson-Brice · Acting Chief People Officer NHS England 1
Professor Hazel Scott · Dean of the School of Medicine University of Liverpool 1
Professor Malcolm Reed · Lead Co-Chair Medical Schools Council 1
Professor Roger Kirby · President Royal Society of Medicine 1
Professor Scott Wilkes · Head of School of Medicine and Professor of Gener… University of Sunderland 1
Professor Stephen Powis · National Medical Director NHS England 1
Rachael Dodgson · Managing Director and incoming CEO Dimensions 1
Ravi Sharma · Director for England Royal Pharmaceutical Society 1
Showing 40 of 50.

Correspondence

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