Health Institute of the North, SÍMEY, the Farskólinn á Norðurlandi vestra and the Thekkingarnet Þingeyinga have, in recent years, enjoyed a good collaboration regarding the education and professional development of HSN staff. This collaboration was based on Targeted Needs Analyses that were carried out in the winter of 2014-2015 in the HSN service area. Due to the positive experience from that project, it was decided to conduct a new needs analysis and develop a new training plan that can be used in the coming years. HSN's operations extend from Blönduós in the west to Þórshöfn in the east, making the collaboration between these three centres for lifelong learning a key factor in effectively managing staff development across such a wide area.
At the end of last year, a new Strategic Needs Analysis and the implementation of a new training plan for HSN were completed. Now, in the spring term of 2022, work has commenced on the new training plan, which is valid until the end of 2024. A wide range of courses are available for HSN staff, some delivered on-site and others through digital solutions.
The project was launched at the end of October 2020 with the signing of a contract for a seconded Training Manager. The professional development funds Ríkismennt, the SLFÍ Professional Development Fund and the Professional Development Fund for Municipal Employees of the State supported the project, along with the Professional Development Centre for University Staff. As the implementing body, SÍMEY led the project in collaboration with Farskólinn and Þekkingarnet Þingeyinga. The project has been worked on by project managers Ingunn Helga Bjarnadóttir and Kristín Björk Gunnarsdóttir, Halldór B. Gunnlaugsson for the Farskólinn in West Northland, and Helena Eydís Ingólfsdóttir for the Thingeying Knowledge Network.
A steering group was appointed, comprising thirteen HSN staff from across the organisation, which identified the project's objectives and made recommendations on how to achieve them. The steering group was enthusiastic, and the discussions at the group's meetings, all of which were held via TEAMS, were useful and provided good information that was well utilised in the project's further work and progress. Two focus groups were also established to further assess the staff's training needs. Close collaboration was also maintained with the HR Manager at HSN during the project's implementation.
As part of the analysis, two surveys were distributed to HSN's staff of approximately 600 people: one was a survey of attitudes and the other a job analysis. The project has provided extensive information on what should be prioritised in training matters within the North-West Regional Health Authority. In the coming term, HSN, in collaboration with SÍMEY, the Farskólinn and the Thingeyrar Knowledge Network, will work on training and educating staff in line with the priorities identified in the staff survey and needs analysis.