Education, training and workforce planning - Health Committee Contents


Annex A: Terms of reference


The following terms of reference were agreed by the Health Committee on 8 November 2011:

The Committee will examine the Government's plans regarding healthcare education, training and workforce planning. Consideration will be given to whether, and how, the proposals will ensure:

  • the right numbers of appropriately qualified and trained healthcare staff (as well as clinical academics and researchers) at national, regional and local levels;
  • that training curricula reflect the changing nature of healthcare delivery, including the medico-legal context;
  • that all providers and commissioners of healthcare (both NHS and non-NHS) play an appropriate part in developing the future workforce;
  • multi-professional and multidisciplinary leadership and accountability (encompassing the full range of healthcare professions, specialties and grades) at all levels;
  • high and consistent standards of education and training;
  • that the existing workforce can be developed and reskilled for the future (through means including post-registration training and continuing professional development); and
  • open and equitable access to all careers in healthcare for all sections of society (by means including flexible career paths).

With these key themes in mind, the Committee will look at:

  • plans for the transition to the new system, up to April 2013;
  • the future of postgraduate deaneries;
  • the future of Health Innovation and Education Clusters;
  • the role of the Secretary of State for Health in the new system;
  • the proposed role, structure, governance and status of Health Education England (including how it will take on the roles of Medical Education England and the Professional Advisory Boards), and its relationship to professional regulators and to the other parts of the new NHS system architecture;
  • the proposed role, structure, status, size and composition of local Provider Skills Networks / Local Education and Training Boards, including how plans for their authorisation by Health Education England will address issues relating to governance, accountability and potential or perceived conflicts of interest, and how the Boards will relate to Clinical Commissioning Groups and the Commissioning Board;
  • how professional regulators, healthcare providers and commissioners, universities and other education providers, and researchers will all participate in the formulation and development of curricula;
  • the implications of a more diverse provider market within the NHS;
  • how the workforce requirements of providers of NHS and non-NHS healthcare will be balanced;
  • the role and content of the proposed National Education and Training Outcomes Framework;
  • the role of the Centre for Workforce Intelligence;
  • the roles of Skills for Health and Skills for Care;
  • the role of NHS Employers;
  • how funding will be protected and distributed in the new system;
  • how future healthcare workforce needs are being forecast;
  • the impact of people retiring from, or otherwise leaving, healthcare professions;
  • the place of overseas educated healthcare staff within the workforce;
  • how the new system will relate to healthcare, education, training and workforce planning in the other countries of the UK; and
  • how the public health workforce will be affected by the proposals.




 
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Prepared 23 May 2012