NHS Employers is currently developing a model framework for a national, mutually agreed resignation scheme, which will allow greater flexibility for employers in adapting the local workforce. Under the scheme, employers may offer a severance payment to staff to leave their employment voluntarily, which will help employers address rapid organisational change and service redesign.  The scheme is expected to be published at the end of July.  NHS Employers is also working in partnership with the trade unions to develop a set of supporting principles for local partnership discussions on developing mutually agreed resignation schemes. For further information contact Pay&Negotiations@nhsemployers.org.

NHS Employers is gathering employers’ views on proposals to set permanent limits on economic migration to the UK. The changes are set out in two consultation documents, launched last month following the Government’s announcement on reducing net migration levels. The proposed changes will impact significantly on employers’ recruitment processes. Your response to our online survey will help identify any issues pertinent to the NHS and ensure we fully represent employers’ views. The closing date for our survey is 23 August. For more information and to complete the survey see our migration consultation web page.

The NHS Staff Council has commissioned the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) to review the existing national recruitment and retention premia (NRRP). These are the national pay supplements for jobs where market pressures make it difficult to recruit or retain at normal Agenda for Change salaries. The IES is seeking information on current recruitment and retention pressures in order to examine whether there is justification for existing NRRPs to continue. To share your views and inform the review, complete the online survey on the IES website.

NHS Employers is seeking employers’ views on a BMA proposal to change the name ‘specialty doctor’. The name is intended to reflect greater recognition and status of the grade, however the BMA feels that it does not adequately reflect the skills and experience that specialty doctors can gain during a career that often spans over 17 years at that level. We would like to hear your views on this and are interested to hear any ideas for potential alternative names. For more information, see our specialty and associate specialist doctors web page.

Employers and trade unions are encouraged to submit their views, in partnership, on a set of new draft principles for on-call arrangements. The NHS Staff Council’s on-call sub group prepared the principles for consultation following its UK-wide review of on-call arrangements. Once agreed, the principles will provide a framework for employer negotiations with local partnerships to establish new local on-call payment arrangements. The current protection of on-call payment arrangements ends on 31 March 2011. Your views must be submitted online before noon on 10 September 2010. Read the draft principles and submit your response.  

NHS Employers showcased the good practice of two NHS trusts at the 5th International Carers conference in Leeds.  Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust presented their carers strategies in a session facilitated by conference organisers, Carers UK. The conference also included keynote addresses from HRH the Princess Royal and Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley, who announced a new review into the funding of palliative care. For more information see our equality and diversity latest news pages.