Skills shortages could last longer as European funding ends, Councils warn

SKILLS shortages could last longer just as demand increases and dedicated European funding ends, warns the Local Government Association.

In a snap survey of its members, the LGA reveals demand is increasing for skills in new industries such as in renewable, green technology, digital and cyber, while firms are struggling to fill essential roles in more established workplaces such as Hospitality, care work and logistics.

Some people with higher qualifications are increasingly taking on work which they are overqualified for, leaving those with fewer qualifications even further from the labour market, despite employers wanting to retrain their staff and recruit more widely.

Economic inactivity and those not in employment, education or training is also on the rise in many areas, according to the survey. Some of the causes of this have been attributed to physical and mental health issues in the wake of the Pandemic, a lack of career options and apprenticeships, as well as migrants, care leavers and the digitally excluded being disproportionately affected.

The LGA, which represents Councils in England and Wales, is also highlighting concerns about a 7 month gap on average between the imminent ending of the European Social Fund (ESF), a key source of investment into skills training and jobs creation which has to be spent by the end of this year, and its domestic replacement the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) the employment and skills element of which for most areas is due to start in 2024.

Nearly half of Councils responding to the survey said their biggest concern was being less able to help those who had previously received support from ESF, meaning fewer people being helped into work or training. The LGA said this is due to delays in receiving vital replacement funds and their shorter timescales, preventing them from planning longer-term programmes.

Despite Councils and Combined Authorities being uniquely placed to understand the skills challenges in their own local areas, the LGA says the fragmented and disjointed nature of current national employment and training schemes makes it difficult to target and join up provision for learners, unemployed people, career changers and businesses.

Previous LGA analysis has found that about £20 billion is spent by central Government on at least 49 national employment and skills related schemes or services in England, managed by 9 Whitehall departments and agencies, with no overall national strategy or accountability.

The LGA says vital national support such as:- 'skills bootcamps' and other such programmes are subject to unnecessary bidding, using up valuable time and money which could be better spent on planning longer-term strategies to help people retrain or find work, making the most of local investment.

The LGA also warns that Whitehall's delays in distributing this year's UKSPF funds for other priorities should not be repeated next year and there should be no more short-notice changes, which could impact on the delivery of training and job support.

Instead, Councils, Combined Authorities and their local partners; businesses, Colleges and training providers; need certainty over future allocations so they can address the different labour market and skills challenges they all face.

Mayor Marvin Rees, Chair of the LGA's City Regions Board, said:- "Everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential by upskilling or retraining, and employers are crying out for new recruits with the right skillsets. Local Councils are best placed to connect them, working alongside the business community, unions and our vital training organisations. To do this, we need long-term funding for employment and skills development in our local areas, with the UKSPF included. Our snapshot survey reveals Councils' deep concerns about being able to meet demand and plug urgent skills gaps, whether it be for growing green jobs to meet net zero targets, or for filling essential vacancies in our health and care workforce. The Government needs to match this urgency by giving Councils and Combined Authorities the vital, long-term and consistent funding they need on time, to encourage people back into the workforce, match jobseekers with employers and safeguard the future of our local economies."

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Government acts to boost the quality of care for mothers and babies

FURTHER action will be taken on a national level to improve safety for mothers and their babies within the NHS to ensure maternity and neonatal care everywhere is of the highest standard.

The Government has published its full response to an independent review; led by former Regional Director of Public Health Dr Bill Kirkup CBE; into maternity failings at East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust. The review was launched because of concerns about the quality of care being provided by the Trust.

Minister for Women's Health, Maria Caulfield, has announced she will now personally chair a new group overseeing maternity services nationwide.

The Maternity and Neonatal Care National Oversight Group will bring together key people from the NHS and other organisations. It will look across work being carried out by a range of programmes set up to improve maternity and neonatal care, including:- the implementation of Dr Kirkup's and other recommendations, to ensure they are joined up and effective.

Minister for Women's Health Maria Caulfield said:- "Every woman deserves to feel confident in the care they and their baby receive. I'd like to thank Dr Kirkup and all those involved in investigating the circumstances behind what's happened in these horrendous cases. In particular, I'd like to thank the women and their families, who have gone through so much pain, for engaging with the investigation and helping it reach its findings. I'm determined to see safety standards in maternity and neonatal care improve across the country. While this invaluable report focuses on the situation in East Kent, I want to see its recommendations implemented nationwide. This Government will continue investing in the maternity workhorce and working with the NHS to raise standards."

In East Kent in particular, the minister will chair a local forum bringing together local NHS representatives, the Care Quality Commission and local MPs to share information and updates on the improvements being made to maternity services.

The Minister for Women's Health has also appointed Dr Kirkup to lead work with healthcare partners in response to 2 of the key recommendations, helping to ensure teams in maternity and neonatal care across England can work together more collaboratively so the best quality, compassionate care is provided.

Organisations from across the health and care system; including:- The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives; have been asked by the Government to support its efforts to promote and improve team working in healthcare settings.

Royal Colleges, professional regulators, and employers have also been asked to investigate how they can improve workplace culture, so standards of professional behaviour in maternity and neonatal settings are high. They'll consider what appropriate action can be taken if high standards fail to be met.

Dr Bill Kirkup said:- "I see the Government's response to:- 'Reading the Signals' as an important step forward in addressing the issues that I identify. I welcome the opportunity to lead this significant work. I look forward to drawing together an Action Group to advise me in doing so."

Following Dr Kirkup's report, the below actions are being or have been taken:-

• A special data Task Force has been set up by NHS England to better monitor patient safety in maternity and neonatal care nationwide.
   

• Relevant bodies will work with the Department to investigate how teamwork in maternity and neonatal care spaces can be improved.
   

• Relevant bodies will work with the Department to investigate how doctors in training can be better trained to improve teamworking and their own personal development.
   

• Trusts will have to ensure there is proper representation of maternity care on their boards.
   

• The Government will continue to work with NHS England on its approach to poorly performing Trusts and their leadership.
   

• East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust will continue working to address the problems identified and improve standards.

Dr Matthew Jolly, National Clinical Director for maternity and women's health at NHS England, said:- "We welcome the Government's response to Dr Bill Kirkup's report - the failings in care for women, babies and their families using East Kent Hospital must not continue to be repeated. NHS England has installed an improvement Director at the trust alongside a senior advisor, and both are providing expert practical advice to the organisation on the actions it needs to implement to improve its maternity and neonate care, while senior national NHS clinical leaders are regularly visiting both maternity units to monitor progress. In March, we published a delivery plan for maternity and neonatal care which sets out what the NHS will do over the next 3 years to make care safer, more personalised and more equitable for all women, babies and families."

The Government has taken steps to improve the quality of care for mothers and babies within the NHS, including:- £165 million of additional investment per year to improve maternity and neonatal services.

The NHS recently published the 1st ever Long Term WorkForce Plan, backed by over £2.4 billion in Government funding to deliver the biggest training expansion in NHS history to help meet the challenges of a growing and aging population by recruiting and retaining hundreds of thousands more staff over the next 15 years.

The Government also continues to build on The Maternity Transformation Programme, the NHS Long Term Plan, and continues to work closely with NHS England to implement the 3 Year Delivery Plan for maternity and neonatal services that was published in March 2023. This plan looks to guide services towards safer and more personalised care for women, babies, and families.