The committee is examining the Government’s plans for reform as well as looking more broadly at what education and training is needed to develop the future workforce.
NHS Employers consulted widely with employers to develop the evidence submitted to the committee in December, and Dean took the opportunity today to reemphasize the key themes emerging from that consultation.
He suggested that the current system focuses too strongly on creating a supply of staff trained in particular professions and welcomed the plans to place accountability and responsibility for the commissioning of education and training for all parts of the workforce with local providers, in constructive dialogue with the professions.
He cautioned that we should not just ‘lift and shift’ bits of the old architecture into the new NHS structures. Instead, he said we should look for the reforms to achieve a transformation in how the workforce is developed. He emphasized the unique position of employers in being able to engage with both the professionals they manage and local service commissioners about how best to meet patient need.
This was the fourth session of the committee, which has seen witnesses from the Royal Colleges, regulators, staff side organisations and the Department of Health.
Dean was invited to speak alongside David Worskett, director, NHS Partners Network and Sally Taber, director, Independent Healthcare Advisory Services.
You can watch Dean's session on the House of Commons website and find out more about our work supporting employers with the new education and training proposals on our education and training pages.