INSTITUTE NEWS


Developing the healthcare EFM workforce – a partnership approach


On 12 May IHEEM held a three-part joint webinar with HEFMA titled ‘Developing the Healthcare EFM Workforce – a Partnership Approach’. The day saw keynote speaking sessions from Prerana Issar, Chief People Officer from NHS England and NHS Improvement, Professor Richard Williams OBE, Emeritus Professor of Mental Health Strategy, University of South Wales, and Lord Anthony Young of Norwood Green, a prominent Apprenticeship Ambassador. The event focused on the new joint Workforce Strategy launched by IHEEM and HEFMA , moving on to discuss the current challenges facing the industry, including staff turnover, mental health and wellbeing, and training and development, and finishing on the positive steps that both organisations are working towards to improve what is available, such as a new national apprenticeship programme, and the development of joint resources such as the Future Leaders Career Route Map. Overall, attendees gained a better understanding of how to improve visibility, development, retention, and diversity within the EFM workforce, and the importance of encouraging and supporting future leaders in the sector.


A national policy perspective The first session, ‘National Policy Perspective’, introduced the IHEEM & HEFMA joint Workforce Strategy document, and was chaired by Paul Fenton, IHEEM President, with speakers Jonathan Stewart, HEFMA National Chair, and, Pete Sellars, IHEEM’s CEO, highlighting the key objectives of both organisations in supporting the healthcare EFM sector. These include: n Influencing and supporting the NHS England & NHS Improvement National Workforce Strategy to address recruitment, retention, diversity, and appropriate pay structures across healthcare EFM services, and developing model structures for healthcare organisations.


n Driving a campaign to change the traditional perception of the NHS workforce as being predominantly made up of doctors and nurses, to one that has better awareness of the importance and diversity of job roles in the EFM professions.


n Developing resources to market healthcare EFM services as a career of choice across all sectors of society, and drive diversity, inclusion, and representation, in healthcare organisations.


8 Health Estate Journal June 2021


n Supporting and influencing the creation of a national apprenticeship structure and training programme for all professional groups in healthcare EFM services.


n Supporting the ongoing development of a comprehensive Career Route Map to inform potential employees, recruiters, and existing staff, of the employment and career advancement opportunities in healthcare EFM services.


n Providing opportunities for education, training, and knowledge-sharing for members, to develop their skills and experience across the requirements of their job roles, and support and enable them to make the most of career development opportunities.


n Exploring ways to help HEFMA and IHEEM’s membership develop personal resilience, mindfulness, wellbeing, and mutual support, to protect them from the pressures of working life.


Commitment to partnership working


Pete Sellars emphasised the Institute’s commitment to working with any willing partners to deliver on this strategy, to grow and sustain the EFM workforce across the healthcare industry, and use all available resources to drive improvement in the key focus areas of Visibility; Development; Process, Retention & Remuneration, and Diversity. He also stressed the importance of providing a wide choice of training and learning options for IHEEM and HEFMA members, and showing them the next steps to take regarding the opportunities available for their career path.


Dedicated courses for learners Since the beginning of the year, IHEEM has established eight new knowledge partnerships with notable training providers, including TAHPI, Asset Wisdom, Eastwood Park, Eta Projects, Spirax Sarco, PPL Training, Dudley College of Technology, and BESA SFG20. The purpose of the knowledge partnerships is to provide access to knowledge and learning resources, and connections to support our members throughout their career.


Links to all the available courses are in the IHEEM website ‘Learning Hub’. Members will shortly have access to between 75 and 100 dedicated and targeted training programmes, providing a wide choice and variety of options as part of the Institute’s ‘one-stop-shop’. approach.


Top left clockwise: Jonathan Stewart, Lord Anthony Young, Professor Richard Williams OBE, Wayne Carr, Simon Dennis, and Prerana Issar.


Actions for us all


The keynote presentation from Prerana Issar, Chief People Officer for NHS England & NHS Improvement, addressed the key achievements made thus far as set out in the NHS People Plan 2020/21. She explained how the creativity and drive shown by Estates and Facilities departments in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic emphasised the importance of the EFM roles within healthcare, and how thankful she was for all their efforts. She explained that the NHS EFM sector’s response in building the Nightingale Hospitals had been called upon to support the current COVID-19 crisis in India, which she has a personal interest in, and connection to. She also outlined the successful steps that had already been taken to reduce the NHS carbon footprint, and emphasised how Estates and Facilities teams had had a big part to play in this, before reaffirming that it is everyone’s responsibility to continue to strive to implement this important agenda.


Prerana Issar then went on to refer to the next steps in the NHS People Plan 2021/22, which include specific commitments around: n Looking after our people – with quality health and wellbeing support for everyone.


n Belonging in the NHS – with a particular focus on tackling discrimination.


n New Ways of Working and Delivering Care – making effective use of the full range of people’s skills and experience.


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