Workforce Initiative of the Year

There is a huge workforce challenge in the NHS, exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic and the UK’s exit from Europe.

The changing nature of healthcare – where it is delivered, what is delivered, how its effectiveness is measured – will require new skills and competencies in the workforce.

Effective NHS workforce development supports service delivery and ensures staff are fit for purpose, with the right skills mix. Evidence shows it is critical in driving up quality, while seeking to reduce costs. It involves growing the workforce via progression routes and career pathways and so retaining quality staff. The result is a more stable substantive workforce with reduced reliance on temporary staff, overtime and outsourcing. This in turn results in improved continuity and better patient care.

This award is about recognising innovation in workforce development. Judges will be looking for new strategic approaches to workforce planning to improve quality and productivity. They will want to see organisations rethinking roles, breaking down the traditional barriers to create an adaptable workforce that delivers quality and efficiency. They want to see initiatives that develop not just the existing workforce and its talents but look for new ways to bring people into the NHS, getting good people into hard-to-fill entry-level posts.

Eligibility

Entries are welcomed from all NHS organisations and public sector third parties working in partnership with the NHS. Solution providers and private sector partnerships are invited to enter the HSJ Partnership Awards, which celebrate collaboration with the private sector.