A number of recent reports have confirmed that employee engagement is just as vital in tough economic times as in times of growth. NHS Employers has brought together research, good practice and case studies to support staff engagement in the NHS. Employment relations service ACAS is also encouraging employers to prepare for the potential economic upturn by focusing on employee engagement. ACAS has produced a discussion paper highlighting the simple procedures that can increase engagement, as well as a booklet on how to manage change. For more information see our staff engagement web pages.

The Technical Steering Committee, which comprises NHS Employers, the General Practitioners Committee and the health departments for England and Wales, has published the final seniority figures for General Medical Service (GMS) contractors for 2006/07. Payment agencies can now use the figures to assess and make final seniority payments to GPs for 2006/07. The payment figures and a link to the full report on the Information Centre website can all be found on the NHS Employers GMS web pages.

NHS Employers is contributing oral and written evidence to a formal evaluation of the foundation programme for medical students. The Medical Education England (MEE) review will provide recommendations to the Secretary of State for Health and the Department of Health on the future of the foundation programme. Employers are asked to answer five key questions to help inform our response. For more information, including the key questions and how to respond, visit our foundation programme web page.

The NHS appraisal toolkit website was taken offline on 9 February 2010 after routine security testing revealed some weaknesses. There is no evidence of any breach of security, however, the Department of Health decided to take the website offline while it is being upgraded. The appraisal toolkit should be back online by 3 March. For more information, including what do if you have staff with an appraisal due shortly, visit the NHS appraisal toolkit website.

In August 2011, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) will publish a menu of potential indicators for the 2012/13 Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), together with recommendations on indicators to be considered for retirement. To give stakeholders the opportunity to contribute to the development of future indicators for the QOF, a topic suggestion facility is now open for a four week period until 7 March 2010. This is the last opportunity for topics to be included in the 2012/13 QOF. Anyone with an interest in health is encouraged to submit their suggestions via the NICE website. For more details visit our GMS latest news web page.

NHS Employers is organising a free half-day workshop on 24 March to support employers with meeting the challenges facing the health visiting workforce. This follows concerns raised by PCTs about difficulties in recruiting a sufficient number of health visitors. During the workshop you will obtain an insight into the current national position and have the opportunity to work with fellow professionals to identify the challenges facing this part of your workforce. To book your place visit our events web pages.

NHS organisations can hear first hand the outcomes and learning from some of the successful bidders from last year's NHS Partnership Fund at a free Social Partnership Forum event in March. The fund encourages and develops partnership working at a local level within the NHS and is supported by the Department of Health. The one-day workshop will be held in London on 16 March and will feature some of the key players in partnership work. Representatives from both trust management and staff side are encouraged to attend and bookings can be made via the Social Partnership Forum website.

A new free, confidential online service for anyone over 40, NHS MidLife Check can help to reduce absenteeism, increase motivation and reduce stress in your staff. The Department of Health is encouraging NHS organisations to introduce the service to staff to help improve health and well-being. It covers a wide range of issues including smoking, diet and exercise, and emotional health. If you would like to find out more about introducing NHS MidLifeCheck in your trust, email daisy.bell@iris-london.co.uk. Further information and free marketing materials are available on at www.lifecheckers.co.uk and you can visit the service itself at www.nhs.uk/midlifelifecheck.