Workforce planning

Agenda for Change has provided organisations with powerful tools and data that have clear applications in workforce and business planning. This section provides information, tools and advice on how the distribution of staff on pay bands or KSF dimensions and levels can be used as part of these planning processes.

Job Evaluation and Pay Band data

This suite of guides, together with the 'Christmas tree' generator tool provides comprehensive information about presenting workforce data in 'Christmas Tree' type charts and how doing this can help in understanding more about your workforce, and how this can help in future planning. The term 'Christmas tree' is used to describe the visual representation of the workforce numbers across the Agenda for Change pay bands because of its similarity to the traditional shape of a Christmas tree

Where do you want to go today - using 'Christmas trees'

This document sets the context for understanding the scope for using pay band data in workforce planning and introduces the concept of 'Christmas trees' as a graphical representation of the workforce.

Christmas tree generator tool

This Excel based tool provides uses the PivotTable function to provide the date required to generate a range of Christmas tree charts including:

• 'All Staff'
• Administrative Staff
• Allied Health Professionals
• Healthcare Scientist Staff
• Nursing and Midwifery
• Support Staff

Guide to using the Christmas tree generator

Advice on how to use the Christmas tree generator tool, including guidance on the data required and where to find it.

Service reconfiguration using Christmas Trees

An alternative tool from the NHS National Workforce Projects team to provide graphical representation of the workforce using the 'Christmas Tree' model.

How to grow your own Christmas Trees

An in-depth step-by-step guide to creating Christmas tree charts from the Christmas tree Generator. This is a large document and may take some time to download.

Knowledge and Skills Framework data

The e-KSF tool supports organisations in implementing the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF). There is an increasing realisation that the KSF, and hence e-KSF, is a very powerful tool for workforce development and change.

The e-KSF enables organisations to track KSF dimension 'demand' (KSF post outlines) and KSF 'supply' (outcomes of development reviews which record where individuals are against their KSF Post Outlines). The e-KSF also stores organisational, pay band and staff group data.

e-KSF and workforce planning provides further information on how this can be used in workforce planning and system re-design.