How healthcare organisations can improve staff retention

Labour shortages have been an ongoing issue in healthcare for a number of years now, with the COVID-19 pandemic further worsening the situation.

Today, the industry faces a critical gap in skilled workers, leaving many healthcare professionals overwhelmed and struggling to keep up.

The numbers speak for themselves: 67% of healthcare CEOs believe labour and skill shortages will significantly impact the sector over the next decade, and according to the BBC, nearly half of NHS staff are actively looking for jobs elsewhere.

Clearly, something needs to change! Hopefully, we can help.

While recruitment must remain at the forefront of your strategy – check out this handy guide to discover how you can improve your recruitment processes – added focus is needed on retaining staff to avoid a revolving door of staff.

But what’s the secret to staff retention? Simple! Create a workplace that employees actually enjoy and value.

In this blog, we’ll share actionable tips to support staff retention so you can make a change today.

1) Better understand your team

Creating a more enjoyable and fulfilling work environment is the key to better retaining staff.

How can you achieve this? To start, you must understand what your people actually want and how they’re currently feeling.

Regular check-ins with staff, whether that’s informal catch-ups or dedicated 1:1/team meetings, provide an opportunity for open communication, enabling you to gauge overall sentiment and address concerns.

However, do keep in mind that not everyone feels comfortable sharing their true thoughts in a face-to-face setting.

A great alternative for gathering feedback that is less intimidating is to use anonymous staff surveys.

While these surveys may not offer insights into individual issues, they provide a broad picture of how the overall team is feeling, helping you implement meaningful, proactive changes.

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2) Offer a clearer future

Investing in Learning & Development (L&D) is another effective way to support your team and improve staff retention.

Research shows that two in five UK workers plan to leave their jobs due to a lack of career growth.

By offering meaningful training that focuses on both current responsibilities and future opportunities, you can empower staff and improve job satisfaction.

Ultimately, when people feel properly equipped to excel in their roles and also see a clear path for growth, they’re much more likely to stay.

Additionally, for leadership roles, such as managers or team leads, promoting from within can further motivate your team and demonstrate the potential for advancement.

3) Celebrate your people

Recognising and celebrating achievements is crucial for creating a positive workplace.

Simple initiatives like employee-of-the-month programs or offering incentives for reaching goals can help motivate staff.

These types of efforts show appreciation, boost morale and help create a sense of excitement.

Also, don’t underestimate the impact of small gestures.

A simple “thank you for doing a great job” can massively brighten someone’s day.

Putting people first

While recruiting staff is essential, retaining them should be an equally high priority.

A strong focus on retention not only reduces turnover costs but also helps maintain a more experienced, cohesive and motivated team.

By prioritising a culture of appreciation, providing growth opportunities and fostering a positive work environment, you can ensure staff feel valued and supported.

The top three HR challenges impacting healthcare organisations

Immense recruitment pressure isn’t the only challenge impacting those in healthcare!

Our recent guide covers the top three HR challenges impacting healthcare organisations, offering tangible advice and tips.

Download the FREE guide here and discover practical solutions and insights to help you tackle these HR challenges head-on.