Skills funding where it matters
John Rogers, Chief Executive of Skills for Health, explains the remit behind the establishment of the new Health Sector Strategic Alliance (HSSA).
Some of you will already be aware that in order to address healthcare skills needs in each country and region, Skills for Health has now established more than 70 agreements with a range of employers and partners. In England, this has enabled us to broker a major Joint Investment Framework to address skills needs; bringing up to £100million of extra funding into the sector on an annual basis - jointly funded by Strategic Health Authorities and the Learning and Skills Council.
It is important that these funds and other skills-related investments are directed appropriately. To achieve this, a Health Sector Strategic Alliance (HSSA) has been established between Strategic Health Authorities, the Learning and Skills Council, Skills for Health and sector employers.
The key aims of the HSSA are to:
- Advise Government Departments, boards and funding bodies on strategic priorities and the most effective use of skills-related public funds available to the Learning and Skills Council, healthcare sector employers and organisations.
- Ensure consistent implementation of the Joint Investment Framework at regional level – aimed at delivering effective learning for basic skills and at Levels 2, 3 and 4 of the qualification continuum.
- Promote and disseminate good practice arising from implementation of the Framework.
- Ensure that the work of the HSSA, the Joint Investment Framework and its regional and local applications, are monitored, evaluated and renewed on an annual basis in line with future priorities.
The HSSA meets on a quarterly basis. Members include Strategic Health Authority and Learning and Skills Council representatives. It is still early days for the HSSA and we are in the process of filling all vacancies on the group to include - Trades Union representation, employers from a Foundation Trust and PCT and from the voluntary and independent healthcare sectors. An operational group is taking forward early priorities to support implementation and evaluation. Regional HSSA mechanisms are also being established.
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