A widely anticipated ‘spade in the ground’ event held this week marked the start of building works on a brand new £1.25m Health and Social Care Academy.
The event held at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, brought together representatives from across the partnership, including North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, Hartlepool Borough Council and Hartlepool College of Further Education.
The Hartlepool Health and Social Care Academy which is part of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust’s Faculty of Leadership, Learning and Improvement is one of five of Hartlepool Borough Council’s £25m Town Deal transformation projects and secured £1.25m in funding to support its development.
The academy will help kick start the careers of Hartlepool’s next generation of health and social care professionals, in an area that accounts for an estimated 20% of the region’s employment sector figures.
The event also included a delegate from building contractor Vest Construction, who are instrumental in bringing the Academy vision to life.
Neil Atkinson, managing director of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the Trust to complement the services we operate out of Hartlepool and to ensure we have the right pipeline of qualified staff working across the health and social care system in the future.”
Councillor Mike Young, leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “The new Health and Social Care Skills Academy will have an impressive range of state-of-the art facilities and equipment and it is really exciting that construction work is now underway.
“Helping people to develop the skills needed to secure high-quality jobs is a key aim of Hartlepool Town Deal, and this project represents a major investment in the future of our town, its residents and our local hospital.”
One of a small number nationwide, the state-of-the-art Health and Social Care Academy will feature a bespoke simulation ‘at home’ training suite among its realistic health care settings including a four-bed training bay, an ICT suite, a trainee common room, an immersive suite and several other flexible training and class rooms.
Darren Hankey, chair of the Hartlepool Town Deal Board and Principal of Hartlepool College of Further Education, said: “It has taken a lot of hard work to reach this milestone, and I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in bringing this hugely important project forward.
“The Health and Social Care Academy – alongside a Civil Engineering Skills Academy that is also being supported by the Hartlepool Town Deal – will bring significant benefits to the borough by addressing serious skills shortages and providing new career opportunities for local people.”
The Hartlepool Health and Social Care Academy build is set to complete in summer 2024.