Re-skilling and staff development top health employers' concerns

Re-skilling, training and staff development are the most pressing concerns for health workforce managers, according to research from the sector skills council for health.

Skills for Health's survey of directors and senior managers from the NHS, independent and voluntary sectors in the UK found that more than a third cited skills development as one of their top three workforce issues for the coming year - ahead of budget cuts or maintaining service quality during organisational change.

The Department of Health is currently consulting on proposals for a new framework to develop the healthcare workforce.

Skills for Health chief executive, John Rogers, said: "Employers tell us that effective skills development, across the whole workforce, is vital if they are to cope with significant change within the sector over the coming year and we will be reflecting these concerns in our response to the consultation."

Employers who cited workforce concerns and issues were also asked which workforce development solutions and support could best help them address their challenges over the next year.

Responses included a greater availability of standardised training for emerging roles, cost-effective workforce strategy tools and guidance to support workforce transformation as well as training and advice to help managers deal with organisational change.