Through tailored training and hands-on application of the NHS England STAR and workforce redesign methodologies, we enabled human resources teams and clinical leaders to develop and implement effective workforce transformation plans, ensuring a future ready workforce for the new hospital.

Background

As part of the NHS New Hospitals Programme (NHP), we partnered with a trust to upskill their human resources/organisation development (HR/OD) teams, clinical leads, and operational leaders in strategic workforce planning and redesign. The trust commissioned us to enhance existing workforce planning capabilities by adopting a structured, future-focused approach, recognising the importance of equipping leadership teams with a workforce transformation methodology including the NHS England STAR. The objective was to enable divisional leadership teams, supported by HR/OD leads, to develop strategic workforce transformation plans that articulate a future workforce state aligned with the opportunities of the new hospital build.

Action

We designed and delivered a 6 session programme using a blended learning approach, including virtual and in-person interactive workshops, covering:

• Training on the STAR methodology to build knowledge and practical application skills.

• Action learning to design and plan workforce transformation workshops tailored to identified workforce challenges.

• Co-facilitation of STAR workshops, developing outputs into structured reports that prioritised workforce transformation projects.

• Workforce planning and redesign workshops, covering all five stages of the process:
  • Understanding the need for a workforce plan.
  • Analysing current workforce supply, demand, and process efficiency.
  • Designing the future workforce state based on digital innovation, care pathway transformation, and population health-based demand projections.
  • Conducting a gap analysis and developing an implementation roadmap.
  • Establishing governance structures to monitor and refresh workforce plans over time.

To reinforce learning, we provided:

• Comprehensive training materials, including slide decks, workbooks, and information packs.
• A workforce planning competency framework, outlining key skills across four proficiency levels (foundation to specialist) to support self-assessment and ongoing development.
• A dedicated SharePoint resource hub, signposting tools, workforce data, and additional resources for continued reference.

Impact

• 100% of participants strongly agreed that the workshops met their learning outcomes and were relevant to their professional responsibilities.

• 100% of participants reported increased confidence in facilitating workforce planning using the STAR methodology.

• A structured workforce transformation framework was established, enabling leadership teams to develop and implement future workforce plans aligned with the new hospital’s strategic goals.

• Improved collaboration between HR, OD, and clinical leaders, enabling a more cohesive approach to workforce transformation.

• The development of a Lancashire and South Cumbria workforce planning guide, providing structured resources for ongoing application beyond the programme.

Feedback

Excellent thank you, very informative and engaging, good activities, superb guidance to utilise with up-to-date resources – Customer evaluation form

For more information

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