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 Healthier Futures 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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