Fylde Coast Health and Social Care Career Academy

• The Fylde is predominantly a rural area comprised of many small villages with population concentrations in three main areas; Kirkham, Lytham and St Anne’s. The population of the borough has and is continuing to experience an above average increase, when compared with Lancashire and the northwest.
• An analysis of population age structure shows that both in 1991 and 2001, 23 per cent of the population was over 65. This has increased slightly to 24 per cent in mid 2010. Fylde has lower than average proportions of the population in the three youngest categories (particularly birth to 14 year olds) with higher than average proportions in the older age groups. 
• It is clear that low crime and very low deprivation are two key indicators of a relatively prosperous and safe socio-cultural profile in the Fylde. The Fylde has a quality of life and quality of place that is desirable for both socio-cultural reasons and also economic reasons. The Fylde has the highest wage area in Lancashire. 

• The Blackpool economy grew at under half the rate of England over 1995-2008 – with annual GVA growth of 2.6 per cent per annum in Blackpool compared to 5.4 per cent in England; annual growth in Blackpool was also well below the Lancashire rate, of 4.2 per cent. 
• Blackpool’s population reduced by six per cent over 1981-2010, a loss of 9,100 residents – over this period England’s population grew by 12 per cent and Lancashire by 5 per cent. 
• Blackpool’s working-age population also reduced substantially over the last two decades, with 5,700 fewer residents of working age in 2010 than 1992 – over this period, the working age population across England increased by 11 per cent, and by 5 per cent in Lancashire. 
• Gross Disposable Household Income (GDHI) per head of Blackpool’s residents stood at 78 per cent of the England average in 2009 compared to 87 per cent in 1995 – GDHI is a measure of how much income people have after accounting for taxes/social contributions, property and pension payments. 
• In recent years the Blackpool economy has increasingly underperformed that of England with regard to prosperity and productivity, as measured by GVA per head and GVA per employee. 

Social care locally is challenged by the following issues: 

• An ageing population and lower than average numbers of young people (aged 14 or under).    
• Pockets of deprivation and unemployment with low aspirations.
• Transient workforce; seasonal economy; other sectors, for example, tourism paying higher rates than social care.

The academy runs numerous recruitment events throughout the year, including meet the employer, during which a number of organisations meet learners and conduct a brief interview. If the provider feels that the person has the right attributes or values, they arrange a more formal interview.

The academy guarantees an interview for all those participating in a sector-based work academy. 

The academy also runs pop-up events and job fairs throughout the year and promotes vacancies through a vacancy guide website and social media. 

The academy delivers five Talent 4 Care courses (social care sector-based work academy) per year and one NHS sector-based work academy. The academy sources work placements for candidates and offers a guaranteed interview with employers. 

Academy staff analyse and assess Care Quality Commission (CQC) reports of local providers and target them with an offer of upskilling in areas that they need to improve on, for example, safeguarding, handling medications.



The academy has a database of providers and communicates information regarding courses and qualifications that will meet skills gaps. All the courses are waivered, so there is no cost to the employer or the learner. Continuous professional development and bespoke training courses are run throughout the year.

Person-centred support is provided throughout the sector-based work academy courses through workshops and signposting to other organisations.

The academy works with More Positive Together and Job Centre Plus to support learners who may require childcare, bus passes and so on.

The academy offers a bursary of £60 for those with 90 per cent attendance and also a £100 Love2shop voucher as incentives to people on the course. The aim is to remove barriers to learning.

The resilience levels of learners are measured via the evidence-based online Wenwebs tool. This is used with each cohort to demonstrate an increase in their resilience.

The academy also provides resilience training for staff and learners so that they are aware of tools and techniques to help with this. We also run a session (through adult learning) on mindfulness and have a person-centred approach to our work.

The academy was commissioned to do a piece of work for Public Health England aimed at reducing inequalities and addressing unemployment across the Fylde.

Additionally, the academy showcases current research to inform the models of prevention, treatment and care that are being implemented to improve the health and wellbeing of the local and national population.