The Department of Health and Community Services is pleased to release the Newfoundland and Labrador Strategic Health Workforce Plan 2015 – 2018. The vision of the plan is a skilled workforce focused on the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities. This document provides a comprehensive and fiscally responsible approach to addressing priority issues facing the provincial health workforce. It also aligns with and supports the provincial Population Growth Strategy and Workforce Development Action Plan.
Over the course of the past decade, the Provincial Government has steadily improved its knowledge and understanding of issues facing the health workforce and has made significant investments to bring stability to the workforce and the services they provide. There is, however, always room for improvement. Current and future generations of the health workforce have different employment expectations than their predecessors. They also have a world of opportunity available to them. We must provide similar opportunities for them to use the full range of their skills and feel productive and safe in their work; opportunities for quality work environments, including access to professional development and healthy work/life balance; and opportunities to be supported by their peers and managers in the complex environment in which they work.
This plan was informed by working with stakeholders to identify priority issues and potential solutions. This was followed by consultations to validate the findings and confirm the five strategic directions, which include:
- Build quality workplaces;
- Establish appropriate workforce supply;
- Strengthen workforce capacity;
- Enhance leadership and management; and,
- Maintain robust planning and evidence.
The health workforce costs 24 cents of every dollar spent by the Provincial Government. Without appropriate planning, health and community services could possibly experience labour shortages or impacts to service delivery. This plan is needed to be the framework against which progress is measured and reported. Working with stakeholders, the Department of Health and Community Services has accomplished a lot already and this plan helps set the stage for continued improvements.
This plan supports the vision of the Department of Health and Community Services for individuals, families and communities to achieve optimal health and well-being. A skilled workforce focused on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities is an essential component of accessible and sustainable health and community services for the future. The Department of Health and Community Services will provide regular updates on the progress of this plan.