Strong support for health sector ‘skills passport’

Research for Skills for Health has found strong support for a ‘skills passport’ for the health sector, with particular praise for its potential to reduce administrative costs associated with taking on new staff.

The one-year pilot project was conducted among nursing staff at seven English NHS Trusts during 2009/10 and sought to test ‘proof of concept’ for the passport, which is seen as a powerful tool with which to support workforce flexibility and mobility across the four rapidly-changing UK healthcare systems. The concept, which is already used in some other sectors, allows workers to create a verified online record of their skills, qualifications and experience which can be viewed by prospective or existing employers as required. Among employers, feedback from the pilot indicated strong support for the passport’s potential to reduce unnecessary duplication of statutory and mandatory training and pre-employment checks each time a worker moves between employers. Nurses who took part in the pilot praised the passport’s potential contribution to career development and job mobility. By providing verified evidence of skills and competences, the passport makes it easier for workers to demonstrate suitability for new posts, and also allows staff to plan and manage their careers more effectively. Skills for Health chief executive John Rogers said: “The skills passport is a very exciting tool with huge potential to deliver real benefits to all health sector employers and staff members. “This pilot project has demonstrated that there is clear ‘proof of concept’ for a passport for the health sector, and we look forward to working with our partners to develop the concept further.” The project to pilot a skills passport for the nursing workforce was an action in Modernising Nursing Careers, Setting The Direction (DH 2006), and was carried out under the guidance of the Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England David Foster. Dr Foster said: “The nursing workforce has repeatedly called for some form of competency passport to support the modernisation of nursing careers and this pilot was a direct response to that call. “I am delighted that it has not only confirmed the case for a skills passport but also highlighted a range of potential additional benefits for employers, health workers throughout the UK, universities and, most importantly, those who use health services.” Skills for Health will now be working with partners to explore the potential to test the passport among other sectors of the health workforce, prior to a possible nationwide roll-out. ENDS Media contacts: Tel. 0117 910 3853, mobile 0776 818 8994 dominic.moody@skillsforhealth.org.uk Notes to editors 1. Further information on the Skills Passport for Health is available from www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/skillspassport 2. Skills for Health is the Sector Skills Council for all health sector employers: NHS, independent and third sector. Since 2002 we’ve been working with employers to get the right people, with the right skills, in the right place at the right time. We are the authoritative voice on skills issues for the health sector and offer proven workforce solutions and tools – with the expertise and experience to use them effectively. To find out more about our unique competence-based approach to workforce transformation and how we can help you drive up productivity and quality visit www.skillsforhealth.org.uk