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Background to Improving Working Lives

  • Last modified date:
    1 July 2004

The Improving Working Lives Standard sets a model of good HR practice against which NHS Employers and their staff can measure the organisation's HR management and against which NHS employers will be kite-marked. NHS organisations will be required to achieve accreditation against the Standard by April 2003, demonstrating they are improving the working lives of staff.

Achievement of the Improving Working Lives is staged:

Stage One - Pledge

All NHS organisations to make a public commitment, by having the policies, practices and people in place to achieve accreditation by April 2001. All NHS Trusts have reached this target as well as all Health Authorities.

Stage Two - Practice

Organisations were required to provide a portfolio of evidence over a wide range of policies and procedures that improve the working lives of staff and be at Practice status by April 2003.  This stage does allow for some leeway, and organisations can be accredited even if they do not have these policies and procedures in place for all staff, as long as they have a time limited action plan to deliver to all staff.

Stage Three - Practice Plus

Means achievement in all staff groups across the whole organisation and is awarded once all the gaps have been remedied. All organisations are required to meet Practice Plus status by 31st March 2006

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