Regional Training Hubs - FAQs
Why are the hubs needed?
The hubs will contribute to a more cohesive national approach to health professional education and training across the New Zealand health sector. The focus of the hubs is to coordinate training and support health professionals in their education and training journey. Some of the work of the hubs currently takes place in individual DHBs, but the hubs will reduce this duplication and enable integration of training and other workforce development functions which should enable better use of available resources.
The hubs will support and reinforce relationships between the various employers of clinical workforce, education providers and professional associations. They will standardise training and education, coordinate career planning and administer workforce initiatives, such as voluntary bonding, leadership development, Advanced Trainee Fellowship Scheme and support for HWNZ innovations such as the Diabetes Nurse Specialist prescriber role.
Each hub will appoint a Regional Programme Director of Training by 1 July 2012 who will be responsible for the overall management of a range of programmes and initiatives across the hub. This role will also contribute to a more cohesive national approach to health professional education and training across the New Zealand health sector.
Why change the current training system?
There are improvements that can be made to the current system. We are trying to provide the best educational opportunities that current resources allow by taking a different approach. Many people accept that they will have to move to different places to gain the experience they need for the job they want to do. We are trying to support this process by allowing the education to move to them. Whilst this will not replace the need to move to gain practical experience it will make it easier to access the underpinning knowledge that may then be applied in current areas of work.
What are the benefits of the hubs?
Through regional collaboration and coordination the hubs can offer more varied and flexible support for clinical staff and improve the skill level of trainers and mentors. In essence, it is a more effective and efficient way of supporting health professionals on their educational and training journey and closer alignment between clinical training and service delivery needs.
Will the hubs lead to greater costs and bureaucracy?
The various organisations that collaborate through the hubs will each preserve their existing responsibilities in terms of employment, accreditation, curriculum development and quality assurance. The financial support for the operation of the hubs is through current workforce funding allocations.
Are the hubs an employer?
The hubs will oversee clinical placements, but will not employ clinical staff. Employment of clinical staff will remain with DHBs and other healthcare providers.
How will occupational groups be prioritised by the hubs?
While integration and coordination of pre-vocational medical training was identified as a priority for the hubs, following on from the recommendations from the Medical Training Board and the Resident Medical Officers Commission reports, the hubs are expected to take responsibility for post-graduate training of all professional groups.
All hubs have utilised a multi-disciplinary approach to development with a focus on regionally identified issues. This acknowledges that long term success requires all professional groups to be included and work collaboratively towards a shared vision. It is recognised that the professions will have different issues and various profession-specific concepts which require individual solutions. However, the overarching hub purpose and mandate is inter-professional.
Future priorities will be based on workforce needs identified in the regional service plans and national service delivery needs.
Does this replace current postgraduate health professional training and support from the DHBs?
No. The hubs are designed as a ‘natural progression’ of existing health professional education and support. The hubs will remain DHB owned and operated and as such will not divert current resources away from existing structures.
How will hubs improve the educational experience?
By using new ways of delivering education and training within regions, including video conference and webcast lectures and training sessions, hubs will aim to make the best training within a region available to all trainees. This will support those trainees who are unable to access the education from their location or at the time a training session is being held. It will also reduce duplication by allowing a session delivered in one DHB to be accessed by the others. With interactive technology allowing the students to ask questions and provide feedback, better access to expert knowledge and experience can be created.
Updated February 2012
