HSC Transformation Programme Update - December 2018

Workforce Planning

In May the Department launched the health and social care Workforce Strategy.

The strategy contains ten themes and 24 actions to help the HSC to meet its objectives to have a properly staffed workforce, with the right skills mix; to ensure that health and social care is a fulfilling and rewarding place to work and train, that people feel valued; and that the HSC improves its business intelligence.

The Strategy was co-produced with trade unions and is committed to ensuring that the HSC continues to work in collaboration as the strategy is implemented. Early implementation of the Strategy has been supported by the allocation of £15m in Transformation funding to workforce initiatives. 

The HSC has been able to increase medical specialty training, pre-registration nursing and midwifery and Allied Health Professional training places. Funding has also been provided to support HSC collective leadership development. 

Significant recruitment requirements have been identified within the Transformation Fund projects. An HR working group, with membership from Finance, Planning, Nursing and Allied Health Professional communities across the HSC has been established to manage this.

Resourcing continues to be a significant challenge, however monitoring of the situation continues, with a regional approach adopted where possible. A watching brief remains on the impact of transformation recruitment on core services.

HSC Planning for Brexit

The Department is working closely with counterparts in other Northern Ireland Departments – as well as devolved administrations and the Republic of Ireland – as it prepares for the implications of leaving the EU, and determines the decisions and actions that need to be taken.

The Department has frequent engagement at an official level with Whitehall Departments, particularly the Department of Health and Social Care.

The Department has established an EU Exit Working Group to coordinate work on the implications of the UK leaving the EU. Meeting on a monthly basis, the group is responsible for overseeing the DoH EU Exit work programme. It provides advice to the Department’s top management group and Departmental Board.

The Group is chaired by the Director of Corporate Management and comprises senior policy officials representing all policy groups across DoH.

For more information contact: [email protected].

Transformation Fund

The £100m Transformation Fund available in 18/19 through the Confidence and Supply agreement has enabled key projects to come on board in year. These include: multi-disciplinary teams in primary care, family support hubs, elective care centres for varicose veins and cataracts patients and the development of a workforce strategy covering all aspects of the HSC workforce.

The full update including key programme highlights is attached.