SPF response to the launch of the NHS Staff Standards

The NHS Social Partnership Forum (SPF) welcomes the introduction of the NHS Staff Standards on six priority areas: tackling racism, sexual safety, violence prevention and reduction, flexible working, health and wellbeing, and line management. 

We endorse the government’s policy of improving staff experience in these areas through strengthened accountability. 

In the time available, it was not possible to engage in full co-production of these standards, but we have valued the intensive and open engagement with us by the policy leads from DHSC and NHS England. This is a good start to an ongoing process. 

We commit to work in partnership with the government to refine the standards in future, particularly the assurance framework around them, and to encourage employers and trade unions to work together on implementing the standards.

We are aware that secondary care is the initial focus of the standards. The SPF supports extending their scope to primary care as soon as it is practical. 

The SPF believes the standards target the right priorities. Violence, sexual harassment and race discrimination from the public are all rising; a culture of flexible working is not taking root fast enough; and too many staff are reporting work-related stress and burnout. Line managers play a positive role for most NHS staff, but we do not do enough to help them in their important work.

Measurement of the staff standards will be part of the NHS Oversight Framework and other system management. Staff experience will therefore feature more strongly in assessing NHS trust performance, encouraging boards to consider the workforce alongside financial and operational priorities. This marked change in accountability and support is what makes this approach different for our staff and members. 

The SPF recognises that, while the standards should make an important contribution to recruitment, retention and the morale of NHS staff, they are not intended to address every aspect of workforce policy. Staff pay and terms and conditions of service, the 10 Year Workforce Plan and individual employer’s workforce strategies are also essential. 

The SPF calls on the government to ensure that the new NHS system has the management capability to oversee the implementation of the standards. The Government should also provide challenge and support to employers and local systems. These measures, along with effective partnership working between employers and trade unions on implementing the standards, should mean they result in a lasting and improved experience at work for NHS staff.

View the NHS staff standards.