Shape the future of the NHS workforce

What the group does

Brings together medical staffing professionals to share expertise, discuss operational challenges and develop consistent approaches to the application of medical and dental terms and conditions, including consultant, dental, doctors in training, specialty doctor and specialist terms and conditions. 

Why you should get involved 

Members can share operational expertise, learn how peers are addressing complex contract issues, influence NHS Employers' understanding of emerging challenges and contribute to a strong, informed employer voice on medical and dental employment matters. 

Who should join

Skilled medical staffing professionals with expertise in consultant, dental, doctors in training, specialty doctor and specialist terms and conditions.  

Expectations of this role

Active participation is expected, including supporting peers, contributing to discussions and sharing local experiences. The group meets monthly, mainly virtually, with occasional face-to-face meetings. Membership is reviewed periodically to provide opportunities for new members to join. 

What the group does

It provides the national negotiating machinery for employers and trade unions to maintain and oversee doctors' and dentists' terms and conditions of service and support their ongoing fitness for purpose. 

Why you should get involved 

Employer representatives can contribute operational insight to national negotiations, help identify implementation issues and keep their organisations informed about developing terms and conditions.  

Who should join

Colleagues with knowledge and expertise of doctors in training, SAS, consultants and dental terms and conditions. 

Expectations of this role 

Employer representatives are expected to prepare for and actively contribute to quarterly meetings, bringing relevant operational expertise, evidence and the employer perspective.  

Around one meeting each year is expected to take place face to face, with the remaining meetings held virtually. Members may also review papers, support working groups, complete agreed actions and identify emerging contractual or implementation issues.  

What the group does

It provides a forum for employers to share intelligence and inform NHS Employers' strategic thinking on medical and dental workforce issues. It gathers employer intelligence, tests emerging policy and advises NHS Employers and its policy board. 

Why you should get involved

Members can influence national workforce policy, share intelligence and good practice, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and bring national developments back to their organisations. 

Who should join

Workforce leaders and relevant experts from NHS organisations involved in medical and dental terms and conditions. Membership is reviewed periodically to maintain broad and diverse employer representation. 

Expectations of this role

Members should attend and actively contribute to quarterly meetings, share intelligence and experience from their organisations, review relevant papers and consultations, and cascade appropriate updates locally. Meetings are mainly virtual, with approximately one face-to-face meeting each year.

This web page page provides an overview of all of the medical and dental workforce networks and committees supported by NHS Employers, including their purpose, membership arrangements and opportunities for employer involvement.

What the group does

The NHS Staff Council is the national partnership body that maintains the Agenda for Change pay system, negotiates changes to core conditions for staff on Agenda for Change contracts, reflects agreed changes in the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook and provides national support on interpretation for employers and trade unions. 

Why you should get involved

Employer representatives help ensure that national terms and conditions reflect organisational realities and enable consistent interpretation and implementation. They also gain an early understanding of changes affecting the workforce. 

Who should join

Ssenior workforce leaders with a strong awareness of the key workforce issues facing the NHS and the role of pay, terms and conditions in supporting these.  

Expectations of this role

Employer representatives are expected to attend four-six meetings each year and contribute to a wide range of national negotiations and workstreams. You will be required to articulate local and regional views at a national level and support the development of policy papers and guidance.

Find out more about the NHS Staff Council.

What the group does

Advises the Secretary of State on the desirability of changes to NHS Pension Scheme regulations. Members of SAB work in partnership to ensure the scheme remains a valuable part of the NHS reward offer and an effective tool for attraction, reward and retention. 

Why you should get involved

Employer representatives can influence the development of pension scheme policy and stay informed about upcoming developments. 

Who should join

Chief people officers and deputy chief people officers from the NHS and senior pension professionals from non-NHS organisations who employ members of the NHS Pension Scheme (e.g. Universities and local authorities).  

Expectations of this role

You will need an awareness of the pension issues affecting your organisation and a strategic view on how the scheme can support attraction, retention and reward. Detailed technical knowledge is not necessary, as we have expert advisers on hand during meetings and we provide training. You will need to actively contribute to three online meetings and one face to face meeting per year, and may be required to review drafts or provide input on SAB recommendations between meetings.   

SAB member testimonial

"Being an employer representative on SAB has been an invaluable development opportunity. It has enhanced my own expertise, strengthened our organisation's ability to support staff, and enabled us to contribute meaningfully to national discussions that influence the future of the NHS Pension Scheme and the long-term wellbeing of our workforce."

Find out more about the governance of the NHS Pension Scheme.

What the group does

As a subgroup of the Scheme Advisory Board, TAG undertakes detailed analytical work delegated by the board. It reports its findings to the board to support decisions and recommendations. 

Why you should get involved

Employer representatives can use their knowledge and experiences of operating the NHS Pension Scheme to identify practical implications of scheme change for employers and scheme administration, and directly inform the advice considered by the Scheme Advisory Board. 

Who should attend

Colleagues with operational experience of managing NHS pension and reward arrangements. Pension and payroll managers, heads of HR and other reward professionals add valuable insight to discussions. 

Expectations of this role

You will need to attend up to twelve online meetings per year and attend occasional training sessions.  You will be required to share your experience and views to inform the evidence and analysis that is reported back to SAB. 

What the group does

Provides scrutiny and assurance of the administration of the NHS Pension Scheme, ensuring sound governance and improving pension services for employers and members. 

Why you should get involved

Employer representatives can bring practical experience of scheme administration and workforce impacts into assurance discussions.  This is an opportunity to support effective governance and gain insight that can help their organisations manage pension-related issues. 

Who should join

Colleagues who regularly interact with the NHS Pensions service at NHSBSA and can share experiences of operating the scheme locally, as well as those who can give a strategic view on supporting and improving scheme administration.  Heads of Pensions, Chief People Officers and pension professionals from organisations outside the NHS who employ members of the scheme can all add value to the discussions. 

Expectations of this role

You will need to scrutinise the performance of the scheme administrators and provide respectful challenge and suggestions for improvement where needed.  You will need to attend quarterly meetings which normally take place in London. 

What the group does

Brings together senior workforce leaders with employer and trade union representatives to discuss and influence national workforce policy. The group also encourages employers and trade unions locally to work together to ensure a positive working environment where staff can provide high-quality care and services.  

Why you should get involved 

Employer representatives can contribute to solutions that improve staff experience, gain insight into emerging issues and share learning from their organisations. Members help shape national workforce policy while hearing perspectives from government and trade union partners.

Who should join

Chief people officers who can represent employer perspectives and contribute to national workforce discussions through partnership working. We seek a balance of members from different regions and organisation types to ensure a broad range of NHS employer views are represented.

Expectations of the role

What the group does

Sets the policy direction for NHS Employers, provides guidance on the delivery of our work programmes and informs evidence submitted to the pay review bodies and consultation responses. 

Why you should get involved

This is an opportunity to shape NHS Employers’ priorities, be an ambassador for our work and help strengthen our voice as the employers’ organisation for the NHS in England.

Who should join

Senior leaders including, chief executives, chief people officers, medical directors, directors of nursing and finance directors. Policy board members are invited by the chief executive of NHS Employers to bring a perspective from a particular work area, profession, organisation, group or network.   

Expectations of this role

Members of our policy board are appointed for a four year term and are expected to bring their views insight and challenge to up to five meetings per year.