Workforce planning

The College plays a key role in workforce planning for paediatrics to ensure there is an appropriately trained paediatric medical workforce to deliver safe and sustainable services for children in the UK, in the present and in the future.

It does this by:

• collecting and analysing data about career grade paediatricians through a biennial census of the paediatric medical workforce
• monitoring the progress of trainees and studying their career intentions
• developing solutions to meet service demands
• modelling options for the future
• influencing national and local workforce planning bodies

The College also monitors other developments in workforce planning inlcuding Department of Health and CfWI publications and workforce proposals linked to the Health and Social Care Bill. Read about recent developments in workforce planning.

Biennial workforce census

Every two years the College conducts an insitutional census which covers the following areas:

• paediatric medical staff in each organisation, and vacancies
• paediatric and neonatal services provided in each hospital
• general and neonatal rotas
• community services and community lead roles
• tertiary services

Individual Census

In 2011 we conducted an individual survey of all consultants and SSASG doctors recorded in the previous 2009 census to gather information about:

• clinical and non-clinical work commitments
• involvement in research
• attitudes to resident shift working and retirement intentions

This survey has now closed and the results will be published shortly. 

Consultant Delivered Care 

The College has recently undertaken a six-month project to assess the impact of consultant delivered care in paediatrics on quality outcomes, training, work-life balance and other indicators.

To read more about this project, please visit the Consultant Delivered Care page.

Trainee workforce

• Information about the size and characteristics of the trainee workforce is collected by the RCPCH Education and Training Directorate. The latest information was produced in April 2011.
• The College is also conducting a cohort study of paediatric trainees (the MMC cohort study). Trainees in their ST3 year are currently responding to College questionnaires. The first part of the study was completed in 2009. The second part of the study was conducted in 2011 and results will be published shortly.

European Working Time Regulations

• The introduction of the European Working Time Regulations (EWTR) and other legislation have been drivers for changing the way the paediatric service is delivered and workforce requirements.
• From December 2010 to February 2011 the College conducted a Working Time Regulations Survey to assess the impact of the regulations on all acute units – a report of the findings is available.
• In May 2009, the College approved guidance on the Role Of The Consultant Paediatrician(PDF, 135KB, 18 pages) in providing acute care in hospital in the hospital.
• In May 2010, the College held a Workforce Solutions Workshop to consider future solutions for service delivery.