14.12.15
HEE forecasts ‘under-recruitment’ in all community nursing programmes
Health Education England (HEE) is currently forecasting an “under-recruitment” of all community nursing programmes, with the exception of sexual health nursing, NHE has learned.
The organisation’s Performance Report, to be presented at this week’s board meeting, reveals that the largest area of variance and risks to delivery of the commissioning plan relate to specialist nursing – post-registration.
It was noted that local teams have reported that a significant factor for under-recruitment is the dependency on trust demand and placement capacity, as well as the calibre of the potential students applying.
Despite local teams attempting to address these issues, including by working with trusts to develop recruitment strategies and investment in continuing professional development, the largest areas of variance relate to practice nursing and health visiting.
While HEE has committed to commissioning for 359 practice nurses, as at October 2015, HEE is forecasting a -40% (145) variance against plan.
Additionally, it was noted that there are plans to commission 1,193 health visitors during 2015-16. But HEE is currently forecasting a -24% (282) variance against plan.
Factors being reported include “insufficient suitable applicants” and concern over recruitment to courses following the transfer of responsibility for Health Visiting training to local authorities.
HEE added that all performance issues are being” monitored and managed” through monthly finance and performance meetings.