North West
Find out more about the North West SPF
The North West (NW) SPF was established by employers, trade unions and the NHS Employers' North engagement team.
Partnership working principles - August 2025
Read the updated North West SPF partnership working principles, published in response to government announcements on NHS infrastructure changes and workforce reductions.
Priorities for 2025/26
- Working in partnership to navigate and support the regional workforce in relation to impacts from architectural changes and headcount reductions at local, regional and national level.
- Workforce planning and the role of NHS organisations as anchor institutions.
- Staff health and wellbeing, focusing on flexible working, anti-racism, disability and violence prevention/reduction.
- Supporting and retaining a diverse NHS workforce.
Achievements for 2024/25
- A successful North SPF conference focused on health and wellbeing, showcasing best practice from across the region.
- Showcasing partnership working best practice examples from across the region, including East Cheshire NHS Trust, winners of the HPMA Excellence in People Award for partnership working 2024.
- Reaffirming our commitment to working in partnership on equality, diversity and inclusion following the public disorder in summer 2024, and partnership discussions on workforce support during this time.
Meet the team
- Trade union co-chair - Amy Barringer, Regional Organiser, UNISON.
- Management side co-chair - Mike Gibney, Chief People Officer, Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership.
Terms of reference
Read the North West SPF terms of reference.
