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London SPF conference 2024

Highlights from the London SPF conference, celebrating 20 years of partnership working in the region.

17 December 2024

The London SPF held its annual partnership conference on 25 October for HR and staff side colleagues across the region.

This year celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the London SPF, originally set up to maintain the valuable work in partnership to introduce NHS Agenda for Change in 2004.​ 

Phil Thompson, regional organiser at UNISON, has been London SPF staff side co-chair from the outset and will be retiring this year. The conference was an opportunity to acknowledge and thank Phil for his dedication during this time.

This year’s theme was around attracting and protecting a diverse NHS workforce. Chairing alongside Phil Thompson was Jinjer Kandola, SPF management side co-chair and chief executive at ​North London NHS Foundation Trust, ​and Tom Nettel, London chief people officer network co-chair and CPO for Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
 

Morning sessions

A video documenting the history of trade unions and the London SPF’s achievements set the scene for delegates to reflect on their aspirations for the future.

Keynote speaker Paul Corrigan, strategy adviser to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, shared insights on the development of the government’s 10-Year Health Plan, with a focus on the three big shifts: from analogue to digital, hospitals to community and treatment to prevention. Paul spoke about improving the capability of patients to self manage conditions and the importance of NHS organisations as anchor institutions.

Caroline Clarke, regional director for London, NHS England (NHSE), had pre-recorded a video where she and Lizzie Smith, regional director of workforce, updated on the Long Term Workforce Plan and the NHS under the new government. Attendees were invited to discuss the following: 

  • As a patient in London, how far would you be willing to integrate technology/digital services into your health care? What might this look like in ten years? What worries you?
  • How does the NHS workforce need to adapt to digital transformation? What support could NHSE provide? 

The London Ambulance Service and representatives from Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Barts Health NHS Trust shared examples of keeping staff safe, sexual safety and violence and violence prevention and reduction

Jane Clegg, chief nursing officer for NHSE (London) and executive lead for violence and aggression, updated on the sexual safety charter developed by NHS England in collaboration with key partners across the healthcare system, she then joined the other speakers to host a Q&A session.
 

Afternoon sessions

Danny Mortimer and Helga Pile, co-chairs of the national SPF, reflected on the strength of partnership working during challenging times and the new political landscape.

This was followed by a table rotation session which showcased projects and programmes aimed at attracting a diverse and underrepresented workforce into the NHS. 

The projects covered included:

  • Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust – Project SEARCH, offering individuals with learning difficulties placements in the NHS
  • Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust - recruiting and attracting the armed forces community ​
  • Barts Health NHS Trust – UNISON’s anti-racism charter 
  • West London NHS Trust - recruiting refugees and asylum seekers
  • North Central London ICS - care leavers programme 

The aim of all these sessions was for delegates to leave with a greater understanding of the antiracism and violence prevention and reduction work already underway in the region, and inspiration of how to take this important work forward in their local environment. 

The conference was very well attended, with delegates offering high evaluation scores across all measures, describing the day as friendly, fun and inspiring.