3 Changing times — changing us?
Matter for discussion submitted by the RCN West Midlands Board
That this meeting of RCN Congress considers the challenges of the rapidly changing health and social care environment and how it impacts on where and how RCN members are employed
- Work lead by the Membership, Representation and Diversity Committee
- Lead RCN Council member: Yvonne Dyer
Over the past 12 months, the Employment Relations Department has appointed an employment relations adviser for non-NHS employers, to ensure support for independent sector members. As well as representing the RCN on negotiating bodies of national and UK health organisations in the independent sector, the adviser facilitates representative recruitment; organises the involvement of representatives and officers in negotiating and consultation activity and co-ordinates information sharing across the RCN (both officers and activists).
The NHS Social Partnership Forum created a sub-group to develop a human resources (HR) framework and employment passport for staff delivering NHS services through contracted independent sector providers. The RCN has a seat on this sub-group and is promoting Agenda for Change pay and the NHS pension as a minimum standard. The RCN has also lobbied key politicians and stakeholders seeking their support for the HR framework and employment passport.
An Employment Relations Department conference on non-NHS activity and issues was held for RCN officers on 12 February 2008, and a corporate presentation on health and social care reform — developed for English Boards — has been delivered throughout 2007/2008.
Additionally, the RCN has ensured that the independent sector is included in our work to promote effective workforce planning.