Partners | Social Partnership Forum

The SPF brings together partners to contribute to the development and implementation of policy that impacts on the health workforce. Partners come together on a regular basis through the SPF groups and their subgroups to discuss and work on priority areas for the health and care sector.

SPF Partnership Agreement

An updated version of the Partnership Agreement was published in July 2022. The agreement sets out a framework which describes the aims of the SPF, shared values and principles for effective partnership working between SPF partners: Health Education England, NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS Employers, and NHS Trade Unions.

Read the SPF Partnership Agreement (PDF)

Our partners

BMA

The British Medical Association (BMA) is the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK.

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

A membership organisation of more than 60,000 chartered physiotherapists, associate and physio students.

Department of Health & Social Care

DHSC supports ministers in leading the nation’s health and social care to help people live more independent, healthier lives for longer.

GMB

GMB is a trade union that represents all workers.

HCSA

A nationally recognised professional association and trade union which represents and advises all grades of hospital doctor in the UK.

MiP

A union for health and care managers.

NHS Employers

NHS Employers supports workforce leaders and represents employers and systems to develop a sustainable workforce and be the best employers they can be.

NHS England

Working together as a new single organisation to better support the NHS to deliver improved care for patients.

Royal College of Midwives

The United Kingdom's only trade union or professional organisation for midwives and those that support them.

Royal College of Nursing

A membership organisation of over 465,000 registered nurses, midwives, health care assistants and nursing students.

Royal College of Occupational Therapists

Works to ensure the profession's rightful place in health and social care delivery and play an active role as ambassadors for the profession.

Royal College of Podiatry

An independent trade union which provides a range of membership services to podiatrists throughout the United Kingdom and overseas.

The Association for Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine

A professional membership organisation dedicated to the practice and promotion of clinical science.

The British and Irish Orthoptic Society

The British and Irish Orthoptic Society is the professional body for orthoptists.

The British Dietetic Association

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) is the only trade union and professional body in the UK representing the professional, educational, public and workplace interests of the whole of the dietetic workforce.

The Society of Radiographers

The trade union and UK professional body for the diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy workforce.

UNISON

Unison represents full-time and part-time staff who provide public services, although they may be employed in both the public and private sectors.

Unite the Union

Unite is the union for the 21st century, meeting the greatest challenges facing working people today.

Meet the SPF co-chairs and support team

Get to know us better

There's lots more to the SPF - delve deeper to find out more about our aims, priority areas and what we do.

Discover more about us