Key Priorities
The Workforce Information Programme is responsible for all aspects of workforce statistics within ISD.
The work of the Programme is overseen by the Workforce Statistics Steering Group (chaired by Anne Gent, HR Director, NHS Highland) to ensure it remains aligned to government policy, in particular A Force For Improvement: The Workforce Response to Better Health, Better Care, and the information requirements of NHS Scotland.
The main source of workforce statistics is SWISS (Scottish Workforce Information Standard System) , with a number of smaller data collections to cover, for example, vacancies, psychology services and doctors in training. Staff in post information is published quarterly, reflecting data at March, June, September and December. The information published is used by NHS Boards to support local, regional and national workforce planning and reporting.
For 2010/11, the Workforce Statistics Steering Group have agreed the following priority areas for 2010/11:
- Work with the Scottish Government to support workforce planning initiatives, managing the work of the programme in consultation with the Workforce Statistics Steering Group and communicating with stakeholders across the service.
- Collate routine national workforce information for NHS Scotland and seek continuous improvements to data quality and consistency.
- Develop and maintain routine national reports to support workforce planning and benchmarking.
- Provide analytical support to nursing and midwifery projects, developing appropriate tools to support workforce planning.
- Work with National Education for Scotland (NES) to develop workforce planning information for mental health, providing analytical support and reporting.
- Support the development of a portfolio of workforce planning projects relating to other specific staff groups.
The full report of the 'ISD Workforce Information Programme - Background and Priorities for 2009/10' 
[690KB] is also available.
The 'ISD Workforce Programme Business Plan 2010/2011' 
[460KB] is also available.
