The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has launched a consultation paper on bringing the EU Agency Workers Directive (AWD) into UK law. The Directive aims to protect temporary agency workers through the application of the principle of 'equal treatment' compared to permanent staff, covering issues such as pay, benefits and access to training. With a relatively high percentage of all agency workers covered by the directive engaged within the NHS, NHS Employers will be consulting with employers on the implications of the directive and identifying key areas requiring further clarification. For more information about the consultation and a series of BERR events please visit our flexible workforce web page.

The Joint Negotiating Committee has agreed the following updates to the frequently asked questions (FAQs) for Specialty and Associate Specialist (SAS) doctors. Question 21 has been revised to reflect the new contract becoming available; question 67 gives advice on assimilating doctors to the new contract and working patterns; question 65 looks at assimilation when a doctor has an incremental date of 1 April; and question 66 addresses what happens with progression through pay thresholds when a doctor is away on maternity leave. The updated questions can be viewed on the pay and contracts section of our website.

Following on from the success of last year’s conference, NHS Employers' annual conference and exhibition, Leading workforce thinking will again be held at the ICC in Birmingham this November. Visit the conference website to find out about this years event, book your place and watch a video of the highlights from our 2008 conference.

By now, all HR directors will have been sent an email asking them to fill in a short survey about NHS Employers. Your views, experiences and feedback are crucial as we shape our future direction. If you haven’t received an email and would like to contribute, please fill in the short survey now. Everyone who completes the survey before 5 June (including those who have already completed it) will be entered into a draw to win a place at NHS Employers’ annual conference, Leading workforce thinking, in November 2009. For more information please email nicola.phelan@nhsemployers.org.

With just one week to go until the NHS Confederation annual conference and exhibition 2009, this week is your last chance to book. Local leadership: a national service, from 10 to 12 June at the ACC in Liverpool, features an abundance of influential speakers as well as an impressive line-up of exhibitors. Online bookings close this Wednesday 3 June, after which you will only be able book on site in Liverpool from 10 June. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this invaluable conference for senior NHS leaders. Visit the conference website for more details.

Get updated on the integration of Occupational Health Smart Cards into the Electronic Staff Record and the new Vetting and Barring Scheme at these sessions during June and July 2009 in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds and London. Hear from speakers from NHS Employers, NHS Electronic Staff Record and the Department of Health. Register your free place on the events pages of our website.

NHS Employers’ Healthcare Professions Advisory Board met on 22 April and discussed issues covering nursing, the Workforce Review Team’s (WRT) key outputs for 2009/10, transforming community health services and the national Allied Health Professionals (AHP) professional advisory board. See our website to find out more and download the meeting summary.

The Department of Health has announced that bookings are now open for Innovation Expo at ExCeL, London on 18-19 June 2009. This major healthcare event combines high profile speakers, a huge range of seminars, a trade fair and multimedia coverage. More than 200 organisations from the public, private, scientific, academic and voluntary sectors will showcase new ideas and thinking about every aspect of healthcare in the UK. If you work in the NHS and want to learn about all the latest developments, this event is for you. Visit www.healthcareinnovationexpo.com to find out more.

Last week our directors met with Anne Evans, chief executive at Heads, Teachers, Industry (HTI) and met with Julie Screaton at NHS London. We also attended the South Central social partnership forum.