NHSScotland 'Once for Scotland' Workforce Policies

Closed 8 Mar 2024

Opened 8 Feb 2024

Contact

ofs.workforcepolicies@gov.scot

Overview

The 'Once for Scotland' Workforce Policies Programme is designed to review and transform existing workforce policies (previously known as Partnership Information Network (PIN) Policies) in line with our vision:

"Once for Scotland' workforce policies will promote NHSScotland as a modern, exemplar employer; showcasing our core values, and promoting consistent employment policy and practice that supports the implementation of the Staff Governance Standard and effective recruitment and retention."

This consultation paper includes the following policies:

  • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Gender-based Violence
  • Facilities Arrangements for Trade Unions and Professional Organisations
  • Personal Development Planning and Performance Review
  • Employment Checks
  • Fixed-Term Contract
  • Secondment
  • Redeployment

Read the consultation paper. The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding.

Useful information about responding to this consultation

As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.

Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.

On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.

After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.

A analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us. You can also join our consulation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).

 

Why your views matter

The consultation follows the regional engagement events pre-policy (January 2020) and mid-policy development (March 2020). Delegates were invited to participate in a follow up survey in the summer of 2021.  This allowed delegates to reflect on what had been said at the mid-policy engagement events and provide an opportunity to add any new perspectives.

The approach, agreed by the Scottish Workforce and Staff Governance (SWAG) Committee, minimises the need for the traditional 2-3 month formal consultation process.

With this new model of engagement, and recognising that these policies have already been agreed in partnership, this consultation will look different from previous consultations.

What is included within the consultation?

The consultation focuses on the 8 refreshed policies.  Each policy includes the following sections:

  • aim
  • scope (who it applies to and what can be raised under the policy)
  • definitions
  • roles and responsibilities
  • procedure

The policy references supporting documents, each with a descriptor on what this entails.  

Please note: supporting documents are not part of the consultation. These will be drafted following the consultation when responses have been analysed and the policy is developed in a final draft.

Standard sections that apply to all policies, for example, principles and values, employee support, roles and responsibilities are available on the NHSScotland Workforce Policies website.

The questions set out in the consultation seek to understand if the refreshed policies reflect our vision for NHSScotland workforce policies, and to identify any gaps in the policies or proposed supporting documents. The consultation also includes an equalities section to gather views on the potential impacts of each policy on protected characteristics equalities groups.

Interests

  • Health and Social Care
  • Main hub