Democracy Spraffa

Item 16 - Appendix 3

West Dunbartonshire Council · 2 November 2022
Back to Corporate Services Committee — 2 November 2022 and its agenda

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Appendix 3 - Workforce Plan 2022/23
This Appendix is split into 3 sections:
1. Workforce Planning Priorities and on-going actions
2. Workforce Planning - People First Strategy – 5 Year Plan
3. Workforce Planning Framework Actions 2022/23
1. Workforce Planning Priorities and On-going Actions
The table below outlines the 4 revised Workforce Planning (WFP) priorities which will feature in Service Delivery Plans. Whilst
People & Change are currently working on a new 5 Year plan, People First, a number of actions linked to workforce planning
continue to be relevant and on-going. Services will take cognisance of these High Level Workforce Planning actions and reflect in
their Service Delivery Workforce Plans. 
1. Our People (Workforce Profile) - Ensure resilience and engagement of the workforce:
Strategy
Develop and implement wellbeing, employee engagement, equality and training plans to enable capabilities, improved resilience
and promotion of a diverse workforce.
Expected Outcomes
Gap is addressed, whilst:
• Improved resilience across teams leading to improving employee engagement and lower absence levels
• Ensuring employees feel valued and results in improved practices, increased efficiency and productivity
• Retention of knowledge and skills associated with critical roles, lowered turnover
• Create a more agile and better informed workforce
• Council workforce-related equality outcomes and actions are met and demonstrated by achievement of associated equality
improvement targets.
• Progressing on equality indicators and Equal Pay Analysis (pay and allowances)
• Make better use of data for informed decision making
• Use of expertise to drive improvement
Appendix 3

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Action Requirement Resources
needed
Measure of Outcome Due Date Assigned To
Support Implementation of Equalities Action Plan 
Priorities for 2022/23 relate to Data Verification,
actions to increase diversification of workforce,
Equally Safe at Work (Development Stage) and
Support of Armed Forces.
Workforce Actions and outcomes embedded at
Service level and used to inform
workforce planning considerations and
future actions. 
31-Mar-2023 All Managers
Continued use of the Workforce Management
Console to support better use of data to inform
decision making and improve workforce planning
practice. 
Workforce Manager use of console data and
feedback to develop further relating to
need. Managers are able to embrace new
developments. 
31-Mar-2023 All Managers
Continue to improve and develop employee
engagement. 
Workforce Improved employee engagement and
organisational alignment. Positive
employee surveys, increased Champions
for Trickle, wellbeing and Digital.
Increased use of Trickle and employee
forums for support. Improved culture and
people management practices
31-Mar-2023 All Managers
Continued support of implementation of Employee
Wellbeing Strategy.
Workforce   Improved employee engagement and
lower sickness absence rates. Sufficient
representation on Employee Wellbeing
Advocate and Managers Group.
31-Mar-2023 All Managers
Ensure  Be-the-best conversation are undertaken
with all employees, supporting improved employee
engagement and recognition, identifying training
needs, personal and professional development
goals
Managers
/
Section
Heads  
Be-the-best conversations conducted
regularly with  information linking to
improved employee engagement,
recognition, personal and professional
development 
31-Mar-2023 All Managers

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Continue to monitor and consider more flexible
ways of working, considering people management
policies and practices to better support the
workforce.
Workforce Improved flexibility which responds to
needs of service and workforce, support
improved work life balance and removal
of barriers. 
31-Mar-2023 All Managers 
2. Recruitment & Retention – Current and predicted future workforce gaps are addressed and core skill sets retained 
Strategy 
Develop and implement employee life cycle plans in line with the People First Strategy to attract and retain the workforce 
Expected Outcome 
• Retention of knowledge and skills associated with critical roles (and avoiding associated turnover)
• Council workforce-related equality outcomes are met and demonstrated by achievement of associated equality improvement targets.
• Progressing on equality indicators
• Attracting key skills into the workforce as an employer of choice 
• Ensuring staff are encouraged to re-train and re-align to newer digital skills to allow the Council to reduce attrition while making jobs
interesting  
• Minimising requirement to recruit for new capabilities 
• Skills gaps are addressed and talent pool pipelines established 
Action Title Resources
needed
Measure of Outcome Due Date Assigned To
Review of current and future staffing requirements
linked to service delivery plan requirements,
establishing any gaps to inform workforce planning
and actions and outcomes. 
workforce  Improved workforce planning activity
(1/4ly reviews established) including
scenario planning and early identification
of actions to mitigate risks. Actions are
targeted to need including training,
recruitment, FFF reviews, employee
wellbeing/engagement and development
of internal and external talent pools.  
31-Mar-2023 All Managers

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Succession planning in workforce reviewed
including shadowing/transfer and development
opportunities considered. 
Workforce   Uptake of re/training and development
opportunities including interest in
council’s Digital projects. 
31-Mar-2023 All Managers 
Continued consideration and implementation of
one team approach within and across services
ensuring cross skilling and resilience planning.
Workforce Progression of individual/collective
development interventions  
31-Mar-2023 All Managers 
Review of roles and profiles in line with service
improvements to reflect changes in service, council
ethos and one team approach to improve
recruitment & retention.
Workforce  Profiles that reflect service need, culture
and positive impact on recruitment
31-Mar-2023 All Managers
Continued support of the internal recruitment
market and employee development opportunities
supporting increased service resilience, talent
development, succession planning and career
development. 
Managers  Increased employee development
opportunities to aid succession planning.
31-Mar-2023 All Managers 
3. Structure & Roles – Service Structure and delivery model/s are stable, fit for purpose and future requirements; 
Strategy 
Implement service review process including role design, use of new technology and new ways of working  to add resilience,
address gaps, and establish opportunities for efficiencies 
Expected Outcome 
• Ensuring service priorities are met whilst meeting budget considerations
• Minimising risk of voluntary or compulsory redundancy 
• Enabling flexibility to address fluctuations in service demand 
• A systems-based approach is adopted council wide utilising a service design approach to organisational change to improve service
delivery and ensure it meets the needs of citizens.

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• Improved efficiency and effectiveness of service provision 
• Continue with council wide digital transformation 
Action Title Resource
needed
Measure of Outcome Due Date Assigned To
Priority/
Action links
Continue to support a culture of continuous
improvement identifying opportunities to develop
the workforce and processes building resilience.
Workforce/
Systems  
Monitor delivery plans and performance
to inform action. Continue to utilise and
embed Service design/Lean/Six Sigma
skills.  Efficiencies in processes identified
and benefits realised.  
31-Mar-2023 All Managers 
Support Fit for Future Reviews - promote better
use of data, improved decision making and better
people practices. Fully utilising existing systems
and technologies 
Workforce   Improved employee engagement and
delivery of improved people practices via
Fit for Future Reviews. 
31-Mar-2023 All Managers
Support the implementation of service review
processes including role re-design, use of new
technology and new ways of working to add
resilience, address gaps, and establish
opportunities for efficiencies
Workforce  Improved service provision  31 Mar 2023 All managers 
Support Digital Transformation implementation and
plan and better use of Management information
systems.
Workforce
/funding  
Evidence of capability and subsequent
organisational impact  
31-Mar-2023 All Managers
Continue to develop and support the systems
development in a more remote work environment.
Workforce  Successful transition to more remote
practices and home and remote working,
online solutions
31-Mar-2023 All Managers
supported by IT 
4. Skills & Capabilities – Current and future skills gaps and capabilities are addressed

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Strategy 
Develop and implement training plans and development opportunities to improve capabilities and resilience within the workforce. 
Expected Outcome 
• Ensuring service priorities are met as a result of application of those new capabilities 
• Ensuring staff are encouraged to develop new skills   
• Ensuring value for money in terms of training solutions 
• Minimising requirement to recruit for new capabilities 
• More accessible online training and employee support provision
• Skills Gaps are minimised 
• Succession planning and knowledge transfer solutions 
Action Title Resources
needed
Measure of Outcome Due Date Assigned To
Further develop leadership skills within relevant
services in line with the people management
framework.
Workforce Well-developed leadership skills linked to
succession planning and Service Delivery
Needs. Collaborative and improved
working practices. Reduction in ER
issues.
31-Mar-2023 All Managers 
Continue to develop digital and data analysis skills
in areas /service where this continues to be
required 
Workforce  Improved skills in digital and data
analysis specific to systems. 
31-Mar-2023 All Managers
Robust scoping and implementation of training
requirements linked to workforce planning actions
to improve capabilities and resilience within the
workforce.
Workforce/
budget
Training requirements are scoped and
effective solutions found including
knowledge transfer opportunities.
31-Mar-2023 All Managers

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2. Workforce Planning - People First Strategy – 5 Year Plan 
In line with the People First Strategy Workforce Planning Activity will be focused around the following High Level Actions in the
table below. As work progresses in relation to this plan, specific actions will be developed and fed into the Workforce Planning
Activity and are subject to change as the work progresses and in response to need. 
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Attraction and
Recruitment
On boarding Development Retention Off boarding
Skills and recruitment
gaps are forecast and
identified timely and
Workforce plans reflect
how gaps can be filled
(Buy, Build, Borrow or
Bridge) effectively. 
Support Services to
review job quality, role
profiles and recruitment
practices for
improvement. 
Review of key talent
pools and progress
further development of
pools at
Service/Council level.
Training & awareness
of workforce Planning
Processes and benefits
of data usage. 
Development of
Workforce Planning
Console to incorporate
employee data
improvements relating
to recruitment & on-
boarding. 
Skills passport includes
workforce planning
training; framework,
console and tools. 
Development of key
Career Pathways with
links to Learning
pathways and
training/development
plans. 
Succession Planning
with improved links to
development
opportunities and
Leadership
Development. 
Further development of
internal talent pools 
Promotion of personal
and professional
development through
Improved use of Be the
Best (and other
conversations) with an
emphasis on quality of
information to inform
Workforce Planning for
a focus on skills
development, individual
career aspirations and
future requirements. 
Links to employee
retention and
development data to
enhance Scenario
Planning and impact on
team and structures. 
Build and promote
coaching & mentoring
Consider promotional
opportunities at Service
Level as positive place
to work informed by
data analysis. 
Develop and further
analyse exit interview
information and
destinations of leavers
to inform WFP actions
including role/structure
design and
development
opportunities. 
Relevant benchmarking
scoped for WFP actions
relating to retention.

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Targeted attraction and
recruitment (including
increasing
diversification of the
Workforce)
Consideration of
promotion opportunities
for Careers within the
council. 
Review the Internal job
market with a focus on
succession planning,
secondments and
redeployment potential
ensuring effective use
of the Switch Policy.
Better use of Scenario
Planning.
Support promotion of
human centred
management.
Increasing use of
equalities information to
inform decision making
in relation to Workforce
Planning.
the Workforce Planning
channels including 
data gathering on
personal and
professional skills.
Workforce Planning
Policy, Strategy and
processes informed by
data and adapted
accordingly.
opportunities into
Workforce Planning
strategies.
Support to build digital
and data skills as
integrated action of
WFP.
Improved use of market
analytics to inform
areas of risk for
retention.
Continued improvement
to link WFP actions to
the Strategic direction
of the organisation and
culture of change for
continuous
improvement
Further develop
workforce analytics in
relation to turnover to
predict areas of risk and
inform of strategies to
retain. 
Support methodologies
to encourage returners
for those who leave to
develop career in
another organisation.

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1. Workforce Planning Framework Actions 2022/23
Workforce Planning Actions Resources
needed
Measure of Outcome Due Date Assigned To
Further Embed Workforce Planning with Services
including regular reviews. Establish Workforce
Plans Strategically aligned to service delivery plans
and progress reported in line with these plans.
Managers Service have Workforce plans in place
embedded in Service Delivery Plans
31-Mar-
2023
Lisa
MacGregor 
other People
& Change
Partners
Review Workforce Planning Framework/Plan to
incorporate 5 year period in line with People First
Strategy
Manager Revised 5 year Workforce
Framework/plan in place linked to
Strategic Priorities
01–Feb -
2023
Lisa
MacGregor
Engagement with Services of Revised
Framework/Plan including knowledge transfer.
People &
Change &
Managers
Service are able to undertake and
maximise effective use of workforce
planning.
From 01-
Mar-2023
Lisa
MacGregor &
other People
& Change
Partners
Further development of WFP Console with Focus
on workforce projections, establishment/finance
data, exit and equality data.
People &
Change and
WFP console
support
Console functions and data are further
developed to include higher level of
equality and leaver information.
Progress made in relation to the
scoping and implementation of
projective data and embedded use by
service managers.
31-Mar-
2023
Lisa
Macgregor 
Development of information feeding channels to
ensure service level workforce planning reflects
People First Strategy Plan and Service level
outcomes influence People First Plan activity to
meet service requirements.
People &
Change Team
& Managers
Actions in WFP and People First plans
reflect feedback, requirements and
needs met.
On-going
over 5
year plan
People &
Change
Team