Agenda item

To receive a further update on developments around this initiative, with specific focus on the role and achievements of the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Care and Health Recruitment and Training Co-ordinator.

Following the previous update at the last meeting in July 2026, the Committee received a further presentation on developments in relation to the Tees Valley Care and Health Innovation Zone, with specific focus on the role and achievements of the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Care and Health Recruitment and Training Co-ordinator.  Introduced by the SBC Assistant Director – Inclusive Growth and Development, and supported by the SBC Employment & Training Hub Manager and the SBC Care and Health Recruitment and Training Co-ordinator themselves, a presentation was given which covered the following:

·       Creating the Workforce Needed for Future Growth (Why work, health and wellbeing matter to economic prosperity): Several benefits were highlighted – good health and wellbeing; people being able to access and sustain employment; higher skills, productivity and earnings; business growth and economic prosperity; increased household income and financial security; improved health, wellbeing and life chances.

·       Supporting Workforce Growth (Focus on Care & Health): By creating pathways into health and care careers, workforce shortages were simultaneously addressed, improving employment outcomes for residents who may also face health inequalities.  This resulted in a virtuous cycle where better health, higher incomes and increased health literacy contributed to healthier families and communities over generations.

·       Workforce Context and Opportunity: Of the Borough’s population (circa 197,000), 120,000 were of working-age.  Some 8.5% of residents were Managers, Directors and Senior Officials (higher than the North East average) and 35.6% were educated to degree level or above.  However, 16.4% of the population were ‘income deprived’ and the Borough was the 50^th most income deprived in the country (in the top 15%).  6.8% had no qualifications at all.

The overall rate of economic inactivity of working age residents was 27% (GB average was 21.4%).  Low wages and low skills were particularly prevalent in certain labour market groups and locations, and the Borough had the second highest NEET (not in education, employment or training) rates in the country.  These factors highlighted the importance of creating accessible pathways into health and care careers, particularly for young people, residents facing barriers to employment, and those seeking to progress their skills.

·       Vision For The Tees Valley Care & Health Innovation Zone: A transformational place for health, care, skills and opportunity, which would create better connections (between Teesdale to Stockton and the wider Tees Valley), create jobs (estimated at 9,000) and deliver skills, tackle health inequalities, stimulate innovation (involving an Innovation Campus comprising academic research and medical school), and support sustainable and healthy places (e.g. community allotments).

·       Supporting the Sector to Address Shortages & Creating a Talent Pipeline: The SBC Care and Health Recruitment and Training Co-ordinator played a key role in supporting employees, Tees Valley residents, and education providers across the whole Tees Valley footprint.  This was achieved through 1:1 careers guidance, signposting people to education, training and qualification opportunities, supporting recruitment and retention by connecting people to employers, supporting workforce upskilling and career progression, supporting the development of the Tees Valley Care and Health Innovation Zone, and arranging events and raising the profile of the sector.

·       Workforce Demographics, (Age) 2024/25 (working within the Adult Social Care Sector in England): Adult Social Care employed around 7,000 people in Stockton-on-Tees, with staff turnover at 20.7% (meaning around one-in-five workers left their employer each year, creating ongoing replacement demand).  Approximately 60% of new starters were recruited from elsewhere within the care sector, meaning employers continued competing for experienced staff.  The most frequently requested soft skills were communication, compassion / empathy, teamwork, resilience, reliability, and problem-solving.

Data (from Local Authorities and the independent sector only) showed an average of 7% of the Tees Valley workforce was under 25, highlighting an opportunity to attract the next generation of workforce to the sector.

·       Role Impact: From April 2026 (when the SBC Care and Health Recruitment and Training Co-ordinator started their post) to July 2026, health and social care (HSC) activity facilitated via this role included 110 business engagements, 59 education engagements, 52 career support engagements (email / drop-in / telephone), and 61 1:1 support appointments.  There had been 17 employment outcomes linked to events and programmes, and 15 residents had secured employment following 1:1 support.

·       Delivering Impact Across the Sector: Further HSC-related activity since April 2026 included a career change event (26 attendees), a Dale Care event (attracting 174 job applicants), and a workforce survey launch and business engagements (providing valuable insights into local recruitment, retention and skills challenges).  Other initiatives involved a HSC Youth Trailblazer (a four-day induction with 10 young people, with 10 transitioning to work placements), a HSC recruitment event (60 residents attending, along with 15 employers / education providers), and an NHS Foundation Apprenticeship Information Event (10 young people attended, with five from Stockton being supported to access Junior Healthcare Assistant roles).

·       Health & Social Care Specific Youth Trailblazer (Targeting Youth Unemployment): This initiative aimed to attract young people into the HSC sector, support NEET individuals to develop skills, confidence and employability, provide hands-on experience and insight into HSC careers, create opportunities for young people while supporting future workforce needs in health and care, and improve pathways into qualifications, paid work placements, and sustainable employment.

·       Priorities for 2026/27: Five key themes (with associated aims) had been identified – HSC Provider Recruitment Event, Education, Young People, Workforce Focus, and Raising the Profile of the Sector.

Thanking officers for highlighting the achievements of the SBC Care and Health Recruitment and Training Co-ordinator, the Committee praised the initial impact of the role and felt the challenge now was to upscale the numbers being supported, particularly in order to address the Borough’s high NEET numbers.  In response to a query on what happened to those who did not secure employment following 1:1 assistance, Members heard that individuals would continue to receive support and could also access other programmes offered by / via the Stockton-on-Tees Employment and Training Hub.

The Committee looked forward to learning the results of the workforce survey (seeking insights into local recruitment, retention and skills challenges) that was launched in June 2026 – SBC officers confirmed that feedback could be shared / brought to a future Committee meeting.

With reference to the HSC Youth Trailblazer initiative, Members asked if young people from outside the Borough were being attracted to events, particularly since some were transient across the wider regional / sub-regional area.  It was stated that SBC was leading on this work on behalf of the Tees Valley and that there were no boundaries when it came to individuals seeking to get involved, with engagement taking place with employers throughout the Tees Valley.  It was also confirmed that there were no updates in relation to funding around this initiative.

AGREED that the Tees Valley Care and Health Innovation Zone update be noted.