North East North Cumbria

The North East North Cumbria (NENC) SPF was set up by employers, trade unions and the NHS Employers' North engagement team.

Priorities 2025/26

Working in partnership to navigate and support the regional workforce in relation to impacts from architectural changes at local, regional and national level.
Promoting partnership working approaches to implementing the 10 Year Health Plan and refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan, focusing on the following:
- Train - supply, training and education
- Retain - staff health and wellbeing, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), culture, the NHS Staff Survey, violence reduction and sexual safety
- Reform - new roles, new ways of working, education expansion and working as anchors/systems.

Achievements 2024/25

A successful North SPF conference focused on health and wellbeing, showcasing best practice from across the region.
Developing an NENC pledge in partnership to improve the staff experience and health and wellbeing of our neurodiverse NHS colleagues by continuing to recognise the diversity in our workforce, ensuring everyone is valued for their contribution.
In-person NENC SPF event for members focused on regional health inequalities and the role of the NHS as an anchor institution in our local community.
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

Staff side co-chair - Ian Fleming, Regional Organiser, UNISON

Staff side co-chair - Denise McLaughlin, Senior Regional Officer, RCN

Management side co-chair - Rachael Metcalf, Human Resources Director, South Tees Hospitals

Management side vice chair - Lesley Hodge, Associate Director of Operational Delivery and Resourcing, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust