Whilst the numbers of staff affected by the proposed change programme and the types of staff transfers set out in the Health and Social Care Bill are yet to be confirmed it is essential that staff are informed, engaged and supported through the transfer process.
HR Transition Partnership Forum
The SPF HR Transition Partnership Forum was set up to provide a single national forum for the discussion and development of HR policies and processes to support workforce transition across the NHS, Department of Health and Arms Length Bodies. This group is made up of representatives from the Department of Health, Trade unions, employers and SHA representatives.
Staff Passport Group
The SPF Staff Passport Group continues to provide input on the detail of system reforms across the board including development of the Any Qualified Provider principle. The group discusses and influences policy and guidance through their regular meetings highlighting the workforce issues, promoting good employment practice, the importance of staff engagement and the benefits of partnership working in system reform. The group regularly reviews the content of the NHS Staff Passport toolkit to maintain its accuracy.
The Staff Passport toolkit has been a popular tool since it was first launched in November 2009. As the workforce implications of the Health and Social Care Bill become clearer we will work together to regularly update the toolkit to reflect this.
Maximising opportunities for newly qualified graduates
Our work on maximising opportunities for newly qualified graduates looks at practical steps that can be taken to support newly qualified healthcare professionals into employment. The Job Pool may be of specific interest during the current transition.
Personal health budgets
The Social Partnership Forum is committed to the idea of creating a more personal health service for patients in the NHS. The Department of Health with support from the Social Partnership Forum has produced a guide on personal health budgets which is a starting point for local discussions on workforce issues.