Workforce Planning Tools and Techniques

The principle behind the tools on this page is that they are mostly free to access, give value for money for the NHS and they are complimentary – they work alongside one another, drawing on comparable data and information sources.

NHS Benchmarking Database Workshops

Skills for Health - Workforce Projects Team is hosting a number of workshops to help healthcare staff get the most out of the NHS Benchmarking Database. Please register here >>>

Quick links - select a tool

New Rota Tool
Producing sustainable rotas that ensure there is a better balance of staff available throughout the day

Workforce reconfiguration tool
Shows the current and proposed skill mix of staff in post for any given service, and the associated pay costs.

Workforce Planning Competence Tool
This tool helps individuals and organisations examine their capability in workforce planning.
Find out more >>>

Workforce Evaluation Tool
Offers an online balance scorecard to help users evaluate and monitor changes in workforce practice.

The Calderdale Framework
A facilitation tool for the development of a flexible and competent workforce.

NHS Benchmarking Database
Free, easy to search, up to date acute & PCT trust performance, demographic and workforce data.

Maternity Matters Database
This tool will be aimed at managers and planners to assist them in designing a maternity matters compliant and effective workforce to sustain this.

Assessing Workforce Supply Tool
Read about this work and give us your thoughts on developments.

Service reconfiguration tool
This resource is a service configuration diagram tool, designed by Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, to show the banding structure of a trusts current staff in post.

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

Doctors Rostering System
Doctor Rostering System (DRS) is a piece of software developed within the NHS to help trusts with the complex task of designing junior doctor’s rotas and managing their hours to ensure compliance with the New Deal and the European Working Time Directive.

Hospital at Night Self-assessment tool
Hospital at Night and Mental Health self-assessment tool.

Nursing Workforce Planning Tool
This tool aims to assist nursing workforce planning and help make better decisions about cost effective numbers and mixes of nurses.

Mental Health database
A Mental Health database has been added to the already established PCT and acute databases.

Workforce Planning Step Guide
This is a guide to workforce planning following 6 steps which are all explained within the guide.

Six Steps Refresh
The main aim of the Six Steps Methodology to Integrated Workforce Planning is to set out in a practical framework those elements that should be in any workforce plan.

HaNBleep – Clinical prioritisation tool for HaN teams
Multiprofessional healthcare teams across England can now benefit from the new HanBleep software system.