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Press release: Joint action plan announced to find work for healthcare job seekers08 Feb 2007 Representatives from the NHS, social care, local government, independent and voluntary sectors, trade unions and higher education institutions today outlined their action plan to help newly qualified healthcare professionals and healthcare staff who are being displaced find jobs. With opportunities much more limited this year for newly qualified healthcare professionals, in particular physiotherapists, representatives from the across the sectors were brought together at a summit organised by NHS Employers to discuss possible solutions. Attendees of the summit agreed to take forward a joint action plan to support newly qualified healthcare staff find first jobs. Sian Thomas, Deputy Director of NHS Employers said: "It is crucial that we do everything we can to identify employment opportunities for newly qualified healthcare professionals and staff who in the midst of change. The NHS is going through major re-structuring and facing financial challenges and there is a responsibility on all employers to take steps to avoid losing talented people from the system. "There are still regional variations in employment opportunities which is why it is about local solutions. SHAs need to lead the dialogue in their local communities and we hope that, as a result of this summit, employers will work with partners locally to help new qualifiers find jobs. "We now have more, better trained and better paid staff than ever before. We need to ensure that our workforce planning is the best it can be so that these staff are using their skills and abilities to provide the best possible services and care for patients." The action plan includes the following: * A commitment for the NHS, social care, local government and voluntary sectors to work together at local level to plan the health and social care workforce Lesley Mercer, Director of Employment Relations and Union Services at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy said: "I welcome the initiative of collaborative working across the health community as the way to resolve the significant problems facing newly qualified professionals who have committed themselves to working in healthcare. If we lose these graduates now, it will also be at a high cost to the service because in two or three years' time we will be begging them to come back. We need a joint commitment now to some solutions to prevent this becoming a reality and our joint action plan is a really positive step forward." Health Minister Lord Hunt, who attended the summit, said: "I want the NHS to develop local solutions so that as many health care graduates as possible are employed, rather than impose any cast-iron directives from the centre. "The consistent message that I have received from employers is that they need solutions which are flexible, locally driven and founded on partnerships between employers, staff side and the higher education sector." Attendees at the summit made a commitment to implement the joint action plan working in partnership with their colleagues at local level. They will discuss the detail of the action plan at their various networks and will report on progress to the Social Partnership Forum. NHS Employers will provide advice and support to employers in the health service who are implementing the action plan at local level. Notes for editors* NHS Employers summit was held on 7 February. It brought together 60 representatives from the NHS, social care, local government, voluntary and independent sectors, trade unions and Higher Education institutions. Contact detailsThe press office provides a comprehensive service to keep journalists informed about the work of NHS Employers. If you have a media enquiry, please contact the press office team:
For out of hours media enquiries, please contact the duty press officer on 07880 500726. Last reviewed 8 Feb 2007 |
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