SPF Bulletin - September 2021

Key updates from our September bulletin

HPMA awards 2021

The SPF is proud to sponsor the 2021 HPMA Excellence in people award for partnership working between employers and trade unions. This award celebrates initiatives that exemplify the benefits of employers and trade unions working together to overcome challenges and develop solutions.

This year’s awards ceremony will be held virtually on Thursday 7 October.

You can register to watch the event on the HPMA website.

Save the date for the SPF conference 2022

In March 2021, the National SPF and National Engagement Service held a virtual conference – Positive Partnership working through COVID-19 and beyond. After the success and popularity of this event, we will be holding a national partnership conference, on 3 March 2022.

In the meantime, read a summary and watch highlights of the 2021 conference on the SPF website.

Race ahead

Throughout October, NHSEI will be running the Race Ahead campaign, with themes for each week focusing on identity, leadership, health and wellbeing and launch of the race equality strategy. The SPF has helped with the design of this campaign, which will offer all staff in the NHS the opportunity to have conversations on race. Look out for more information on the programme on the NHSEI twitter account, @NHSEngland.

SPF stocktake report 2020/21

The National SPF undergoes regular reviews to ensure it continues to support the NHS effectively. In spring 2021, an internal stocktake was undertaken, covering one year of partnership working under the pressures of the pandemic.

Read the 20/21 SPF stocktake in full on the SPF website.

Kindness masterclass

NHSEI are holding regional Kindness into action masterclasses throughout October and November. There will be one session for each NHS region promoting and exploring kindness in leadership, it is recommended for all boards, executives, and senior leaders.

Find out more about the masterclass, including dates for each regional session in this flyer.

Speak up month

In October the National Guardian Office’s will celebrate Speak Up Month. This celebration will raise awareness of Freedom to Speak Up Guardians and the work that organisations are doing to foster a culture where staff feel confident and safe to speak up.

You can find out more about this year’s Freedom to Speak Up month on the National Guardian website.

Potential consistent national NHS uniform consultation report

On 23 September, NHS Supply Chain published a report detailing the results of their seven-week consultation about the potential introduction of a standardised national healthcare uniform for NHS staff working in clinical roles in England. The report shows that of the 51,000 responses received, 82 per cent are in favour of the introduction of a consistent uniform across the NHS in England.

Impact of Afghanistan events on NHS staff

Recent developments in Afghanistan may affect members of the armed forces (and many other people) in different ways. Op Courage is an NHS service offering expert mental health and wellbeing advice to service leavers, reservists, veterans, and their families.

Discover the advice and resources on the Op Courage website.

Regional SPF update

In August 2021, the national SPF co-chairs sent a letter to regional SPF co-chairs, outlining work priorities for the national forum going forward. This was well received in regional SPFs, being seen to align with their priorities. Regional SPF discussions have been focusing on the vaccine as a condition of deployment consultation, current service pressures and the impact on staff, planning for winter, addressing violence and abuse directed at NHS staff, embedding just and learning cultures, and working on the ongoing transition to statutory ICSs.

Find out more about the Regional SPFs and their work on our website.

Workforce Issues Group (WIG) - 20 September

At the September meeting of the WIG, the group was updated on enabling staff movement, including the digital passport, Victoria Small from NHSEI, presented on the upcoming Health and Wellbeing Framework and wellbeing dashboard, and Tom Grimes, NHSEI, spoke on the review of the national freedom to speak up policy.

Wider Group – 14 September

Chaired by then Health Minister Helen Whately, the September 14 SPF Wider Group saw an update on NHSEI’s equality, diversity and inclusion programme, a presentation from the South West regional SPF and Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust on implementing a just and learning culture, progress on ICS transition and the health and care bill, and information on winter planning from the new CEO of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Dr Jenny Harries.

Read full key comms from the meeting on the SPF website.

Violence reduction subgroup – 8 September

The 8 September meeting of the violence reduction subgroup featured findings of a UNISON and Nursing times survey regarding sexual harassment of nurses, NHS Resolution figures on claims relating to violence against staff, and updates from NHSEI colleagues on violence and reduction standard, national data collection, and the body worn camera pilot.

COVID-19 engagement group - 7 September

The SPF COVID-19 engagement group met on 7 September, and heard from Dr Jonathan Leach on the ongoing vaccination programme, progress so far and plans to come, and colleagues from NHSEI and Public Health England gave latest updates on infection prevention control guidance.