What we are doing
Across the North East and North Cumbria we are focusing on some key areas where we are working together to ensure a strong and sustainable workforce for the future, building on the priorities set out in the national People Plan and what we know matters to our local teams and communities.
The way we are providing care is changing and across our region we have a strong focus on improving overall health and well-being. This also requires new and different ways of working in the future. This includes embracing new technology and innovation, valuing leadership and providing excellent employment experiences, so we can recruit and retain our teams now and in the future.
Our priorities
- Growing our workforce for the future. This includes recruiting, training and keep our people, and welcoming back colleagues who want to return to work with us.
- Improving the health and well-being of our workforce, and ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion for all. Looking after our people and ensuring that all members of our workforce belong, that there is equality for all and embedding a compassionate and inclusive culture.
- System development and leadership: Improving our system leadership capacity and culture while nurturing talent across our region.
- Workforce re-design: Developing new ways of working and capturing innovation.
Our promise to our people
COVID-19 has exposed many of the inequalities that exist in society, communities and our workplaces. Last year we launched our collective promise which sets out how we will better support people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The pledge was signed up to by chief executives of all our provider trusts and was developed with input from, and to be specific to, staff from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups.
We are also engaging across all our staff networks to ensure that they are supported to make an impact within their own organisations. Staff networks across the region represent people from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, people with disabilities or long term health conditions and staff from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
Who is involved
The overall workforce programme for the ICS is led by Ken Bremner (chief executive of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust) and director of workforce Jill Cassells with support from colleagues and partners across the region and integrated care partnerships (ICPs).
There is a workforce and senior responsible lead for each of the four integrated care partnerships (ICPs) areas who work closely with us to drive forward and design plans at a local level.
Our stakeholder engagement forum
Our stakeholder engagement forum includes professional leads, clinical colleagues, trade unions, staff networks and wider system partners who come together to advise, influence, shape and discuss the work of the workforce board.