Workforce Capacity and Capabilities

We will focus on ensuring sufficient capacity across universal and targeted Best Start services, building a skilled workforce able to support families within their communities, promoting consistency, continuity and high quality practice across services, and supporting workforce wellbeing, resilience and retention.

Priority actions:

• Strengthen recruitment and retention across key Best Start services through coordinated workforce planning with partners
• Deliver a shared core professional development programme that builds a common understanding of Best Start priorities, strengthens specialist skills (e.g., trauma informed practice, cultural competence) and supports leadership development
• Promote integrated working by providing joint learning opportunities, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and embedding a strengths based, family centred approach
• Regularly review capacity, skills and wellbeing through Best Start governance, using data on recruitment, turnover, training uptake and staff feedback to drive continuous improvement