Beyond the Roster: Turning plans into action

The Beyond the Roster programme is helping NHS trusts across North East and North Cumria get the best from their workforce.

The programme brings together staff from workforce, clinical, digital, finance and operations teams. They work together to share ideas and find better ways to plan and use staff.

The aim is simple. Use staff time well, improve care for patients and make services fit for the future.

How it started

The first Beyond the Roster event took place in November 2025.

Leaders from across the region met to look at how rostering can help services run well. They heard about national standards and saw examples of good practice from other organisations.

Trusts also looked at their own systems and agreed to take part in a regional peer review programme.

One clear message came from the event. Rostering is not just about filling shifts. It can help organisations use staff time well, improve services and make better use of money.

Working together

Since then, trusts across North East and North Cumbria have taken part in peer reviews.

These reviews gave teams the chance to learn from each other and share what works well.

The reviews helped trusts to:

• Look at their rostering and job planning systems.
• Check progress against national standards.
• Find areas that work well.
• Identify areas for improvement.
• Share ideas with other organisations.

The reviews also showed how workforce planning, staff use and agency spend are linked. Better planning can help trusts make the best use of their staff and reduce costs.

What happened next

The second Beyond the Roster event took place in July 2026.

Trusts shared what they had learned from the peer reviews. They also spoke about the work they have done since the first event.

Teams discussed common problems and looked at ways to tackle them.

A key theme was the need to link rostering, job planning and workforce planning. When these areas work together, organisations can make better decisions about staff and services.

The event also gave staff time to share ideas and learn from each other.

Main areas of focus

The programme has highlighted some shared priorities across the region.

These include:

• Better workforce planning.
• Better use of workforce data.
• Clear oversight and leadership.
• Better use of digital systems.
• Making the best use of permanent staff.
• Reducing the need for temporary staff.
• Supporting long-term financial stability.

Looking ahead

The programme is now moving to the next stage.

Trusts will use what they have learned to make changes and improve the way they work. They will continue to share ideas and support each other.

There will also be more work on medical job planning. This will help make the best use of clinical time and support patient care.

By working together, organisations across North East and North Cumbria can build a stronger workforce and provide safe, high-quality care for patients now and in the future.

Back to Email