Pioneering new Leeds Health and Care Academy takes international stage
A new, ground breaking collaboration of Leeds' health, care and university partners, believed to be the first of its kind, has been showcased internationally this week.
The Leeds Health and Care Academy is spearheading a new and shared way of thinking, learning and working together across the city’s health and care sector.
It is bringing together and transforming learning and development for all who work in health and care. In doing so, it underpins the city’s aim to benefit citizens by creating ‘one workforce’ across health and care – a citywide team working across organisational boundaries.
The Academy is a project of the Leeds Academic Health Partnership and was presented to a worldwide audience at the Association of Academic Health Centers International (AAHCI) Global Issues Forum in Washington DC.
The presentation was led by our Chief Executive Sara Munro, and Jenny Lewis, Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. You can read their full presentation here.
The presentation started with an inspiring two-minute film about the city of Leeds driving forwards and leading the field, narrated by Yorkshire-born actor Joe Duttine.
Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is one of the founding partners of the Academy. The Trust’s Chief Executive, Sara Munro, said: “This is a very exciting step for Leeds. We don’t think any other city of our size, involving so many partners, has attempted such a comprehensive approach to transforming the culture, capacity and capability of its health and care workforce.
“As with any large scale ambition, we are starting by laying good foundations, such as improving support for people already in health and care roles and helping everyone understand the ‘one workforce’ approach.
“Technological developments are dramatically changing how we all work and it’s vital that our staff are equipped for this, not just to embrace the change, but to lead it with confidence, knowing they’re providing the very latest and best care possible.
“The issue of workforce shortages in this sector is a global one. We’re addressing this in Leeds by using the Academy to inspire and support more people into the diverse careers it offers. As well as talking to young people, we’re especially promoting these opportunities to those in our more deprived communities, to help reduce inequalities in our city and support our inclusive growth strategy.
“We also recognise the vital roles of volunteers, unpaid carers and those who work in care homes and that, to truly be the best city for health and wellbeing, we must transform our approach to learning, working and supporting each other.”
Hear more from Sara about her city-wide workforce role and how the Academy will benefit both staff and patients.
The Leeds Health and Care Academy will help the city:
- tackle current workforce challenges across all sectors
- provide Leeds people with opportunities for work experience, apprenticeships and careers, with a focus on areas of highest deprivation
- equip the health and care workforce for the future, keep pace with changing models of health and care, such as the impact of digitalisation and new technologies
- offer a transformational experience of learning and working together, with a focus on the city and its people rather than on services and organisations
- be agile in responding to its population’s health and care needs
- implement its citywide health and care workforce strategy
- attract talented people work in its health and care sector.
Further information
The Academy is a project of Leeds Academic Health Partnership (LAHP), one of the biggest of its kind in the UK. The LAHP founding partners include three Leeds universities, the city’s three NHS trusts, NHS Leeds Clinical Commissioning Group and the City Council.
For more information, visit www.leedshealthandcareacademy.org