Back in early March, I stepped into the role of Regional Director for the Northern and Yorkshire & the Humber regions on an interim basis. This follows a temporary reshuffle as Sarah Dodsworth moved to the West Midlands region.

Time has flown by, and this week marks my first 100 days in the role. It’s been a busy and rewarding period, as I’ve worked to step up and respond to the challenges facing our members, the wider nursing workforce, and the profession across both regions and beyond.

Over the past three months, I’ve had the valuable opportunity to meet many of you alongside nurse leaders and non-members in workplaces, at meetings, and of course at Congress. It was a real highlight to connect with so many members, reps, and activists in Liverpool, and to listen to the inspiring contributions from the Congress platform and across numerous learning events.

Among the many standout moments this year was the keynote address from Professor Kevin Fong OBE. His powerful reflections on healthcare leadership and staff wellbeing, particularly the emotional and physical impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing and medical staff, resonated deeply.

Before taking on this interim role, I was Head of Operations for Yorkshire and the Humber, and before that in the Northern region. This continuity has enabled me to maintain a strong focus on supporting our members and workplace reps across NHSE and the ICBs, ensuring they have the guidance, advice and support they need during a period of significant change.

Pay remains a top priority. Following sustained pressure from the RCN for structural reform, the Westminster government announced in February that every Band 5 NHS nursing role in England will be reviewed, ensuring staff are finally paid appropriately for the work they do. Job evaluation has the potential to make a real difference, ensuring members are properly recognised and rewarded for their skill, responsibility and autonomy. Early progress with our Know Your Worth campaign has been encouraging; however, we are unequivocal in our message to trusts that generic Band 5 job descriptions are unacceptable and we will robustly challenge employers who try to use them.

To build momentum, we are planning a series of roadshows to take the campaign directly into workplaces and engage with members across the regions. Nationally, the new Job Evaluation Representative role is also being introduced, strengthening our capacity to drive this important work forward. We also continue to challenge detrimental changes to bank and overtime pay. We are supporting representatives and members to raise concerns, escalate issues where necessary, and hold employers to account when nursing staff are not being fairly valued.

Regardless of where you work or the sector you’re employed in, everyone has felt the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. That’s why we continue to campaign for fair pay for all members. Our NHS pay campaign directly strengthens our efforts on behalf of members working in independent health and social care (IHSC), and we remain committed to supporting members employed by the Care Plus Group and other IHSC employers across both regions.

We are also acutely aware of the challenges facing many students and newly qualified nurses (NQNs). However, one of the most pressing issues remains the shortage of Band 5 posts for NQNs. Nationally, we continue to lobby the Westminster government for credible, long-term workforce solutions and improved workforce planning. Whilst locally we are closely monitoring the availability of Band 5 posts and challenging trusts to ensure newly qualified nurses have fair access to advertised vacancies.

Finally, I was delighted to see RCN Northern take a significant step forward in strengthening staff representation in Cumbria through the formal signing of a recognition agreement with Risedale Nursing Homes. Signed in early June, the agreement gives the RCN the right to represent employees and negotiate on key employment matters, including pay, terms and conditions, health and safety, and organisational change.

My first three months in the role have been incredibly varied and rewarding. I would like to thank everyone for the warm welcome, support and encouragement I have received since stepping into post. I look forward to continuing to work alongside you as we address the challenges facing nursing today and help shape a stronger future for our profession.