Wessex LETB Widening Participation Steering Group
Terms of Reference
Purpose
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To facilitate the ongoing development of the Bands 1-4 workforce (including
the Associate / Assistant Practitioners) across the Wessex Local Education
Training Board (LETB) area.
To inform progression opportunities for the Bands 1-4 workforce.
To consider key workforce policies, planning and priorities which may impact
upon the development of the Bands 1-4 workforce. For example,
development of an all-graduate nursing workforce, Modernising Scientific
Careers, Modernising AHP Careers, Apprenticeships, LBR, Government
policies and initiatives etc.
To identify and overcome issues related to the development of staff in Bands
1-4.
Sharing best practice across the Wessex LETB
Membership
The Steering Group will consist of representatives from the following organisations:
 Health Education England / Wessex LETB
 Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
 Isle of Wight NHS Trust
 NHS South Commissioning Trust
 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
 Solent NHS Trust
 South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust (SCAS)
 Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
 University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
 Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
 Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
 Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
 Royal Bournemouth & Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust
 Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
Note: SCAS are now hosted by the Thames Valley LETB and so will initially also
attend both LETBE meetings and may move to just the Thames Valley in the future.
Links
The Steering Group will link into relevant Organisations, Steering Groups and
Forums, including the National Apprenticeship Service, Skills for Health, the Clinical
Standards Forum, Quality Advisory Group and Strategic Education Partnership
Meeting, Modernising Nursing Partnership etc.
Frequency & Location
The Steering Group will meet on a bi-monthly basis or as and when the group sees fit
at the Wessex LETB offices in Otterbourne. Additional meetings and/or task and
finish groups will be organised if more regular decisions/actions are required.
Chair and Administration
The Steering Group will be chaired by the Widening Participation coordinator for
Wessex within Health Education England (Wessex LETB). Vice Chair will be a Trust
from within the Wessex LETB and the Trust will change every 6 months (3 meetings).
The Deputy Chair will be Ian Weller of the Thames Valley within Health Education
England (Thames Valley LETB). Administrative support will be provided via the
LETB.
Vice Chairs (in time order):
Julie Abdalla (JA)
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
Philippa Baker (PB) Salisbury Hospital NHS Trust
Michelle Coles (MC) Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Steve Cook (SC)
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Anita Esser (AE)
University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Brenda Fishwick (BF) Isle of Wight NHS Trust
Carol Flynn (CF)
Poole Hospital NHS Trust
Glynis Fortes (GF)
Solent NHS Trust
Barbara Moll (BM)
Dorset PCT
Nigel Scott (NS)
NHS South Commissioning
To be confirmed:
Christina Fowler (CF) South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Achievements to Date
Achievements of the Steering Group to-date include:
 Promotion of the Apprenticeship Strategy
 Increased awareness of Apprenticeship programmes to NHS staff
 Production of case studies to promote Apprenticeships within the NHS
 Production of a local evaluation report on the importance of Apprenticeships
within the NHS in our region.
 Development of an information portal on bands 1-4 Education opportunities
 Promotion of young apprentices
 Developing a South Central definition of the Assistant/Associate Practitioner.
 Undertaking an evaluation of Assistant/Associate Practitioner roles across
NHS South Central.
 Raising awareness of the Assistant/Associate Practitioner.
 Developing a South Central Assistant/Associate Practitioner Code of
Conduct.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities of the Steering Group include:
 Identifying the level of need for Education and Development of staff in Bands
1-4 including Assistant/Associate Practitioners across the region.
 Facilitating development and implementation of Apprentices and
Apprenticeship programmes
 Facilitating development and implementation of the Assistant/Associate
Practitioner role.
 Developing a CPD Framework for bands 1 - 4 to ensure growth of the
Assistant/Associate Practitioner is relevant to patient and service need, high
quality and transferable.
 Scoping current education and training provision for bands 1 – 4, with a
particular focus on growth, progression, workforce planning and the
development of the Assistant/Associate Practitioner, and identifying gaps in
provision.
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Evaluation of impact of courses
Collections of data as required for audit/reporting purposes on the activities
undertaken by staff in bands 1-4 and relevant expenditure.
Informing funding arrangements for provision of APs, Apprenticeships/ QCF
frameworks and short courses
Informing progression pathways for staff in bands 1-4 and into
Assistant/Associate Practitioner training and other areas of training.
Embedding Apprenticeships and the Assistant/Associate Practitioner role
within workforce plans.
Ensuring development of the Assistant/Associate Practitioner is aligned to the
national regulation of Healthcare Support Workers.
Informing development of National Standards for the Assistant/Associate
Practitioner.
Facilitating partnership working between education providers, other
stakeholders and NHS employers to ensure education provision reflects
service needs.
Facilitating collaborative working and effective communication between
partner organisations and stakeholders.
Identifying and promoting best practice.
Annual plan and report
Accountability
The Widening Participation Steering Group is accountable to the Wessex LETB
Senior Management Team.
Review date: March 2014