NHS People Promise
This is a promise we must all make to each other – to work together to improve the experience of working in the NHS for everyone.
We are compassionate and inclusive
We have listened to the experiences of those who face exclusion and marginalisation, and we know that there is much more to do. We need the NHS to be a place where all are welcome, with a culture of belonging and trust, celebrating diversity in all its forms. We know discrimination, violence and bullying has no place in the NHS, and yet they exist in some places.
If we do not role model this culture ourselves, how can our patients expect to be treated equitably, and as individuals?
We want to support colleagues ongoing development of their knowledge, skills and behaviours that will create and sustain our culture of compassion and inclusion. Our teams and organisations, particularly the senior leadership of the NHS, should actively reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.
Changing healthcare cultures
Our purpose is to create compassionate and inclusive cultures in organisations because delivering high quality care depends on creating positive, inclusive work environments where people want to come to work. Our work is all about building a greater sense of belonging, that is felt by all of our people.
Research shows that the most powerful factor influencing culture is leadership. We partnered with the King’s Fund and the Centre for Creative Leadership to develop practical support and resources to help health and care organisations to improve their culture. This work formed the Culture and Leadership Programme, which is a practical approach to help you understand your current culture, and how collective, compassionate and inclusive leadership within your own organisation can help to improve that culture.
We are recognised and rewarded
The quality of our work – and our collective commitment in line with the four pillars of the People Plan – is being recognised. We must recognise commitment, innovation and passion, and celebrate successes to do things well for #OurNHSPeople. And we want to thank each and every one of you for continuing to demonstrate our values and behaviours.
