Health Workforce Information Programme
Background
Health Workforce Information Programme (HWIP) was created to provide a central point for health and disability workforce information, analysis and forecasting. The need to develop the Programme was identified in the Future Workforce Strategy released in 2005. The business case for the programme was approved by DHB CEOs. DHBNZ manages HWIP on behalf of its key stakeholders, and the 2006-2008 business plan outlines the goals and activity that ensure HWIP's vision will be realised.
HWIP data and findings enable the health sector to plan for Future Workforce requirements. Some obvious benefits from improved workforce information, analysis and forecasting at a national level include:
- l Identification of Future Workforce demand with sufficient lead-time, allowing for strategic planning that will influence workforce supply and retention and create a more sustainable and stable service delivery
- More effective negotiation of national agreements
- Tracking movement within the sector, creating evidence to support funding for workforce development and pay equity
- Improved human resource policy and practice (e.g. recruitment and retention policies)
- Providing input into benchmarking of performance - benchmarking stimulates competition, encourages evidence based policy, and allows managers and policy makers to assess the performance of the system
- Raising sector data and analysis competence and capability
- Helping to build a platform for collaborative workforce planning across the whole health and disability sector - between the Non-Government Organisation (NGO), Primary Health Organisation (PHO) and District Health Board (DHB) Sectors
- Savings from reduced duplication of cost and effort
- Better information at local, regional and national levels