Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Skills shortage
Job opportunities in health and social care
More than 200 students attended an event in Coatbridge showcasing employment opportunities in the health and social care sector.
Part of a drive to tackle the shortage of skilled staff in the field, it was organised by North Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire and involved a range of health professionals, independent sector employers, the University of the West of Scotland and hosts New College Lanarkshire.
I t comes as Nor th Lanarkshire Council prepares to launch its health and social care academy in August, which will see senior school pupils gain qualifications and work- related learning experience – preparing them for roles in health and social care, nursing, dietetics, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and audiology.
The academy will be based at Coltness High in Wishaw with pupils travelling from their own schools to study the health and social care subjects; in a move aiming to address a future skills shortage in the sector.
Janice Hewi t t, chief accountable officer of North Lanarkshire’s integrated joint board, said: “Over the next 20 years there will be a 48 per cent rise in the number of people aged 75 and over living in Lanarkshire, which will increase the population’s health and social care needs.
“It’s vital we invest in the workforce of the future to tackle the shortage of skilled staff in the sector, and that’s why we’ve set up the health and social care academy, which will develop and promote a range of entry routes to jobs.”
Health and social care partnership nurse director Anne Armstrong added: “Up to 100 places will be available from August, and we aim to expand this during 2019-2020.
“The care academy event meant students were able to speak directly to staff working in health and social care, find out about potential vacancies and learn more about the range of roles on offer; we look forward to having other similar events in the future and supporting people interested in working in this sector.”
Councillors on North Lanarkshire’s education committee were told at their last meeting how the new academy “has been developed in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire” and “will focus on developing our young workforce, closing poverty- related gaps and workforce development in areas where there will be a dearth in skilled staff”.
All students will have a mentor from NHS Lanarkshire and the academy will offer skills for work qualifications and foundation apprenticeships in health and social care plus early education and childcare and Prince’s Trust courses; while the following year will see the addition of “courses linked to general nursing and allied health professions”.
Councillors were told: “There will be a significant shortage of skilled staff in the health and social care sector if we do not invest now in the workforce of the future.
“The academy will assist young people to access employment in growth sectors within Nor th Lanarkshire and across the country.”