Health Management and Policy Alert

The Department of Health and Social Care mandate to Health Education England: April 2022 to March 2023

Department of Health and Social Care -
This document sets out the government's strategic objectives for Health Education England to provide healthcare workforce planning, education and training.

• Mandate
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

T Levels in health and healthcare science report: successful industry placement models in action

NHS Employers -
This report, commissioned by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, brings together case study models for placement management, developed to suit the requirements of NHS institutions working with their local T Level providers. While the report focuses on placements for health and healthcare science opportunities, the models may be applied across roles in the NHS, such as digital, business, administration and finance. The report also contains advice from current industry placement hosts on common placement queries and highlights the support available to employers.

• Report
• NHS Employers - publications

Radiotherapy workforce census summary report 2021

Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine -
This census report finds that patients are receiving a just about ‘adequate’ service for their radiotherapy treatment but there is little room for training new staff or implementing the latest treatment technologies to improve care. There is also a struggle to recruit clinical technologists and there is often difficulties in finding maternity and sick cover, leaving services strained. Overall, there is a vacancy rate in the radiotherapy workforce of eight per cent, with the greatest number of vacancies at entry level.

• Report
• Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine - news

Experiences from health and social care: the treatment of lower-paid ethnic minority workers

Equality and Human Rights Commission - 
This is a report of the findings of an inquiry to assess the treatment and experiences of lower-paid ethnic minority workers in health and social care, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. It found: incomplete data on lower-paid ethnic minority workers, particularly in adult social care; different treatment and experiences at work; commissioning and outsourcing leading to poor pay and insecure work; low awareness of employment rights; and fear of raising concerns and a lack of mechanisms to do so.

• Report
• Equality and Human Rights Commission - news

Social work and the impact of the Covid pandemic: reflections from the workforce

UNISON - 
This report is based on a survey of nearly 3,000 social workers across the UK. It aims to shed light on the working conditions of social workers, and limitations on the help they are able to give vulnerable families. Staff shortages, unmanageable caseloads and long hours are identified by social workers as major concerns affecting their ability to do their job​s. More than three quarters of social workers said they had experienced increased stress levels and 77 per cent of respondents were worried about their mental health due to the pressure they’re under. Seven in ten also said morale has decreased and almost half said they​’re ​now less likely to stay in their jobs.

• Report
• UNISON - press release

Shattered hopes: black and minority ethnic leaders’ experiences of breaking the glass ceiling in the NHS

NHS Confederation -
This survey, carried out by the NHS Confederation’s BME Leadership Network, found that many senior leaders from BME backgrounds had experienced verbal abuse and behaviour targeting their racial, national or cultural heritage at least once in the last three years. In addition, only one in ten respondents were confident that the NHS is delivering its commitment to combat institutional racism.

• Report
• NHS Confederation - news

Delivering racial equality in medicine

British Medical Association (BMA) -
This report reveals the possibility of a major exodus of doctors of ethnic minority backgrounds, due to persistent and intolerable levels of racism faced at a personal and institutional level. Nearly one third of doctors surveyed have considered leaving the NHS or have already left within the past two years due to race discrimination, with 42 per cent of Black and 41 per cent Asian doctors in particular having considered leaving or having left.

• Report
• BMA - press release

Addressing local inequalities through employment

NHS Employers - 

This series of case studies showcase how NHS and non-NHS partners are coming together to support people into work.

• Case studies

Tackling health inequalities through inclusive recruitment

NHS Employers - 

Approximately 60-80 per cent of health and wellbeing is attributable to the social determinants of health. Employment is one of the key determinants. There is an inherent and reciprocal link between health and work. Being in good work with fair pay and conditions improves people’s overall physical and mental health and supports quality of life; good health enables people to work, creating a virtuous cycle. This briefing gives information and prompts for NHS workforce leads to consider local approaches.

• Briefing

Employment survey 2021: workforce diversity and employment experiences

Royal College of Nursing (RCN) -
This is the second report from the RCN annual employment survey. It focuses on four major themes: working hours and patterns; experience of workplace abuse; bullying and harassment, and career progression.

• Report
• RCN - publications