Page 39 - Neath Port Talbot Skills Report 2024

It can be difficult to look at what future skills will
be required for Health Care when this sector is
already the most difficult to recruit to. Staff
Nurse jobs being advertised up to 6 times
before they are filled and Care Workers up to 5
times.
With an ageing population this must be the
priority in filling these positions.
Health & Social Care
Future Skills
Future Skills Mapping
• Digital
• Patient Diagnostics and
Monitoring
• AI/ VR/AR
• Access to specialists
• Better care at home
• Doctors
• Nurses
• Consultants
• Care Work
• Mental Health
There is a shift however to better health care
digital services so expertise in digital patient
monitoring and diagnostic systems will be
required.
There is also a desire to shift the emphasis from
emergency care being the majority of the
workload to become one of life care and early
diagnostics to reduce the pressure on
emergency care.
The future of healthcare will require strong
digital skills, critical thinking, big data and
analysis to ensure this strategy can be achieved.
These are not areas often considered by job
seekers thinking of a career in Health & Social
Care.
Many school leavers believe their future lies
within H&SC yet it is still hard to recruit, how
can this appetite be harnessed from school
leavers to employment?
The skills gaps must be addressed now,
NPT has a falling job rate, a rising job
posting rate and a reducing median
average advertised salary. All three of
which need to be reversed to allow for
digital processes to be correctly
implemented.
Perception is key
The sector needs positive perception injecting
back into it.
Negative perceptions about:
• Strike action
• Covid
• Brexit
• Low Pay
Are all contributing to the recruitment problems
being faced by the sector
NPTC Group of Colleges is an active partner with
both Swansea Bay University Health Board
(SBUHB) and Powys Training Health Board (PTHB).
An Apprenticeship Academy has been established
within the health board in order to successfully
deliver an apprenticeship programme to respond
to identified skills shortages and gaps and provide
a talent pipeline for current and future clinical and
non-clinical vacancies
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