East of England

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

Areas of Focus 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.

The Midlands and East of England SPFs held their annual partnership conference on 03 December 2025 bringing together trade union colleagues, HR professionals and SPF members from across the region. The conference focused on how partnership working can support the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, with delegates exploring new approaches, sharing good practice, and considering how best to support the regional workforce.
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 NHS infrastructure changes, changes to ICBs and providers.
Shared best practice in a range of areas including: reducing violence and sexual misconduct at work, supporting staff through workforce changes, supporting sustainable recruitment, fed in staff side, staff and employer views to inform a regional project to procure an AI- powered virtual assistant to handle HR queries that links back to the 10 Year health plan’s aim to improve efficiency through digital innovation.
We continued to work in partnership, to draft and agree regional partnership principles for nursing and midwifery job evaluation, in line with national policies.

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.