When it comes to the health and wellbeing of our population we are continuing to see more people in need of care that supports chronic diseases. From COPD to dementia, the demands on our health, housing and social care services continue to evolve.

It can be challenging for professionals within these sectors to keep up with the changing needs and demands of our population, and continue to provide care that is proactive, predictive and effective. It's therefore very important local authorities work closely with our health, housing and social care services to deliver training that successfully supports professionals in their ongoing development.

If we focus on the development of digital skills, leadership and culture at all levels, we should start to see transformation become more durable across the board.

The benefits of training and development

There are compelling benefits for all stakeholders, particularly when it comes to the economic and operational side of things, to investing in and attending training and development initiatives.

While funding constraints mean it isn't always possible for local authorities to directly coordinate training initiatives, there are ways to promote career development programmes across the boundaries of health, housing and social care that create root and branch change.

Health and care services are ultimately about population health and putting citizens at the heart of decisions made about them and their care. Effective training can also support professionals in being better equipped to listen to the people they care for, and understand their everyday needs.

If local authorities lead the way in promoting the benefits of education and training, we'll see a cultural shift that can provide stakeholders with more opportunities to have input at an early stage.

Collaboration and co-production

A barrier to meeting the full potential of our services that is flagged regularly are the silos existing between systems and even departments. This can be particularly challenging for local authorities to navigate when they are communicating and working with the full spectrum of sectors that deliver care services.

The deployment of the right education and training can support local authorities in breaking down silos and communication barriers, and encouraging partnership and collaboration. Skills, knowledge and experience sharing is likely to be a bi-product of the breakdown of silos which will only ever create a workforce that is even more equipped to support our population.

By educating professionals on the value of communication, collaboration and integration, we can create citizen-led solutions and better services that promote better lives and a better future. This in turn will also contribute to bridging the gaps between health, housing and social care services that can impact the efficacy of care provision.

The new kinds of leadership that can be developed through the proper training will support local authorities in driving change and tightening up governance from within health and care services. This will also improve the working lives and motivation of employees which is particularly important when we're seeing mass vacancies and an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis across the country.

Using technology within training

It's important for local authorities and health, housing and social care professionals to consider how technology enabled care services (TECS) can support care delivery. Why not therefore consider embedding TECS into both training programmes and initiatives, but also into professional care delivery to fully reap the benefits? The more people that have an understanding of how TECS can help to manage risks and promote independence, choice and control, the better.

It's not only about the hardware solutions that are available. Education when combined with technology can improve understanding around the value of data, enable more creative thinking about how it's used, and encourage confidence in communicating with citizens on why data sharing is important.

By supporting professionals through education and training, local authorities can help to develop a workforce that sees technology as an enabler to support them, not to replace them. This in turn will create a world where it's standard practice to use technology to manage long-term health conditions remotely and deliver efficient and personalised care.

Andy Hart is head of technical delivery and support at Tunstall Healthcare

• To find out more visit www.tunstall.co.uk