Example · fictional company · Home care service · Germany · 118 staff
Pflegedienst Rheinaue
Growing into two new districts by a fifth, moving care records onto tablets, in a market where nurses and carers are hard to find.
The company and its numbers are made up, to show what goes in and what comes out. Dates are set as if it were filled in this quarter.
What they entered
Everything the form asked, step by step. About ten minutes of answers, with no names of staff.
Step 1: Your company
Germany · 118 staff · Home care
Step 2: Your plan
- Grow what we already do: Two new districts · working by Q4 2027 · 20% growth
- Meet a new rule or standard: Digital care documentation · working by Q2 2027
Step 3: Your teams
Team Closest occupation People 55 or older Know-how held by one person Hard to find Needed in 1 / 3 years Care workers Home-based personal care workers (5322) 70 18 No Yes same / same Nurses Nursing professionals (2221) 26 8 No Yes same / same Team leads Aged care services managers (1343) 6 1 No Don't know same / same Scheduling and office General office clerks (4110) 12 2 No No same / same IT Information and communications technology user support technicians (3512) 1 not asked Yes Don't know same / same Step 4: What the plan needs from each team
Team Two new districts Digital care documentation Care workers Can't happen without Needed Nurses Can't happen without Needed Team leads Needed — Scheduling and office Helps — IT — Can't happen without Step 5–6: New skills, and who can already do them
Skill For Team People Needed by Can already Partly Recording care on a tablet Digital care documentation Care workers 70 Q2 2027 25 30 Managing cyber security for the business Digital care documentation IT 1 Q2 2027 0 1 Leading a larger team Two new districts Team leads 2 Q4 2027 4 — Step 7: Stress test and assumptions
Hiring takes twice as long. All assumptions left at their defaults.
What they got
Example · Pflegedienst Rheinaue · Germany · 118 staff · calculated Q4 2026
Your plan needs 7 actions to start this quarter, 1 of them already late.
- Grow what we already do: Two new districts · Q4 2027
- Meet a new rule or standard: Digital care documentation · Q2 2027
How sure: 2 sure, 4 fairly sure, 7 unsure. Each action says which of its numbers are assumptions you can change.
What must start when
Everything that has to start within the next twelve months.
Show the roadmap as a table
| Action | Needed | Takes | Start by | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recording care on a tablet: train 15 new to it | Q2 2027 | 3 quarters | Q3 2026 | late by 1 quarter; borrow help Q2 2027 to Q3 2027 |
| Hire 21 for Care workers | Q4 2027 | 4 quarters | Q4 2026 | start this quarter |
| Plan hand-overs before retirements in Nurses | now | 2 quarters | Q4 2026 | start this quarter |
| Hire 8 for Nurses | Q4 2027 | 4 quarters | Q4 2026 | start this quarter |
| Pass on the know-how only one person in IT has | now | 2 quarters | Q4 2026 | start this quarter |
| Recording care on a tablet: train 30 who can partly do it | Q2 2027 | 2 quarters | Q4 2026 | start this quarter |
| Managing cyber security for the business: train 1 who can partly do it | Q2 2027 | 2 quarters | Q4 2026 | start this quarter |
| Hire 2 for Team leads | Q4 2027 | 3 quarters | Q1 2027 | start by Q1 2027 |
Each action, and how we worked it out
- late by 1 quarter; borrow help Q2 2027 to Q3 2027
Recording care on a tablet: train 15 new to it
Care workers · Train · unsure
Needed Q2 2027 − 3 quarters to train = start Q3 2026: late by 1, borrow help until Q3 2027
How we worked this out
- People who need it
- 70
- Your answer
- Can already do it
- 25
- Your answer
- Can partly do it
- 30
- Your answer
- Needed by
- Q2 2027
- Your answer
- Time to train someone new to it
- 3 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (§ 82 SGB III), under 50 staff: usually all course costs and up to 75% of wages during training; 50 to 499 staff: half the course costs and up to 50% of wages. Courses must run over 120 hours at an approved provider. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start this quarter
Hire 21 for Care workers
Care workers · Hire · unsure
Needed Q4 2027 − 4 quarters to hire and get up to speed = start Q4 2026
How we worked this out
- People in the team today
- 70
- Your answer
- Needed in a year
- 84 (20% growth)
- Your answer
- Leaving each year
- 5.6 (8% a year)
- Assumption
- Retiring each year
- 1.5 (18 aged 55+ over 12 years)
- Assumption
- Expected in a year
- 62.9 people
- Assumption
- Time to hire
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
- Time for a new hire to become productive
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Extra hiring time where people are hard to find
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Hard to hire for
- yes
- Your answer
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Arbeitgeber-Service of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit and EURES, public employment service help with recruiting, including from other EU countries. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start this quarter
Plan hand-overs before retirements in Nurses
Nurses · Pass on know-how · fairly sure
Needed as soon as possible: start now, 2 quarters of overlap
How we worked this out
- Aged 55 or older
- 8 of 26
- Your answer
- Overlap needed to pass on know-how
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: fairly sure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (§ 82 SGB III), under 50 staff: usually all course costs and up to 75% of wages during training; 50 to 499 staff: half the course costs and up to 50% of wages. Courses must run over 120 hours at an approved provider. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start this quarter
Hire 8 for Nurses
Nurses · Hire · unsure
Needed Q4 2027 − 4 quarters to hire and get up to speed = start Q4 2026
How we worked this out
- People in the team today
- 26
- Your answer
- Needed in a year
- 31 (20% growth)
- Your answer
- Leaving each year
- 2.1 (8% a year)
- Assumption
- Retiring each year
- 0.7 (8 aged 55+ over 12 years)
- Assumption
- Expected in a year
- 23.3 people
- Assumption
- Time to hire
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
- Time for a new hire to become productive
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Extra hiring time where people are hard to find
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Hard to hire for
- yes
- Your answer
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Arbeitgeber-Service of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit and EURES, public employment service help with recruiting, including from other EU countries. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start this quarter
Pass on the know-how only one person in IT has
IT · Pass on know-how · fairly sure
Needed as soon as possible: start now, 2 quarters of overlap
How we worked this out
- Know-how held by one person
- yes
- Your answer
- Overlap needed to pass on know-how
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: fairly sure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (§ 82 SGB III), under 50 staff: usually all course costs and up to 75% of wages during training; 50 to 499 staff: half the course costs and up to 50% of wages. Courses must run over 120 hours at an approved provider. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start this quarter
Recording care on a tablet: train 30 who can partly do it
Care workers · Train · fairly sure
Needed Q2 2027 − 2 quarters to train = start Q4 2026
How we worked this out
- People who need it
- 70
- Your answer
- Can already do it
- 25
- Your answer
- Can partly do it
- 30
- Your answer
- Needed by
- Q2 2027
- Your answer
- Time to train someone who can partly do it
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: fairly sure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (§ 82 SGB III), under 50 staff: usually all course costs and up to 75% of wages during training; 50 to 499 staff: half the course costs and up to 50% of wages. Courses must run over 120 hours at an approved provider. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start this quarter
Managing cyber security for the business: train 1 who can partly do it
IT · Train · fairly sure
Needed Q2 2027 − 2 quarters to train = start Q4 2026
How we worked this out
- People who need it
- 1
- Your answer
- Can already do it
- 0
- Your answer
- Can partly do it
- 1
- Your answer
- Needed by
- Q2 2027
- Your answer
- Time to train someone who can partly do it
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: fairly sure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Bundesagentur für Arbeit (§ 82 SGB III), under 50 staff: usually all course costs and up to 75% of wages during training; 50 to 499 staff: half the course costs and up to 50% of wages. Courses must run over 120 hours at an approved provider. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start by Q1 2027
Hire 2 for Team leads
Team leads · Hire · unsure
Needed Q4 2027 − 3 quarters to hire and get up to speed = start Q1 2027
How we worked this out
- People in the team today
- 6
- Your answer
- Needed in a year
- 7 (20% growth)
- Your answer
- Leaving each year
- 0.5 (8% a year)
- Assumption
- Retiring each year
- 0.1 (1 aged 55+ over 12 years)
- Assumption
- Expected in a year
- 5.4 people
- Assumption
- Time to hire
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
- Time for a new hire to become productive
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Arbeitgeber-Service of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit and EURES, public employment service help with recruiting, including from other EU countries. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
Later: 3 actions starting in a year or more
- start by Q4 2028
Hire 14 more for Care workers by year three
Care workers · Hire · unsure
Needed Q4 2029 − 4 quarters to hire and get up to speed = start Q4 2028
How we worked this out
- People in the team today
- 70
- Your answer
- Needed in three years
- 84 (20% growth)
- Your answer
- Leaving each year
- 5.6 (8% a year)
- Assumption
- Retiring each year
- 1.5 (18 aged 55+ over 12 years)
- Assumption
- Expected in three years
- 48.7 people
- Assumption
- Time to hire
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
- Time for a new hire to become productive
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Extra hiring time where people are hard to find
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Hard to hire for
- yes
- Your answer
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Arbeitgeber-Service of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit and EURES, public employment service help with recruiting, including from other EU countries. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start by Q4 2028
Hire 5 more for Nurses by year three
Nurses · Hire · unsure
Needed Q4 2029 − 4 quarters to hire and get up to speed = start Q4 2028
How we worked this out
- People in the team today
- 26
- Your answer
- Needed in three years
- 31 (20% growth)
- Your answer
- Leaving each year
- 2.1 (8% a year)
- Assumption
- Retiring each year
- 0.7 (8 aged 55+ over 12 years)
- Assumption
- Expected in three years
- 17.8 people
- Assumption
- Time to hire
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
- Time for a new hire to become productive
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Extra hiring time where people are hard to find
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
- Hard to hire for
- yes
- Your answer
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Arbeitgeber-Service of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit and EURES, public employment service help with recruiting, including from other EU countries. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
- start by Q1 2029
Hire 1 more for Team leads by year three
Team leads · Hire · unsure
Needed Q4 2029 − 3 quarters to hire and get up to speed = start Q1 2029
How we worked this out
- People in the team today
- 6
- Your answer
- Needed in three years
- 7 (20% growth)
- Your answer
- Leaving each year
- 0.5 (8% a year)
- Assumption
- Retiring each year
- 0.1 (1 aged 55+ over 12 years)
- Assumption
- Expected in three years
- 4.3 people
- Assumption
- Time to hire
- 2 quarters
- Assumption
- Time for a new hire to become productive
- 1 quarters
- Assumption
How sure: unsure. Sure means no assumptions were used; fairly sure, one or two; unsure, three or more, or a late date that rests on one.
Who could pay or help: Arbeitgeber-Service of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit and EURES, public employment service help with recruiting, including from other EU countries. (checked September 2026; confirm with the scheme)
Already in place
- Recording care on a tablet: 25 people in Care workers can already do this. Use them first.
- Leading a larger team: 2 people in Team leads can already do this. Use them first.
Stress test: hiring takes twice as long
- Hire 21 for Care workers: late by 2 quarters instead of starting now.
- Hire 8 for Nurses: late by 2 quarters instead of starting now.
- Hire 2 for Team leads: late by 1 quarter instead of starting by Q1 2027.
Your teams
Care workers
CriticalISCO-08 5322 · Home-based personal care workers
- Your plan can't happen without this team (Two new districts).
- 18 of 70 are 55 or older.
- You said people for this team are hard to find.
Nurses
CriticalISCO-08 2221 · Nursing professionals
- Your plan can't happen without this team (Two new districts).
- 8 of 26 are 55 or older.
- You said people for this team are hard to find.
Team leads
ImportantISCO-08 1343 · Aged care services managers
- Your plan needed this team (Two new districts).
- 1 of 6 are 55 or older.
IT
CriticalISCO-08 3512 · Information and communications technology user support technicians
- Your plan can't happen without this team (Digital care documentation).
- Only one person knows how to do something critical here.
Considered, no actions: Scheduling and office (supporting).
Assumptions used
| Assumption | Value | Where from |
|---|---|---|
| People leaving each year, other than retirementAssumption, not data. Use your own figure if you know it. | 8 | Assumption |
| Usual retirement ageRising to 67 by 2031 depending on year of birth. | 67 | Assumption |
| Time to train someone who can partly do itAssumption. Time until they can do the work to the standard needed, not course length. | 2 | Assumption |
| Time to train someone new to itAssumption. Time until they can do the work to the standard needed. | 3 | Assumption |
| Time to hireAssumption. From deciding to hire to the person starting. | 2 | Assumption |
| Time for a new hire to become productiveAssumption. | 1 | Assumption |
| Extra hiring time where people are hard to findAssumption, applied where you said a team is hard to hire for. | 1 | Assumption |
| Overlap needed to pass on know-howAssumption. | 2 | Assumption |
Who could help you plan this
- INQA-Coaching. 80% of up to 12 days with an authorised INQA coach, at most €1,200 a day. For firms under 250 staff that are at least two years old. Details
From our research, September 2026. Schemes change: confirm with the scheme before you rely on it.