Under HCSA, service-specific manpower standards and requirements (if any) are stipulated within the corresponding Service Regulation(s). The licensee is responsible for meeting these service-specific standards and requirements in the provision of the licensed service(s).

In addition to these service-specific standards and requirements, and as a general principle, the licensee is responsible for making the appropriate staffing decisions (e.g., staffing levels, skill-mix, deployment patterns) as are necessary to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, and good quality service, as part of a HCSA licence. This principle applies to all requisite personnel for the operationalisation of the licensable healthcare service(s), including personnel types that are not explicitly addressed within the Service Regulation(s).

Appropriate staffing decisions will vary from licensee to licensee, and will depend on factors including (but not limited to) each licensee’s unique operational needs, service delivery model, as well as nature and quality of the healthcare service provided. In undertaking staffing decisions, licensees should exercise reasonable judgement, and consider service-wide interdependencies to ensure that staffing decisions remain relevant, responsive, and fit-for-purpose.

Licensees should consider the following good practice guidelines for implementing appropriate staffing decisions:

• Plan. Develop a staffing plan to ensure that the right number of personnel with the right skillsets are deployed to the right place at the right time, to facilitate the delivery of safe, effective, and good quality service.

• Prepare. Prepare contingency staffing arrangements and countermeasures (e.g., as part of the licensee’s Business Continuity Planning) to support service continuity and minimise operational disruptions, in case of an unforeseen staffing shortage and/or inadequacy.

• Review. Review staffing plans at regular timepoints (e.g., once every six months) and make adjustments in response to operational data and/or feedback on service outcomes and quality. In cases where a staffing shortage and/or inadequacy has occurred, or where concerns of such have been highlighted to the licensee (e.g., by staff, patient, member of public), the licensee should examine gaps in existing staffing plans and make the necessary improvements.