South West
Find out more about the South West SPF
The South West (SW) SPF was established in 2014 by a collaboration of employers, trade unions and the NHS Employers South engagement team.
Priorities for 2024/25
- Investing in partnership working to ensure a learning, thriving and dynamic SW SPF.
- Reducing violence and aggression and improving sexual safety - we will reflect on progress and share solutions and opportunities for region-wide partnership working to measure the impact of work.
- Progressing a just and learning culture across the region.
- Equality, diversity and inclusion learning and best practice.
- Influencing and supporting in partnership the recommendations of key reports, including Too Hot to Handle.
- Supporting and continuing to input into agiLab research projects and workshops.
Achievements in 2023/24
- We designed and delivered two reducing violence and aggression hybrid workshop events, which saw engagement from a range of professional areas across the South. This led to the creation of a resource sharing hub, to reduce duplication and support prompt action.
- We continued positive and constructive partnership engagement during industrial action.
- We played an active role through the agiLab steering group and contributed to the publication of the research report Understanding and reducing tensions between clinical and non-clinical staff in the NHS, in relation to agile working.
- We welcomed regional colleagues from NHS England on a regular basis for key engagement and updates.
- We looked to maximise opportunities in partnership working to progress the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda, including the recommendations of key reports i.e., Too Hot to Handle.
Meet the team
- Trade union co-chair – Sarah Woodward, Regional Organiser, UNISON.
- Trade union co-chair – Abigail Moore, Regional Coordinator, BMA.
- Trade union deputy co-chair – Steve Pulsford, Operational Manager, RCN.
- Management co-chair – Hannah Foster, Chief People Officer, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
- Management co-chair – Alfredo Thompson, Executive Director of People and Culture, Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Foundation Trust.
Terms of reference
Read the South West terms of reference - updated March 2025.