Skills for Health has announced the launch of an open programme providing NHS organisations and healthcare providers with more flexible and accessible access to its Six Steps Methodology to Integrated Workforce Planning, a proven methodology that has underpinned workforce planning across the NHS for more than two decades.
The new programme, which will be delivered in an open format, brings together participants from different organisations to build workforce planning capability in a structured, supported way, meaning organisations can enrol a single individual or a small group, making it easier to grow capability across teams without the requirement for a full in‑house cohort.
Participants in the new programme will be supported to apply the Six Steps methodology step by step, developing a workforce plan tailored to their own organisational context, while building the confidence to take workforce planning forward locally.
The Six Steps to Integrated Workforce Planning methodology is cited in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and has long been used by NHS organisations to align workforce supply with future service demand.
Jon Czul is Managing Director at Skills for Health. He comments: “Healthcare services continue to face persistent workforce shortages, retention challenges and rising demand. At the same time, roles are evolving as care models change, requiring new skills and greater flexibility across the workforce.
“However, in many organisations, workforce planning is still perceived as a centralised function. In practice, the decisions that shape the workforce are made daily — by those leading teams and services.
“For workforce planning to be effective, managers and service leaders must have the confidence, data and tools to understand their workforce, anticipate future demand, and take ownership of how teams are planned, developed and deployed.
“To meet this need, Skills for Health has introduced the Six Steps to Strategic Workforce Planning open programme, enabling more healthcare providers to access a proven, practical approach to workforce planning. For organisations seeking a flexible way to build capability, this programme provides a strong route to getting started.”
The Primary Care Academy, aligned to Cardiff and Vale UHB, is one of the first NHS organisations that will take part in the strategic workforce planning open programme. Their Academy Manager, Rebecca Hopes, comments:
“The development of workforce planning capability and skills is a key priority across our organisation, and a highly sought‑after skill identified through our training needs assessment within Primary Care settings. The Six Steps methodology is endorsed across NHS Wales, and we are delighted to offer this opportunity to support practice managers to move away from short‑term workforce fixes towards a more structured, evidence‑based approach that supports long‑term service sustainability.
“The open programme format will be particularly valuable. Learning alongside peers from other organisations will enable us to share challenges, test ideas and learn from different contexts, while applying the methodology directly to our own local priorities.
“It provides the tools and confidence to better understand future demand and make informed workforce decisions that support both our staff and the quality of care we provide to patients.”
More than 5,000 NHS leaders have engaged with Skills for Health’s workforce planning learning to date, reporting a 39% increase in confidence in workforce planning overall. Stronger, evidence‑based workforce decisions have supported an estimated 2.4 million NHS staff over the last twenty years and have contributed to improved care for approximately 15.8 million patients.
Bookings are now open for the first open programme cohort, which will run from 2:00–4:00pm on the following dates: 19 May, 21 May, 3 June, 9 June and 24 June. The programme carries 14 CPD points/hours, with accreditation from iCQ Awards.
Places are limited to ensure a high‑quality, interactive experience. The programme starts at £1,595 + VAT per participant, with discounts available for group bookings. Additional dates will be released shortly.
To find more and to book visit: www.skillsforhealth.org.uk/integrated-solutions/workforce-development/six-steps-open-programme
