Inaugural national report on young people and careers recognises Careers team

The Careers Team at Joined Up Care Derbyshire today attended the House of Lords for the launch of a national report recognising their outstanding contributions to workforce recruitment in the NHS and social care.

The work of the Careers Team, hosted by Derby and Derbyshire ICB, in promoting in-person and virtual work experience programmes has been highlighted as best practice in the ‘Examining the Skills Gap’ report.

The publication has been produced by the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC), the national body for careers education, and senior leaders from NHS Trusts and ICBs. Convened through the Health Sector Advisory Group, this collaboration brings together 13 NHS employers representing more than 200,000 staff working across all regions of England.

The report outlines evidence-led insight into the scale of the health sector skills gap and long-term solutions to driving the skilled future workforce required by the NHS, in line with the workforce strategy and 10-year Health Plan.

Susan Spray, programme lead for the Careers Team at Joined Up Care Derbyshire, represented the team and talked about the innovative approach across Derby and Derbyshire at the London launch of the report on Thursday 19 June 2025.

Baroness Nicky Morgan of Cotes, chair of the Careers and Enterprise Company, hosted the event, attended by leaders across our sector, policymakers, and young people who are ambassadors for the importance of early engagement.

Shajeda Ahmed, chief people officer at Black Country ICB, chair of The Health Sector Advisory Group, said: “Too often, young people who express an interest in working in health and social care are unsure about what pathways are available or feel uncertain about whether they are ‘the right fit.’ Outdated assumptions, limited exposure to real-life experiences, and a lack of personalised guidance all play a role in dampening aspirations or narrowing choices. As a result, too many promising futures are lost before they have the chance to begin.

“This report explores how high-quality, timely, and relevant careers education can make a real difference. It looks at how employers working in collaboration with schools, colleges, careers leaders and local partners can help open minds, build confidence, and offer the practical insights that allow young people to take the next best step toward a rewarding future in health and social care.”

Susan Spray said: “It is an honour for our work to be recognised as one of the exemplars in the report and to be invited to the high-profile launch. It is a credit to all team members how our pioneering work has gained national attention. There is much that we can learn from other ICBs about their work in supporting young people into health and care careers and also much that we can share from our own experience here in Derby and Derbyshire.”

The Careers Team at Joined Up Care Derbyshire brings together local partner organisations to support the current and future health and social care workforce. The team seeks to find the best candidates for roles within the health and social care sector of Derby and Derbyshire – and support them on their career journey.

As well as advancing opportunities in work experience outlined above, the team is involved in a wide variety of projects and programmes supporting workforce recruitment and retention and reinforcing the role of the ICB as an anchor institution in the city and county. Initiatives include:

• The New to Care programme which aims to attract people who are either unemployed or working in other sectors to consider working in health and social care, in roles including non-patient facing roles. Dedicated advisors assist in highlighting the career pathways available and helping to identify existing transferable skills, signposting to local vacancies, and assisting with the application and interview process.
  A targeted programme to encourage care-experienced young people into health and care careers, delivered in partnership with the Care Leaver Covenant and schools and colleges.
• An annual series of Future Talent, Future Heroes system-wide career events, held in collaboration with Chesterfield and Derby Colleges, where more than 20 employers showcase roles and opportunities to hundreds of students.
• A pre-employment programme which supports those not in education or training with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to work in health and social care in Derbyshire. One project teamed up with the GP taskforce to support their vacancies across Derby City in GP receptionist posts.
• The Step into Work programme to support candidates from under-represented groups into the workplace and the staging of Unlocking New Possibilities careers events at Chesterfield College. Allied to this is the BME Respite Sitting Service which provides respite in a culturally specific and appropriate manner for individuals who act as informal carers within their own family or wider BME community.
• In collaboration with Derbyshire Community Health Services, the launch of the first ‘hybrid’ health and social care support worker apprenticeship. This is a completely new apprenticeship role which aims to support the long-term plan for integration of services. As a Health and Social Care Assistant, the role holders will assist registered practitioners to deliver health and social care services to residents of Derbyshire. They will carry out a range of clinical and non-clinical healthcare or therapeutic tasks under the direct or indirect supervision of a registered healthcare practitioner.