Case study: Building workforce planning capability across Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance
Case Studies
Challenge
Following a workforce modelling project across its 13 Trusts, Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance identified a need to strengthen workforce planning capability across cancer services.
While the modelling provided a clear picture of workforce composition, current gaps and future demand, there was a need to provide cancer leaders and managers with the skills and confidence to embed workforce planning into day-to-day decision-making.
Our solution
Skills for Health worked in partnership with the Alliance to co-design a tailored workforce planning development programme, underpinned by the Six Steps Methodology to Integrated Workforce Planning®.
Representatives from 11 Trusts took part in a series of interactive masterclasses, bringing together cancer managers, lead nurses and workforce leads to develop practical workforce planning skills.
Alongside the training, delegates were provided with toolkits, resources and access to an ongoing Community of Practice, creating opportunities to share learning, discuss common challenges and support long-term implementation.
Outcomes
Early feedback from the Alliance and participants suggests the programme has successfully increased confidence in workforce planning, with 89% of participants reporting a significant improvement following the masterclasses.
Participants consistently praised the quality of the programme, describing it as “very worthwhile” and “very thorough and informative”. Reflecting on the facilitation, one participant commented:
“Excellent…delivered by a fantastic facilitator, extremely knowledgeable and very personable.”
The opportunity to learn alongside colleagues from across Cheshire and Merseyside was another key strength. Participants described the masterclasses as “a great networking opportunity”, highlighting how “peer support and sharing practice [were] very valuable” in helping them explore common workforce planning challenges and learn from one another.
The collaborative approach to programme design and delivery, together with the ongoing Community of Practice, has been particularly well received. The Alliance has also shared an update at the NHS England Cancer Alliance Workforce Group as an example of good practice.
Impact
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89% of participants said the training significantly increased their confidence in workforce planning.
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Stronger collaboration and networking between cancer services across C&M Trusts.
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A practical, consistent approach to workforce planning through the Six Steps Methodology®.
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Practical skills, tools and ongoing support to embed workforce planning.
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Participants rated the programme 9.2/10 on average for recommending it to colleagues, achieving an exceptional Net Promoter Score (NPS) of +78.
Skills for Health took the time to understand our needs and co-design a programme that was practical, engaging and relevant to our Trusts. The delivery has been outstanding - well organised, interactive and consistently praised by participants for its practical and uplifting approach. Bringing colleagues together from across the region has created invaluable opportunities to share workforce planning challenges and exchange best practice. Early feedback shows participants are leaving with greater confidence and are looking at how they can apply their learning in practice.”
Isobel Wenn, Senior Project Manager, Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance
