National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care: Information Hub

Project background: What and Why

The Skye Healthcare Recruitment Group Evaluation explores an innovative, community-engaged approach to tackling workforce shortages in a remote and rural island context. The group was established in response to persistent vacancies in health and care services on the Isle of Skye and was co-developed by local community members, NHS staff, and partner organisations.

The initiative has trialled and refined locally driven recruitment and retention strategies, improved access to health and care, and helped rebuild trust between communities and statutory services. The evaluation, supported by the National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care, captures the impact, learning, and future potential of this multi-agency approach.

Project description: Who and How

This work focuses on the collaborative actions of the Skye Recruitment Group, including:

• A new Skye-specific recruitment website with job adverts written in localised, community-informed language
• Social media campaigns sharing authentic stories and staff testimonials
• A community engagement officer role, offering social, cultural, and relocation support for new recruits
• Housing support processes built into recruitment
• Offline engagement methods such as community events, one-to-one job application help, and school outreach
• Tailored induction, training, and retention support for staff once in post

As part of the evaluation, the National Centre and recruitment group members co-developed a theory of change and an 'ideal' evaluation framework for community-engaged recruitment, grounded in lived experience and local priorities. This work supports shared understanding of what success looks like and provides a foundation for adapting the model in other rural and island contexts.

The evaluation uses a case study and thematic analysis approach, drawing on interviews, event data, and community feedback to understand what worked, for whom, and in what context.

Expected outcome:  When and What Difference

This project will be completed in October 2025.

Key outputs will include:

• A full written report summarising the findings and impact
• An evaluation framework for community-engaged recruitment and retention initiatives
• Recommendations for scaling or adapting the approach in other remote, rural, and island areas

Key outcomes to date include:

• Increased staffing levels in key services
• Improved candidate experience and onboarding
• Increased community involvement and local ownership of health workforce solutions
• Over 3,000 sessions on the recruitment website and over 300,000 views of job-related content online

Why It Matters

This evaluation offers critical insights into how place-based, community-led recruitment and retention models can support health system resilience, staff wellbeing, and service access in remote and rural areas. The Skye model highlights the importance of co-production, authentic communication, and whole-person support for new recruits and its learning can directly inform wider national work on rural workforce sustainability.