More than 50 guests attended the launch of the Pan-Dorset Academy of Health and Social Care at BU's Executive Business Centre (EBC). The Academy聽aims to develop an integrated approach to providing education and training for local health and social care agencies.
Hosted by Professor Keith Brown, Director of the National Centre for Post-Qualifying Social Work and Professional Practice at BU, the event saw a range of speakers present a short pitch for how their service could benefit from the Academy.
Professor Brown said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opportunity to try and bring the major employers in Dorset and three local authorities and health organisations together to think about their recruitment and retention strategies for key staff in the area. There is a great difficulty in recruiting social workers and nurses and in particular, keeping the most experienced staff.鈥�
He added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 more than getting these organisations talking 鈥� it鈥檚 about agreeing a joint CPD or Continuing Professional Development strategy for all their health and social care workers so that it doesn鈥檛 matter whether you work for Bournemouth, Dorset or Poole, there鈥檚 an integrated approach to workforce development.鈥�
Jan Thurgood, Strategic Director for People at Borough of Poole,聽who also presented some of her ambitions for the project, said: 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a fantastic opportunity for health, social care and children鈥檚 services in Dorset, Poole and Bournemouth to really grow our workforce and to develop them in a way that really changes the quality of what we can deliver to the public.
鈥淚 think we will be able to provide integrated development opportunities, and we will also be able to focus on the leadership of services through our partnership with 天美传媒.鈥�
Colin Hague, Director of HR at Dorset HealthCare, pictured, said: 鈥淭he Academy is excellent. We all need to work together in the spirit of partnership, moving forward positively and making a difference while investing in learning and development. We are much stronger working together as partners than we are working individually.
鈥淚t adds to the care and difference we can make to citizens in Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole and making a difference to the community through our collective work.鈥�
Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults at the Department of Health addressed the audience via video to praise an 鈥榚xciting launch which would provide a platform for the workforce in Bournemouth鈥�, remarking further that the NHS needed 鈥榖roader ranges of skills to make a difference to patients and carers鈥� with a 鈥榞reater need for more integrated services with more capability to work flexibly鈥�.
Steve Crocker, of Dorset County Council, BU Student Ros Richards, and Sue Ross, Service Director of Children鈥檚 Social Care at Bournemouth Borough Council also addressed the audience.
聽To read more about the Academy, please visit:
