NHSScotland 'Once for Scotland' workforce policies - Supporting the Work-Life Balance consultation

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 focuses on Supporting the Work-Life Balance. It includes:

• Flexible Work Pattern Policy [covering previous Model Flexible Working Policy, Model Job-share Policy, Model Reduced Working Year Policy and Model Annualised Hours Policy]
• Retirement Policy [incorporating the NHSScotland Interim National Arrangement on Retire and Return]
• Career Break Policy
• Special Leave Policy
• Maternity Policy [previously known as the Model Maternity Leave Policy]
• New Parent Support Policy [previously known as the Maternity Support (Paternity) Leave Policy]
• Shared Maternity and Shared Adoption Policy [previously known as the Model Shared Parental Leave Policy]
• Parental Leave Policy
• Breastfeeding Policy
• Adoption, Fostering and Kinship Policy [previously known as the Model Adoption Leave and Fostering Policy]

Read the consultation paper

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 perpectives.

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 Supporting the Work-Life Balance suite of 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.