NHS staff across the east Midlands are set to benefit from a skills boost following a pledge by bosses to support and encourage healthcare staff to gain skills and qualifications.

The pledge was signed on 3 April at the Skills for Health East Midlands Sector Skills Agreement consultation event along with four other NHS organisations and has been driven by a Joint Investment Framework (JIF) between the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Skills for Health, and the East Midlands SHA. The partnership is focused on developing skills, learning and qualifications among NHS employees.

Under the scheme, NHS employees will be mentored by a JIF partnership manager who will help them get access to the right type of training for each individual to ensure they achieve and progress. Training includes literacy, numeracy and first full Level 2 qualification courses as well as a range of partially subsidised higher level courses.

Pippa Hodgson, regional director for Skills for Health East Midlands, said: "it is encouraging to see healthcare employers in the region supporting the Skills Pledge and showing enthusiasm about the opportunities the Joint Investment Framework offers. This provides a very sound basis from which to take forward the actions that will emerge from the Sector Skills Agreement Consultation process in the east Midlands".