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Background

The NHS Finance (Wales) Act 2014 makes planning the bedrock of health services in Wales. The change from a market driven commissioning approach to a planned system has led to a need for different skills within NHS organisations. The NHS Planning Framework, which guides the development of IMTPs, is issued annually each Autumn.

There is a recognised need to strengthen planning skills across the NHS in Wales. Unlike finance and Human Resource (HR) colleagues, NHS planners have not taken a standard route or planning qualification and come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. There is a need for strong planning skills throughout organisations so that they become a core component of skill sets at all levels.

A Planning academy has been established to strengthen the planning skills with good liaison between NHS Wales planning community and the Welsh Government. This academy provides opportunities to secure both a professional qualification in healthcare planning as well as more traditional learning events.

The Planning Programme for Learning focusses on the following four pillars:

  • The Diploma in Healthcare Planning launched in Autumn 2019. There are now regular bi-annual learning events for the NHS planning community, attended predominantly by Directors and Assistant Directors of Planning although finance and Welsh Government colleagues also attend where relevant.
  • Workshops to support the development of specific skills such as modelling, which are essential for the development of organisational plans, are commissioned from a variety of providers and held as needed.
  • A series of master classes are in development, organised by Welsh Government to build specific skills, with the first (on demand and capacity) well-attended and received.
  • There are now regular bi-annual learning events for the NHS planning community, attended predominantly by Directors and Assistant Directors of Planning although finance and Welsh Government colleagues also attend where relevant.

The Planning Programme for Learning is supported by the All-Wales Directors of Planning Group and the All-Wales Assistant Directors of Planning Group whilst ensuring partnership links with the Finance Academy and the Workforce Planning Network.