Policy to workforce plans – a guide to application : The details of an induction course in the NHS

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how the NHS Workforce Review Team's induction to workforce planning course works with attendees on how to extract workforce implications from policy documents. Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides a structure for policy assessment, and describes some key lessons learned. Findings – The paper contends that, although the documents can seem daunting at first, they may provide an important framework for strategic workforce planning. The danger of not doing this work is that the enabling workforce decisions, such as training and development, may not be made in time for suitable implementation of policy. Practical implications – The paper argues that, while it is not always easy to link policy to workforce, it is definitely worth the effort. Originality/value – The paper highlights the fact that the ability to access policy documents and apply their content to future planning is an essential tool in developing robust plans.