Briefly describe the initiative/ project/service; please include your aims and objectives

The One Stockport Health and Social Care Career Academy is an Adult Social Care (ASC) Commissioning–led initiative developed in response to significant workforce sustainability challenges across Stockport’s care sector. As part of our statutory responsibilities under the Care Act, the ASC Commissioning Team has committed through our Commissioning Strategy, Market Sustainability Plan and Market Position Statement to strengthening and stabilising the local care workforce. To deliver on these commitments, we have worked closely with partners across the health and social care system to build a shared, integrated approach to workforce development aligned to the One Stockport Borough Plan. Through this collaboration, a range of workforce programmes have already been developed and well received by the sector.

In 2025, recognising the need to take our ambitions further, we established the One Stockport Health and Social Care Career Academy to provide a more strategic, coordinated, and sustainable platform for supporting both current and future workforce needs. The Academy creates a single, recognisable identity for workforce development within Stockport, bringing existing initiatives together under one umbrella while enabling space for new programmes to be innovated and co designed. Its purpose is to strengthen long term workforce sustainability by building a pipeline of skilled talent, establishing clear career pathways, and delivering high quality learning and employment opportunities. Through integrated commissioning and collaborative working, the Academy also supports transformation, innovation, and the sharing of best practice across the sector, ensuring Stockport’s workforce is equipped to meet the evolving needs of our communities.

What are the key achievements?

The One Stockport Health and Social Care Career Academy has delivered significant achievements, positioning it as the first fully integrated health and social care workforce development model in Greater Manchester. The Academy is overseen by a multi agency Skills Advisory Board made up of strategic partners from across the local health and social care system, Stockport and Trafford College Group, and work and skills teams. This governance structure ensures the Academy is directly informed by national and local workforce priorities, enabling commissioning decisions to be both responsive and future focused.

A key achievement has been the meaningful involvement of Adult Social Care providers, who play an active role on the Skills Advisory Board and in programme design. This ensures the commissioning approach truly reflects the needs of the care market, strengthens provider engagement, and supports a more stable and sustainable sector. The academy officially launched in December 2025 with its first flagship programme: a Level 2 accredited pre employment pathway for adult learners delivered by Stockport and Trafford College Group. Developed through a series of co design workshops with partners, the programme established new referral routes, improved employer engagement processes, and set a shared standard for sector relevant curriculum design. The first programme cohort began in January 2026, welcoming eighteen adult learners aspiring to careers in health and social care. Learners were supported by trainers, guest speakers, and employers from across Stockport, demonstrating a whole system commitment to workforce development.

These achievements demonstrate that the Academy has already exceeded its initial aims by:

• creating a borough wide, integrated workforce model

• strengthening collaboration between commissioners, providers, education partners, and employers

• improving access to employment and training opportunities for local residents

• providing a structured, consistent, and high quality pathway into the sector

• supporting long term workforce sustainability through coordinated commissioning The Academy is already delivering measurable impact, with strong engagement from learners and providers and clear potential for ongoing system wide benefits.

How Innovative is your initiative?

The One Stockport Health and Social Care Career Academy represents a genuinely innovative response to the complex and persistent workforce challenges facing the health and social care sector. At its core, the Academy introduces a new, integrated commissioning model that brings together the local authority, NHS, education partners, providers, and employment services into a single, shared framework for workforce development. This level of collaboration is uncommon within the sector and marks a significant shift away from traditional, organisationally siloed approaches. Rather than creating standalone programmes, the Academy establishes a coordinated system for designing, testing, and delivering sector specific workforce solutions. Its co production model, where commissioners, providers, educators, and employers shape content together—has challenged the status quo and created a platform where decisions are driven by real time workforce insight, market intelligence, and frontline experience.

This approach has allowed Stockport to develop training and employment pathways that are not only responsive to immediate pressures but also adaptable to future workforce needs. The Academy also demonstrates innovation by positioning workforce development as a strategic, borough wide priority rather than a series of isolated initiatives. By creating a single recognised identity, it reframes health and social care careers as a valued, accessible, and supported pathway for local people. This helps shift public perception of the sector, strengthens recruitment messaging, and enhances the visibility of career progression opportunities. A further innovative aspect is the Academy’s ability to be both proactive and reactive. Its structure allows for quick mobilisation of new programmes in response to emerging needs, whether that relates to skills gaps, changes in national policy, or shifts in local demand, while still providing a stable framework for long term planning. This blend of agility and strategic oversight is rare and represents a new commissioning approach for the sector.

By creating an integrated, co designed and future focused model, the Academy positions Stockport at the forefront of health and social care workforce innovation. It not only addresses immediate recruitment challenges but also lays the foundation for a sustainable, confident, and skilled workforce that is better equipped to meet the evolving needs of the community.

What are the key learning points?

The development of the One Stockport Health and Social Care Career Academy has provided valuable learning that can support other areas looking to adopt a similar approach. A key lesson has been the critical importance of strong, sustained partnership working. The success of the Academy relies on genuine collaboration across commissioners, providers, education partners, and employment services. Establishing shared ownership from the outset, supported by regular communication and co design, ensures that programmes are aligned to real workforce needs and can be delivered at pace. Securing ongoing funding was identified as a significant challenge. The Academy has succeeded by taking a creative and flexible approach, working with partners to identify and pool resources, maximise external funding opportunities, and utilise existing assets wherever possible. This has reinforced the value of integrated commissioning and shared investment in workforce sustainability. The creation of a dedicated Skills Advisory Board has also proven essential. Its clear governance, member commitment and strategic oversight ensure the Academy remains focused, responsive, and aligned to national and local policy.

This model provides a replicable structure for other areas seeking collaborative approaches to workforce development. Another key learning has been the value of visible advocacy. Establishing Academy Ambassadors, including issuing pin badges to supporters, has helped create a sense of belonging and pride across the system. This simple but effective approach strengthens engagement and reinforces the Academy’s identity. Finally, while the Academy is still in its early stages, the process has demonstrated that integrated, system wide workforce development is achievable and highly scalable. The model has significant potential to grow further, reach more people, and deliver wider impact across the sector. These lessons show that with strong partnerships, shared vision, and flexible commissioning, the approach can be successfully replicated in other areas.

Additional Comments

The One Stockport Health and Social Care Career Academy already demonstrates strong value through system wide engagement, positive feedback, and growing regional interest. Its integrated commissioning model, clear governance, and shared vision position Stockport as a leader in workforce development. This nomination recognises both the model’s innovation and the collaborative commitment that has brought it to life.