What we do

As the employers' organisation for the NHS in England, we support and promote the largest employers in Europe across key work areas. We keep employers up to date with the latest workforce thinking; provide practical advice and information; and help them to network and share knowledge.

Read our annual review.

Pay and negotiations

We manage the negotiation infrastructure that supports discussions between NHS employers and unions on pay and terms and conditions. We:

• negotiate specific contracts on behalf of employers
• lead on pensions and ill health retirement reviews
• provide evidence to pay review bodies
• oversee the development of Agenda for Change.

Recruitment and planning the workforce

We support employers with workforce planning and provide advice on domestic and international recruitment. We:

• support trusts with planning the local workforce
• run the NHS Careers service
• work with partners to maximise graduate opportunities
• represent employers in national workforce discussions
• help develop new roles and ways of working.

Healthy and productive workplaces

We provide information and advice to help ensure the NHS is a good employer, enabling staff to provide quality patient care. We:

• support trusts with the 18-week wait target and managing temporary staffing
• facilitate a national productivity forum to influence the agenda
• develop comprehensive materials on healthy workplaces
• run major campaigns to tackle staff issues such as bullying and stress.

Employment policy and practice

We represent employers locally, nationally and internationally, sharing good practice and feeding into policy in key areas including equality and diversity and professional regulation. We:

• provide information and advice on the future of professional regulation
• advise employers on complying with new employment legislation
• work in partnership to influence and help implement policy
• represent employers on key European social partnership organisations.