David McAuley (Programme Director, Strategic Co-Operative Commissioning) delivered the Health and Care Skills Partnership Update and highlighted the following key issues:

a)    Workforce presented a huge challenge to the health and care system both in Plymouth, and nationally. Plymouth had established a health and care skills partnership group to address local issues with broad membership including the CCG, Livewell SW, City College, University Hospitals Plymouth, care homes, domiciliary care, and Plymouth University. This aimed to develop a system wide plan to tackle these challenges.

b)    There had been several key successes to date, particularly surrounding recruitment and retention, with the launch of a recruitment campaign for social and domiciliary. Furthermore, a forum had been established with local unions to engage with retention issues, as well as the addition of two Health and Care coordinators who had successfully recruited 50+ staff to health and care roles in approximately 4 months.

c)    Plymouth had worked closely with staff at the Lighthouse Lab (Covid-19 testing facility) who were at risk of redundancy, and promoted roles within health and care.

d)    A Plymouth Prospectus was being developed combining and learning from the strengths of partner organisations.

e)    There were 5 Priorities for the future: Gather intelligence, retention and recruitment, develop a sustainable pipeline, communication, & enabling programmes to be delivered.

The Board then discussed:

a)    Workforce shortages across the industry were present pre-pandemic however, Covid-19 had increased and further reduced the workforce, worsening historic problems. While there was no quick fix identifiable, Plymouth was actively promoting health and care as a hugely rewarding career with many opportunities, as well as Plymouth’s vibrant city location which offered and great place to live and work in.

b)    There were many schemes and initiatives identified to incentivise recruitment including electric scooters, electric bikes, and parking permits, however the Public Health team welcomed any other suggestions from the Board.

The report was noted by the Board.