East of England

Bringing employers, trade unions, and stakeholders together to strengthen partnership working across the East of England.

Priorities for 2026/27

Partnership working at both system and regional levels during organisational change and workforce reductions, considering the evolving ICB landscape. 
NHS strategic plans and their impact on the workforce (10-year health plan, 10-year workforce plan, New Hospitals Programme, People Service transformational programme, operating model, neighbourhood models and new ways of working).
Retention and staff experience (improving dispute resolution, violence and sexual harassment reduction, health and wellbeing).
Job evaluation, acknowledging potential upcoming impacts for nursing (promoting and socialising best practice).
Equality, diversity and inclusion (inclusive recruitment, disability adjustments and the NHS as an anchor institution in local communities) – applies to all forum activity throughout the year.

On 3 December 2024, the Midlands and East of England SPFs held their annual partnership conference, attended by more than 70 delegates. The event focused on partnership working to address health inequalities and promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Delegates focused on regional priorities and discussed their specific challenges and opportunities, including pay gaps, antiracism and neurodiversity.
We submitted an East of England SPF response to the consultation on the 10-year health plan.
We continued to maintain meaningful engagement with NHS Employers and NHS England colleagues on core priority focus areas, including the New Hospitals Programme, the Long Term Workforce Plan and the NHS People Promise.
We shared best practice in reducing violence and sexual misconduct at work.
We discussed the civil unrest and riots in the summer of 2024 and ways to support staff.
We continued to explore what good partnership working looks like at an integrated care system level.
We continued to work in partnership and discuss regional work on job evaluation.

Trade union co-chair - Caroline Hennessy, Regional Head of Health, UNISON.
Management co-chair - Andrew McMenemy, Executive Chief People Officer, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.
Management co-chair - Samantha Gooden, Deputy Chief People Officer, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust.