Welcome
Welcome to our first quarterly round up where I bring you news from our partnership working across the Leeds Health and Care Academy. I’ll share updates on the programmes we’re delivering, the impact we are having for the health and care system across Leeds and a look ahead to what is coming up in the next quarter.
About Leeds Health and Care Academy
As this is our first edition, I thought I’d briefly outline the background of the Academy, and what our role and purpose is here in Leeds, for those of you not yet familiar with our work. We were established in 2019 and since then have grown from a tiny team of three to the vibrant and diverse team we have now bringing together an incredible range of skills, experience and networks. The Academy was created in recognition that a step change was needed to tackle workforce challenges and maximise the opportunities that a joined-up approach could bring. Our work spans the whole workforce journey, inspiring our next generation, developing the current workforce, supporting pathways into and across our partner organisations, using research and analysis to deepen our understanding and investing in workforce innovation projects to make positive change.
Highlights from the last quarter
I’m delighted to confirm that Leeds has been awarded new funding for Year 2 of the Accelerator Programme and within this funding, the Leeds Health and Care Partnership has confirmed an allocation of £620k to specifically support the health and social care workforce. For those already familiar with the work of the Accelerator programme, you’ll know this is a valuable opportunity to embed the insights, learning, and evidence generated during Year 1, ensuring that our approach is both informed and strategically aligned with system priorities and provide support through a transitional year as we move towards 2027 and WorkWell.
Amidst lots of structural changes across our partners here in Leeds, the Academy is active in providing stability and support to all colleagues as the new ways of working emerge. Early in quarter four, myself and Head of Learning and Culture, Veena Murray, facilitated a session with CEOs, Accountable Officers and HR Directors across the Leeds Health and Care Partnership to shape a coherent approach to OD in the new Leeds Provider Partnership (LPP). This work has continued through the LPP Delivery Group supporting Finance and Governance colleagues with exploring relational requirements under the new arrangements and a positive and energetic network meeting of senior OD Leads from across the partnership.
In another significant step linked to the system changes, we have also agreed the transfer of Aspiring Allies, a virtual work experience programme for Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), from the WY AHP Faculty to the Leeds Health and Care Academy, funded for three years. This is an exciting opportunity to integrate with existing careers work and see how we can develop the model further.
Achievements and impact
Thrive @ Work, our Accelerator funded programme supporting health and care staff at risk of leaving work for health reasons, concluded active referrals at the end of January. The programme has already delivered 227 positive economic outcomes for the people of Leeds, more than doubling our target of 92, with some participants yet to complete their programmes of support.
Your Health, Your Career, the digital tool designed to provide personalised recommendations for people making career changes whilst managing their health, launched on 28 January at Leeds City College with over 60 colleagues joining from education, health & care and employment support across West Yorkshire. In its first two months over 300 people have accessed the tool.
The Talent Hub has supported over 2,200 people already this year, with more than 500 securing employment and many others progressing into apprenticeships, training and accredited qualifications. Our Connecting Communities work remains a key focus to support those who face additional barriers to work, and we’re particularly pleased that we are continuing to see a high retention rate with 92% of people staying in post for 12 months more.
The Partnerships Leading Care Programme launched in February, working with Local Care Partnerships to support the development of a local neighbourhood health and proactive care model. We’re grateful to the work of WY ICB, LCH and Primary Care colleagues which has been critically important in preparing groups for the programme.
The launch of the Partnerships Leading Care Fellowship represents a tangible step forward in building stronger, more connected place‑based leadership across the system. The inaugural cohort of 27 fellows, with strong and balanced representation from all sectors, demonstrates both the appetite for and commitment to collective leadership at neighbourhood level.
The Integrated Neighbourhood Optimising Workforce Ecosystem report and guidance were published this quarter with valuable, evidenced-based insights and a practical toolkit to help leaders from across different parts of our city and sector create the conditions required for truly integrated working. With thanks to our many partners who contributed to this insightful piece of work.
For more detail about our achievements and impact over the last quarter please click here to view our quarterly dashboard.
Coming up
Over the next quarter, we look forward to publishing the Leeds Community Mission Challenge Workforce Insights report, which synthesises the learning from the recent CMC with what we are learning from Partnerships Leading Care and the insights and findings from Optimising Neighbourhood Workforce Ecosystems project. We will also undertake an analysis of the 10-year workforce plan subject to NHSE publication timescales.
Leeds City Resourcing Group will be exploring the potential implications of the provisions contained in the Employment Rights Act 2025 relating to the Fair Pay Agreement covering pay and other matters across the social care sector.
Finally, three events that may be of interest: a Third sector careers event 9th June connecting third sector partners with schools, colleges & employment support teams to raise profile of roles, attract new talent and inspire young people; the West Yorkshire Compassionate Cultures Conference takes place at Elland Road on 17th June; and the first Academy-led cohort of Aspiring Allies is scheduled to take place 21st May to 9th July.
I hope you have enjoyed this first edition of our quarterly roundup. Do get in touch with us if you have any feed back on the content or would like to know more about any aspect of our work. Please contact Jen Jones, Business Development Manager in the first instance jen.jones@nhs.net
Warm wishes,
Kate O’Connell
Director of Leeds Health and Care Academy and Leeds Strategic Workforce