There is still time to apply for the fifth cohort of the innovative and popular Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Workforce Planning.

The course gives health and social care staff involved in workforce planning the skills and expertise needed to develop their roles. It is again delivered in partnership between Skills for Health - Workforce Projects Team (WPT) and the Centre for the Study of Policy and Practice in Health and Social Care at Thames Valley University.

The course will run in early 2010 and will give workforce planners the opportunity to obtain a recognised and credible qualification to support their constantly changing roles and working environments. Courses will take place in Manchester and London.

Find out more about course here >>>

Skills for Health - Workforce Projects Team (WPT) has worked with Symmetric SD to develop version one of a paediatric workforce supply tool. It is a workforce model, built using a system dynamics approach and based on a model previously created with the National Children's Collaborative for Integrated Healthcare and has been developed, initially, to model the paediatric consultant workforce.

It is a powerful simulation tool that shows the long term effect of assumptions about the workforce. WPT is currently in the process of expanding the tool to include the wider child health workforce and would welcome feedback from healthcare staff.

View the tool here >>>

A special resource designed to improve workforce planning capability and capacity in health and social care has been refreshed by WPT.

The Workforce Planning Development Menus were introduced in 2007 and have now been updated to include an increased range of programmes and resources to support developments in workforce planning following the NHS Next Stage Review.

New on the menu is a selection of accredited programmes that form an educational pathway for those seeking professional qualifications. Each menu delivers a selection of suggested resources and programmes that provide a host of information and skills.

Find out more and download the resource here >>>

European Working Time Directive (EWTD) compliant rotas for junior doctors will shortly be made more easily sustainable thanks to a newly developed rostering tool to be launched this Autumn.

The North West Rostering Tool is a web based resource that will enable users to produce optimal rosters, factoring in elements such as annual leave, sickness and shift swaps. Training requirements will continue to be fullfiled within the 48 hour week whilst ensuring correct ward cover, skill mix and ultimately quality patient care.

The tool has been developed in partnership with NHS North West and Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust and will be ready for use across the NHS in due course - commencing with a roll out to NHS North West in September.

Register here for updates and further information >>>

We're sure you've noticed the healthcare workforce bulletin is sporting a new purple look this month.

Thanks to WPT's integration with Skills for Health, this bulletin, together with elements of the healthcare workforce portal have also shifted from our traditional maroon. Over the coming months some of our literature will also be making the change so keep an eye out for that.

Rest assured we're still the same Skills for Health - Workforce Projects Team and will continue to provide the latest tools, resources and training for all your workforce planning needs.