Introduction
Background
The adult social care sector has faced significant challenges with recruitment and retention. Care and health career academies support local areas to think differently about social care workforce challenges. They support the workforce pipeline, boosting recruitment and retention, and workforce development.
Care and health career academies are relatively new initiatives, and the national picture is constantly evolving. This project was undertaken to develop a better understanding of care and health career academies in England. It aims to share emerging learning on the development of academies and insights as to what good looks like.
This guide builds on existing resources that have been developed jointly by Partners in Care and Health (PCH), the North West Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and West Midlands ADASS, to support local authorities with the implementation of care and health career academies.
The research also complements ongoing work in the sector, including the career academies implementation set, which is being facilitated by North West ADASS.
This What Good Looks Like guide showcases good practice, success factors and evidence of what works, to support sector-led improvement. It provides practical advice and insights from existing academies, to support others in the process, or considering, the development of a career academy.
North Tyneside Care Academy
In 2022/23, the adult social care sector in North Tyneside had a workforce of approximately 7,400 people – comprised of 6,900 filled posts and 500 vacancies. The staff turnover rate is estimated to be 23 per cent, which is lower than the regional average of 26 per cent.
The North Tyneside Care Academy is a partnership between North Tyneside Council, the NHS, social care providers, the voluntary sector and local schools and colleges. Launched in 2023, it aims to meet regional workforce challenges, promote social care as a career, and create career progression opportunities for those already working in social care.
The Academy is currently in the very early stages of implementation. It is anticipated that delivery partners and providers will help shape the specific objectives of the Academy. These are likely to evolve and develop over time as the Academy responds to the constantly evolving needs of local providers.
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