Needs

02

 

Needs Outputs Resources, tools and templates

Service needs  

Population needs

Service user needs

Service Specification

Service needs analysis

How to write a service specification

Service specification template

Drivers for change

e.g. strategy, data, evidence

  

Service user needs and journey

Clarify patient journey – Skills Max Toolkit and Six Steps Step 1 and examples

Scope and purpose of service/team/role

  

Population needs

Data sources Data sources links table.docx

Purpose, scope and drivers

Six Steps: Step 1 and Step 2

 

How to use the needs section

To hear a national perspective watch Dr Mark Cooper shares the history of TR Methodology and discusses Service Needs and Drivers. Watch the video.  Download the video transcript (doc)

To understand TR Needs as a methodology watch Sarah Florida James guides you through the steps from identifying needs using workforce analysis, with a team level example from Jacqueline Walker. Watch the video.  Download the video transcript (doc)

To begin, watch the video from Jacqueline Walker, who shares her journey in scoping the growing maternal diabetes health needs. Watch the video or download the video transcript (doc). Supporting slides are also provided to help break down each stage of the learning.

 

 Consider the information and diagrams (above), and the guidance (below), to scope out NEEDS for your team or service area.
How do I find out about the Population Needs (Now and Future)

Understanding population data is essential for designing AHP services that meet current and future needs. It helps anticipate demand, address inequalities, and tailor services to local populations. By using insights on demographics, disease prevalence, and service use, AHPs can plan the right workforce, skill mix, and models of care—ensuring services are proactive, equitable, sustainable, and deliver maximum impact

What information is useful to consider: 

  • demographic trends (Aging Population, birth / death/ multimorbidity) 
  • disease prevalence and service utilisation (neurodevelopmental and rehabilitation needs, musculoskeletal conditions, chronic disease management)  
  • impact of inequalities (SMID) 
  • local and national data
Where do I find

Key links below with full details in the document above:

Workforce data

Population Data

Local data

  • Local data sources within board i.e. Public Health, corporate planning, workforce, person centred care, equality and diversity services.

Other resources on this website

  • Add links to data section of website
  • You may also find it useful to look at the resources within Six Steps Methodology (Steps 1- 6)  
How do I understand my Service Needs?
To begin, watch the video from Nikki Munro, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde who shares her journey in developing a service specification for adult orthotic services. Watch the video
Download the transcript (doc)
Supporting slides are also provided to help break down each stage of the learning. 
Consider the information below and using the templates provided, map out your team or service area.

 
Current Service Needs/ Specification

A service specification is a formally agreed document that defines what a service delivers, for whom, and to what standard. It sets out the purpose, scope, outcomes, activity levels, quality requirements, governance, and performance measures, providing a clear, evidence-based contract between commissioners and providers and a benchmark for assurance, improvement, and accountability. Used alongside a workforce plan, the service specification functions as a service needs analysis by translating required activity and outcomes into the skills, roles, capacity, and capabilities needed to deliver the service safely and sustainably, ensuring workforce supply is explicitly aligned to population need and service demand.

A Service Specification sets out: 
  • purpose and scope 
  • outcomes and activity 
  • quality standards 
  • pathways, governance and performance measures 
Resources and Templates 

 

What are my Drivers for change?
Consider what you have learned so far from each of the videos
Consider the information below and using the templates provided, map out your team or service area and add the relevant findings to your service specification. You may also find the Six Steps –Step 2 Map the service change helpful. 

 

National Strategy and Policy services must understand population need, financial and governance needs, inequalities, trends and demand. A robust needs analysis must align with national policy such as: 

  • NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan: prioritises improved access to treatment such as increasing capacity and reducing backlogs and shifting the balance of care to reduce pressures on hospital and offer care closer to home. There is also a focus on prevention and digital innovation. AHPs lead service redesign, using innovative technology-enabled care to improve access, reduce waiting times and deliver care in community settings.
  • Scotland’s Population Health Framework 2025–2035: promotes a whole-system approach to improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities. AHPs contribute significantly to its five drivers, especially in prevention, healthy living and equitable access.
  • Health and Social Care Service Renewal Framework 2025-2035 requires prevention, reduced inequalities, care closer to home, and data‑driven planning to achieve sustainable transformation.

 

What does the evidence say?

It is important to draw on robust evidence‑based research and published capability frameworks when considering Transforming roles methodology. This includes national and professional guidance, population health evidence, service evaluations, and research demonstrating the effectiveness, safety and outcomes of new or extended roles. Published capability and competence frameworks help define role scope, governance, education and supervision requirements, ensuring redesigned roles are credible, sustainable and aligned to professional standards while meeting current and future service needs.

  • Professional standards and guidance – regulatory body standards (e.g. HCPC), Royal College or professional body guidance, and accredited scope‑of‑practice documents.
  • Published capability and competency frameworks – national or professionally endorsed capability frameworks for advanced, enhanced or extended roles, including education and supervision requirements
  • Best practice and case studies – validated local, regional or national case studies demonstrating successful role redesign and implementation.
  • Governance and risk frameworks – clinical governance requirements, risk assessments, delegation and accountability models, and safety frameworks.
  • Research evidence and evaluations – peer‑reviewed research, service evaluations, quality improvement evidence, and outcome studies demonstrating effectiveness and safety of redesigned roles.

Resources and Templates

Stakeholders and EngagementHow do I identify my Stakeholders and plan engagement?Stakeholder Analysis is a way of identifying, prioritising and understanding your stakeholders.Resources

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