ESR Analysis Tool

What is the resource?

The ESR analysis tool has been developed and used by David Priscott, head of workforce planning and education at NHS Plymouth since 2007, to efficiently use electronic staff record (ESR) information to support workforce planning.

The tool generates workforce skill mix trees and age profiles from a single data download from ESR.

The pivot tables in the spreadsheet allow users to instantly examine different management levels, produce graphs for any level of an entire trust, directorates to individual budgets and produce graphically consistent charts. Additionally the data can be filtered for staff group, bands and occupational code.

As well as showing the skill mix tree, it automatically calculates skill mix data for the percentage of staff band 5 and above, plus the percentage of staff band 8 and above. It integrates directly with the Workforce Reconfiguration Tool, quantifying the current workforce, against which proposed changes can be qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated. All doctors, dentists and directors (non AFC) are all placed together in band 9 for ease of function and to maintain confidentiality.

The ESR Analysis Tool has been rigorously tested by NHS Plymouth since 2007 and has proved robust and effective in providing baseline data for minimal effort. We would welcome your feedback and comments on your experiences with the tool to help us improve the resource.

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What's in the resource?

A user guide that details how to download the single report from ESR, enter it into the spreadsheet and check integrity
Pivot tables for the skill mix and age profile on the current workforce that can be utilised as the baseline for further workforce planning.

Who is it useful for?

The tool is intended for use by workforce planners to support consistent and accurate information supply to managers, service leads, directors and the trust board.

How can it help me and my organisation?

The tool gives a very clear picture of the skill mix and age profile of the whole or any part of the organisation, which can then be used to enable effective forward planning of workforce needs.

Who can I contact about the resource?

Email David.Priscott@plymouth.nhs.uk. For feedback or suggestions for future releases, email workforceprojectsteam@skillsforhealth.org.uk.

Allied Health Professional: Capacity Calculator

What is in this resource?

The capacity calculator is an AHP modeling tool that quantifies current and future workforce/service delivery models, taking into account variations in the service delivery models (eg treatment times, number of treatments, direct/indirect care) and elements of predictable absence (eg annual leave, study leave, sickness absence, etc).

The tool can use be used for all 11 allied health professional (AHP) professions or a multiprofessional group and can consider the entire workforce, the workforce split into support staff and qualified staff or broken down into all nine bands.

It can be used as a professional judgment tool, with figures being input using local professional intelligence. To increase the validity of the outputs however, it is recommended that existing activity data collection systems or short term activity analysis audits are utilised to provide more valid data.

Who is this useful for?

The tool is aimed at AHP service managers but will also be useful to workforce development managers.

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How will this help me and my organisation?

This is principally a modeling tool to help you and your organisation determine the clinical capacity of your current workforce based on current service delivery models and compare to future versions for service delivery/workforce.

How do I use this resource?

The tool is web based, however reports can be saved to a word document for inclusion in workforce plans, business cases, etc. Latest news on this resource:

Available at: www.workforceplanning.scot.nhs.uk

Who can I contact about this resource?

Kay Sandilands, head of workforce development, NHS Lanarkshire (kay.sandilands@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk)

Six Steps
e-learning resource
A training tool and practical guide to sustainable, evidence based workforce planning.