Human Resources

Workforce Planning for Healthcare Organisations

Hospitals and health systems face chronic shortages of nurses, doctors and specialist staff while demand keeps rising. This course teaches healthcare workforce planning: forecasting service demand, modelling staffing requirements and skill mix, planning recruitment, training pipelines and retention, and using workforce data to guide decisions.

5 days Classroom or live online English

Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants

Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF

Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Staffing gaps directly affect patient safety and staff burnout. You will learn structured methods to plan the healthcare workforce for the years ahead.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Healthcare case studies, staffing model exercises, scenario planning workshops and data analysis practice.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Explain healthcare workforce planning principles
Forecast service demand and activity
Model staffing requirements and skill mix
Plan recruitment, education and retention
Use workforce data and indicators
Present workforce plans to leadership

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Healthcare HR and workforce planners
Nursing and medical directors
Hospital managers
Health ministry planning staff
Healthcare finance professionals

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Workforce modelling
Demand forecasting
Skill-mix design
Retention planning
Data-driven decisions

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Healthcare Workforce Context

09:00–10:08Global workforce shortages
10:08–11:00Workforce planning cycle
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Workforce planning cycle (continued)
11:45–12:53Stakeholders
12:53–14:00Case study

Day 2Demand Forecasting

09:00–10:08Population and service demand
10:08–11:00Activity drivers
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Activity drivers (continued)
11:45–12:53Scenario planning
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 3Staffing Models

09:00–10:08Staffing ratios and acuity
10:08–11:00Skill mix and new roles
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Skill mix and new roles (continued)
11:45–12:53Rostering implications
12:53–14:00Workshop

Day 4Supply Strategies

09:00–10:08Recruitment and international hiring
10:08–11:00Education pipelines
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Education pipelines (continued)
11:45–12:53Retention
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 5Using Workforce Data

09:00–10:08Indicators and dashboards
10:08–11:00Presenting plans
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Presenting plans (continued)
11:45–12:53Monitoring delivery
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon UK certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon UK programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

Keep exploring

Your next horizon awaits.

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