Strengthening Health Care Workforce in the North West

Health and social care is a vital and growing sector in the North West, supporting communities across the region and playing a central role in the region’s economy.

Employers continue to face significant workforce pressures. According to the Adult Social Care Workforce Survey), 74% of adult social care providers in the North West have reported that recruiting staff is challenging, one of the highest proportions in England. 

In a wider healthcare context, the sector faces a significant workforce challenge, with over 100,000 unfilled vacancies and a projected shortfall of 360,000 staff by 2036. These challenges make it clear that strengthening local training pipelines, and supporting experienced professionals to move into further education (FE) job roles, is critical to securing the future health and care workforce in the North West.

Vicki Spencer, from Rochdale, spent 12 years working in health and social care before moving into FE. She began her career in nursing and residential care settings, where she built extensive frontline experience. While completing her own care training,

Vicki became increasingly motivated to take on a formal training role, recognising the impact that the right support, encouragement, and real‑world insight can have on learners looking to pursue careers in the healthcare sector.

Nine years ago, she joined Rochdale Training as a full‑time health and social care tutor, delivering Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications, and has since progressed into a senior leadership position. She is now Deputy Business Department Manager, leading and supporting teams across the department, while continuing to manage a small caseload of learners.

Vicki shares: “World Health Day is a chance to celebrate the people behind care, and the vital role training others plays in ensuring care is delivered with skill and compassion. After working in nursing and residential care for 12 years, I now draw on that real-world experience every day as an FE trainer. It allows me to bring learning to life and help prepare the next generation for the realities of working in care.

“One of the most rewarding parts of my job is seeing learners realise what they are capable of. It is so rewarding to watch their confidence grow as they gain qualifications and feel proud of what they have achieved. That confidence stays with them and shapes the care they go on to provide.

“As demand for health and social care continues to grow, training others in FE plays a vital role in supporting the local workforce. If you want to use your skills in a way that has real impact, training others at your local training provider or college offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference – for learners, for employers and for communities we live in.”

FE trainers like Vicki are essential to building the next generation of skilled talent. Nationally, there are an estimated 80,500 training staff in FE, and local colleges and training providers like Rochdale Training are helping to meet the demands of fast-moving industries like healthcare by offering courses in adult social care, children and families, and health and wellbeing. 

FE trainers with real life industry experience are highly valued. There’s a huge range of courses taught in FE, so, whatever the industry, there’s a job in FE to match a professional’s expertise.

You don’t always need prior teaching qualifications or an academic degree to start training others in FE. Instead, you can complete teacher training on the job, meaning you can begin earning straight away. To find out more about becoming an FE trainer and the next steps to take, visit: https://www.teachinfurthereducation.education.gov.uk/