Integrated Local Area Workforce Strategy (InLAWS)

The workforce in adult social care is our most important strategic asset.

Understanding and thinking about how we commission our workforce now and in the future is an important part of the role of every director of adult social services.

Integrated local area workforce strategies (InLAWS) bring together strategic financial planning, service planning and workforce planning to support the development of a clear programme of action for commissioning the workers we need now and in the future.

The InLAWS model of analyse, plan, do, and review provides a clear and simple methodology for creating an integrated local area workforce strategy. The InLAWS materials have been coproduced by ADASS and Skills for Care over a number of years. The InLAWS tools and resources are a completely refreshed version of the original materials based on our shared learning to date around strategic workforce planning. These materials support leaders at the emerging Health and Wellbeing Boards to consider workforce priorities for the future.

By combining the InLAWS methodology with your local NMDS-SC (National Minimum Data Set for Social Care), directors and their teams can have confidence that their approach to strategic decision-making about workforce development is based on the shared knowledge and expertise of everyone who has participated in the InLAWS development programme.

Without a clear understanding of our workforce and our future workforce requirements we would be unable to ensure we are delivering the right support in the right place at the right time, now and in the future. InLAWS is about helping us together to commission that future workforce now.

InLAWS tools and resources

In challenging times there is no place for resting on our laurels and, having refreshed and revised existing InLAWS materials, we have developed a model for measuring workforce outcomes. As we learn more about effective strategic workforce commissioning we will continue to coproduce and update the InLAWS offer. For more information about the tools that are available please visit click here.

Case studies

Case studies give a 'flavour' of how some local authorities are using the InLAWS process and the Workforce planning guide for service providers. To view and download the case studies please click here

Guide to Workforce planning

The guide is aimed at service providing organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors. It focuses on care and support providers as businesses and as employers. It is designed for busy people wanting help with workforce planning. For more information please click here.

Step-by-step guide to commissioning

This product considers the implications of the new Government themes of 'Big Society' and 'Small State' for workforce commissioning as well as the vision for the NHS and adult social care. For more information please click here.

National Minimum Dataset for Social Care (NMDS-SC)

Having access to data about the workforce in your local area is critical when planning how you can provide services that will meet the needs of the people who use them. The NMDS-SC provides a workforce profile which you can use to benchmark the current position and then help you to plan for the future. It is key to the InLAWS approach. For more information please click here

To log in to your account to access NMDS-SC workforce information visit www.nmds-sc-online.org.uk