Page 60 - Regional Employment & Skills Plan

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Challenges and Drivers of Change and Demand
At an SME level the most significant challenges facing Health and Social Care businesses in the region are centred around recruitment difficulties and funding. The two issues are closely aligned for many, with reductions in funding resulting in it becoming more problematic to train current staff and attract the desired new entrants to the sector.
A notable factor reported by many businesses is the requirement and pressure on businesses to provide a better and improved service with less funding and increasing fees;
‘Increase in operational and staff costs, but small increases through Local Authority Commissioners. Less money to invest in staff training and creating career paths in Health and Social Care’
Concern was also expressed in relation to the requirement to register all home care workers by 2020, which will require all those registered to hold a minimum relevant qualification. There will be a full consultation on the qualification requirements for this group commencing July 2017. The concern from some employers is that this additional requirement will be a further barrier to the recruitment and retention of staff. The demand from some businesses and the industry needs to be heard i.e. it is skills that are required and not necessarily accredited qualifications. It must however be noted that the forthcoming registration of the workforce is part of the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) 2016 Act and is seen to be a means of increasing the competence and improving the protection of those working with some of the most vulnerable people in society.
At a large business level similar challenges were reported with a greater emphasis on meeting WG targets under increased scrutiny and constricting budgets. Attention was drawn also on the pressure to improve services offered in rural areas and in turn attracting suitably skilled staff to deliver these services. In corroboration with this was the need to manage unplanned activity and maintaining service delivery whilst working towards a community based model of care within budget.
The main drivers of change and demand reported were around the increased use of technology and its effective use in meeting differing challenges especially in rural areas and the increased demands of an ageing population. Meeting targets and changes in legislation were also cited by many with the Apprenticeship levy being a concern amongst some.
Regional Employment & Skills Plan South West & Mid Wales Sector Profiles