By Chris Grimes, Sales Director

Over the last year and a half we have witnessed the largest challenge to our healthcare system in decades. Whilst the high levels of volunteers and new medical staff joining our healthcare system has been exceptional, it is crucial that we keep the hiring momentum going as we start the road to recovery, post-pandemic.

This is a subject close to Matrix, as we have worked with professionals in the health and care sector throughout the pandemic, supplying over 200 care assistant roles. We have observed the trends in these sectors and ensured our processes have stayed up-to-date with the current requirements, including working closely with one of the larger temporary Nightingale hospitals.

Now the long promised ‘return to normal’ is nearing. It is time to focus on the next step to recovery. Think Tank King’s Fund, recently outlined their five priorities for the journey to recovery. They are:

1. Put the workforce centre stage.
2. Change on inequalities and population health.
3. Reform for social care.
4. Implementing and accelerating digital change.
5. Improving relations between communities and the public services.

Whilst all five of these aims are equally important, the first goal of putting the workforce centre stage is the simplest to achieve. The current pandemic has highlighted years of poor workforce structuring and has culminated in a health and social care workforce crisis. The physical and mental wellbeing of health and social care workers has come into question as the public becomes more aware of the strain the pandemic has caused. Lack of funding for the social care system has contributed to the high care home deaths reported.

Despite this awful situation there is some hope. The focus on the strained health and social care sector combined with the resilient and truly outstanding work from all those within the sector, has meant the subject of reform is now unavoidable for the government. Due to this and huge public support, the government confirmed in the Spending Review, that it would increase spending for social care in local authorities by £1 billion for FY 21/22.

That money is incredibly important for the recovery of the sector. Pre-pandemic there were more than 100,000 full-time vacancies in the health sector and over 120,000 vacancies within social care. These numbers are increasing with the loss of volunteers, as they return to their formerly furloughed jobs. The high number of unfilled job roles had led the government to publicly pledge to acquire 50,000 more nurses and 6,000 more doctors.

To achieve these numbers, there needs to be a widespread improvement in recruitment and retention. Better pay, flexible working hours and putting the wellbeing of staff at the forefront are all key priorities. Staff need work hours that allow them time to heal and recover from the high demands of their jobs. This can be achieved by improved work schedules and by hiring more contract workers to help boost worker numbers and lessen the strain. Having a management system in place that provides the recruiter with full control would make this achievable.

Matrix’s solution helps to manage staff hours via our timesheet function, which enables control of the maximum amount of hours staff can work. Our index of over 2,500 suppliers, facilitates worker numbers and will reduce the strain of a lack of workers. All of this can be accessed through our online solution CR.Net. Our model ensures control over temporary staffing and can help recruiters ensure every role is a required one. Combined with our Management Information service and support from our contract management teams, Matrix can assist recruiters in their adaptation to the new workplace structure in a post pandemic world.

The increased hiring of contractors would allow for more realistic structural change and avoid unachievable goals. There have been many attempts to structurally change the NHS over the years. These have all failed due to overambition and excessive disruption to the system. Currently, the health and social care sector are under such a high level of strain they would not be able to cope with any major structural changes.

It will be crucial going forward to concentrate on social care as well as healthcare. With particular focus on mental health services. The long term social and mental health issues caused by the pandemic are predicted to continue for many years.

To truly improve the health and social care sector, the government will have to prioritise implementing real changes to the current system. Whilst the promised funding is crucial, so is the commitment and clear implementation of change. The sacrifices and hard work performed by all those who work in health and care must be honoured and their welfare given precedence. With the use of Matrix’s solution we can help to implement real change to organisations and ensure the positive changes to workers welfare are made and maintained.