The Virtual Workforce Information System provides a starting point for workforce planning by demonstrating demographics and characteristics of the situation on the ground, but it doesn’t do the planning itself.

Below are a number of publications and bits of guidance from across health and social care which provide some support in how to undertake workforce planning.

Six Steps methodology to Integrated Workforce Planning

http://www.knowledge.scot.nhs.uk/workforceplanning/resources/six-steps-methodology.aspx

Aimed at: Integration of Health and Social Care Services

Good for: Provides step by step process for workforce planning considering current demand and capacity. This can be used across all sectors of the workforce.

Three Dimensions of Workforce Planning in Local Authorities.

https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/workforce%20-%20social%20woerkers%20publications%20-%20three-dimensions-workforc-7fb.pdf

Aimed at: Local authorities

Useful for: Taking a lessons learned approach

Workforce Planning in Local Authorities

https://www.human-resource-solutions.co.uk/Policies/Workforce-Planning/Workforce_planning_in_local_authorities.pdf

Aimed at: Local authorities

Good for: A complete A-Z of workforce planning including methodology and background

A Recipe for Workforce Planning

https://recipeforworkforceplanning.hee.nhs.uk/

Aimed at: NHS organisations but can be utilised by all health and social care organisations

Good for: A step workforce planning process by step by Health Education England and an update on current strategies to tackle workforce issues at a regional level.