Cabinet to consider high-quality Health & Care Skills Academy for town centre

Article date: 20 February 2025

Towns Deal investment is key to securing transformational change for St Helens in support of the Council's sustainable growth ambitions as outlined in the Borough Strategy. The 'Healthy Communities' Health & Care Innovation Hub Towns Fund project will create a new Skills Academy that would act as a prominent focus for Health & Care sector careers and skills development for the whole of the borough. It will provide a dedicated space in St Helens town centre, delivering a range of products and resources to: 

• Change the perception of a career in Health & Social Care
• Make employment opportunities more accessible with simpler processes and a 'work ready offer' for those that need it
• Employ more local people in care, developing a continuing pipeline of talent, which will be mutually beneficial for the sector and the local economy
• Create a career path to enhance skills of local people to increase incomes and social value

• Retain and retrain people in health and care through upskilling, advancement and well-being support 

The facility would be managed by Mersey & West Lancashire NHS Hospital Trust and St Helens Council, working collaboratively under St Helens Cares - the Integrated Care Board. It is proposed that the model for delivery of services will be mapped against a number of employment pathways, with the project working closely with partner organisations to create and implement plans for local candidates, significantly reducing barriers to employment opportunities within the Health & Care sector.  

The report to Cabinet seeks approval to an updated Business Case and a Town Deal grant funding award to the Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for the procurement of refurbishment works to create a Skills Academy premises within 4-6 Hardshaw Street.

The 'St Helens Town Deal - Health & Care Innovation Hub: Skills Academy Updated Business Case' report will be discussed at cabinet on Wednesday 26 February from 4:00pm, with the meeting available to watch online by visiting: https://sthelens.public-i.tv/core/portal/home