What is it?

Two programmes working together to improve the education, training and development opportunities available to current, potential and future NHS staff. Talent for Care has a specific focus on improving these opportunities for those working in a support role, while Widening Participation seeks to ensure the healthcare workforce is representative of the communities it serves, and that progression and opportunities are based on merit, not social background.

The Talent for Care national strategic framework - available in the related documents below - focuses on ten strategic intentions under the primary themes of:

Get In - opportunities for people to start their career in a support role

Get On - support people to be the best they can be in the job they do

Go Further - provide opportunities for career progression, including into registered professions.

The Widening Participation strategy ‘It Matters' sets out five key goals:

improve monitoring and reporting of widening participation activities

enhance further the visibility and targeting of health careers information and advice

increase, through research and evaluation, the understanding and evidence of what and what does not work in relation to widening participation developments in healthcare education and workforce development

increase collaborative approaches in supporting widening participation initiatives, including outreach activity

stimulate and increase the capacity of healthcare organisations in being able to expand and support work or work related experience opportunities.

Why do it?

Partnership working between HEE, employers and trade unions is an essential component of the Talent for Care and Widening Participation strategic frameworks.  All parties have a direct interest in developing the healthcare support workforce and recognise that, by working in partnership, we can deliver real opportunities for staff working in a support role.

Cost:

Determined locally by employing organisations

How to take forward:

Talent for Care please email talentforcare@hee.nhs.uk

Widening Participation wideningparticipation@hee.nhs.uk

Last Updated: May 2019