Building a Foundation for the Future

Skills for Health has launched new, healthcare-specific Initial Assessment Tools for literacy and numeracy skills.

The free-to-use online tools are suitable for use throughout the UK and offer healthcare providers new resources with which to support staff to develop their literacy and numeracy skills and, ultimately, deliver better patient care.

The tools can:

  • Support workforce development, career planning and progression
  • Help managers invest in staff in order to deliver safe and effective healthcare
  • Assist in unlocking individual potential
  • Support induction, training and appraisal processes as part of a ‘whole organisation’ approach to literacy and numeracy skills development.

Among the features of the new tools are questions based on ‘real-life’ healthcare scenarios, maximising the tool’s relevance and enhancing the user experience. Scenarios include listening to messages from patients, interpreting instructions, tables and charts, and calibrating equipment.

The tools also feature an ‘adaptive’ algorithm that modifies the difficulty of questions according to users’ ability. As well as making the tools more engaging for users, this feature helps ensure that the tools are suitable for use across a range of healthcare roles and grades.

The tools are available in both online and offline versions and are suitable for use in individual or group settings.

Read more about the tools. 

Read the press release.

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