NHS England and NHS Improvement has published its first plan for the development of the estates and facilities workforce across the NHS in England. The action plan sets out how the ambitions of the NHS People Plan and NHS People Promise for EFM staff will be fulfilled. It's a 10-year plan with a focus on immediate priorities outlined in the 2022/23 operational planning guidance.
The Foreword to the Workforce Action Plan, signed by Simon Corben, Director of Estates and Head of Profession for the NHS and Em Wilkinson-Brice, Acting Chief People Officer for the NHS, states: "Our vision is to inspire a generation to join our team so that together we redefine the industry standard for estates and facilities, while continually improving healthcare experiences for our patients."
The Workforce Action Plan sets out four EFM priorities, which align with People Plan Themes and details nine key actions through which it aims to achieve those objectives. For the full detail under these actions, please refer to the Workforce Action Plan here.
• Boost wellbeing and improve the work environment
• Make NHS EFM an inclusive place to work
• Create new career pathways
• Future-proof our skills
• Embed data-driven decision-making
• Develop our managers
• Recruit the best talent
• Be the UK's EFM employer of choice
• Invest in what matters to our people
The EFM Workforce Action Plan is a call to action from the EFM community. Whilst accountability for the actions outlined in the plan is broad, NHS EFM teams at all levels will be expected to work together and with other professions, to deliver its ambitions for those who work in and use NHS services.
NHS England is also developing a NHS Workforce Plan that aims to put the workforce on a sustainable footing for the long-term.
