Consultancy services
From the way planning is done beforehand, we can predict victory or defeat - Sun Zi, The Art of War, c 400BC
The development of a strategic vision - and a plan which sets out how to achieve it - is at the heart of good leadership and management. However, in the clamour of demands on the attention of managers, strategic planning is often drowned out.
We work with organisations to take a long, hard look at where they are going and to face up to the realities of their situation. We then help them to develop choices (rather than priorities) which balances the actual resources available with the demands of the business. And we ensure that strategic plans are practical, providing a framework for managing the everyday demands of the service.
Business Planning
Do you have a clear picture of where your business is heading? All businesses, including social businesses, need to develop strategic, long term plans if they are to thrive and deliver effective services. Unfortunately many organisations find this difficult, both because of the demands of the here-and-now and due to the fact that we all find it difficult to see the bigger picture when we are part of the picture ourselves.
We can help you to step back and develop a vision for the future which is more than just a set of aspirations. Instead, your plans will be relevant to your own specific circumstances and capable of helping you manage in the present as well as the future.
We use a range of models and frameworks in the planning process, with the emphasis on the participation and involvement of service users, staff and stakeholders to ensure an outcome which has broad based support, and which takes account of diversity issues and the rights of service users or beneficiaries.
Workforce Planning
Workforce planning is designed to answer the question – how many and what kind of staff are going to be needed in the future? These staffing issues cannot be taken for granted and social organisations are increasingly required to develop workforce plans to implement their business plans and strategies. Switched On Consulting has developed a model which looks at emerging skill needs, ways of forecasting staff numbers needed and how to recruit and retain them. The model builds on best practice in both the public and private sector.
Human Resources Strategy
It might sound like a cliché, but for social sector organisations in particular, the workforce (the human resources of the organisation) is truly their most significant asset. It is also a resource that depends on trust and mutual support, and if that is lacking, it is a resource which is free to walk out of the door at any time.
However, alongside the need to develop a supportive working climate and culture, there are enormous pressures for change: to improve and develop more responsive services, to create a more flexible skills base and to raise performance standards still further. This is in a situation where there are persistent skills shortages, where major demographic changes in the workforce are starting to impact, and where regulation is increasing.
To sail through these choppy waters, a coherent and well constructed Human Resources strategy is vital.
We can advise and support you in developing your HR strategy, coming from the perspective of experienced, strategic level practitioners, with a strong understanding of the dynamics of the sector. We can also carry out a peer review of your current strategy to ensure it is robust and help you to translate your strategy into achievable plans.Workforce Development Plans
The growth of investment and support for social sector employers in developing the workforce and tackling serious problems of recruitment and retention has created new resources and opportunities for workforce development.
For managers and for staff themselves, workforce development is now a high priority, enabling staff to become qualified, to share their expertise, and to progress within their career. It is crucial to the recruitment and retention of a motivated workforce, which puts the values of social care into practice.
We can assist you in reviewing your workforce development activities and in preparing a workforce development plan which is consistent with the needs of your organisation and maximises the opportunities for funding.
An example of a workforce development plan that we have prepared