Recommendation 8

HM Government Acknowledged

58. The government is considering this recommendation. 59. We acknowledge that a lack of appropriate growth in the mental health workforce has led to negative impacts on staff workloads, burnout rates and morale, and that these issues have been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. 60. The wellbeing and mental health of NHS staff continues to be a priority. Additional funding for FY 2021 to 2022 has been allocated for the national programme to support mental health and wellbeing of health and social care staff. This led to the creation of 40 mental health and wellbeing hubs for staff across England, the NHS Practitioner Health service for staff with complex needs and professional nurse advocacy training. 61. The staff mental health and wellbeing hubs are an ambitious programme, set up at pace amid the pandemic and delivered on top of existing commitments. They offer a rapid clinical assessment by a mental health professional, and local evidence-based mental health services and support where needed. Between February and December 2021, the hubs have been accessed over 47,000 times, including on an individual basis and through group support. 62. As well as attracting new people into roles, it is important that we also keep the workforce we already have. NHSEI are putting in place measures that support the retention of existing staff, as well as providing them with leaning opportunities to develop and upskill. 63. Through NHSEI ’s Looking after our people – retention programme, which launched last summer, we are supporting employers and managers to value, support and retain their staff, both clinical and non-clinical. This is achieved through a new employer portal of guidance and best practice and direct support for systems and organisations across each of the domains of the NHS People Promise. 64. The retention programme is also focussing on a generational perspective and is specifically supporting all staff in the early or later stages of their NHS career. 65. To support the wellbeing of social care workers, we have worked alongside the NHS and other organisations to provide a package of emotional, psychological and practical resources for the adult social care workforce. This package includes support helplines, guidance, bereavement resources and a bespoke package of support for registered managers. We are also working with the sector to ensure that wellbeing resources and best practice advice are streamlined and easier to navigate. 66. In September 2021 we announced a historic package of social care reform, which includes an investment of at least £500 million across 3 years to deliver training for staff, progression pathways and wellbeing and mental health support. This workforce package is an unprecedented investment that will support the development and wellbeing of the care workforce. It will enable a 5-fold increase in public spending on the skills and training of our care workers and registered managers.