Sustaining Progress - Department of Taoiseach

Part 2 Sustaining Progress
118
23.10 The parties accept that the continued provision of many health services on the traditional 9am - 5pm
“office hours” basis is inconsistent with the vision contained in the Health Strategy. An extended time
span, during which the normal daily hours will be worked, leading to extended hours of service
(e.g. 8am - 8pm) will be introduced to underpin the provision of significantly more accessible services
to the public. The parties are committed to discussions, with a strong local focus, where appropriate,
to establish how this can best be achieved. These discussions will explore relevant issues including
the scope for voluntary arrangements and flexible working. Other out of hours services may be
required and in these cases the parties will discuss the appropriate grade/skill mix and other
arrangements necessary.
Implementation of Improved Skill Mix in the Health Service
23.11 Skill mix is at the core of the requirement for the redesign of jobs, development of new ways of
working and the determination of the quality and cost of health care. Enhanced skill mix benefits
patients, empowers health personnel to reach their full potential, maintains skill levels and also helps
secure a more rational utilisation of available healthcare personnel through a close matching of skills
to functions and service needs.
23.12 The established boundaries between existing grades should not be allowed to inhibit the future
development of skill mix improvements and expanded multi-disciplinary team working. There has
been significant agreement between the parties in the past to initiatives concerning skill mix. It is
recognised that, following evaluation, there is a need to mainstream existing developments (e.g.
health care assistants). There will be co-operation with the introduction of new skill mix initiatives
on the understanding that these will be informed by the knowledge and expertise of the particular
professions (e.g. nursing, health and social care, etc.) involved.
Delivering a Modern People Management Service
23.13 The parties recognise that, as stated in “Quality and Fairness”, significant and abiding improvements
in health care delivery require fundamental change in underlying HR management systems.
Common Recruitment Pool
23.14 The common recruitment system for Clerical/Administrative grades has been in place for over twenty
years. The system provides for the filling of certain posts (at Grade IV to VII level) by competition
confined to employees of Health Boards, Local Authorities, VECs, Institutes of Technology and certain
other health and local government agencies (known as the “Common Recruitment Pool”).
23.15 It is accepted that a more intensified focus is required on the modernisation of human resource
management, the continued promotion of open recruitment procedures and the continued promotion
of the health, local authority and education sectors as employers of choice.
23.16 In recognition of the nature of the “Common Recruitment Pool” system, the relevant parties agree to
conduct a cross-sectoral review of recruitment issues pertinent to the grades, including greater
accessibility and the introduction of a graduate entry level. The review will commence immediately
and will report with recommendations within twelve months.