NHS to measure trusts on staff wellbeing under new national workforce standards 

The NHS will begin measuring trusts on how well they support staff health and wellbeing under new national workforce standards, marking a significant shift in how employee wellbeing is embedded into organisational performance. 

The standards, published by the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, establish minimum employment expectations across six areas: health and wellbeing, line management, flexible working, violence prevention and reduction, tackling racism, and championing sexual safety. They will apply across secondary care organisations in England and will be monitored through the NHS Oversight Framework, alongside other measures of organisational performance.  

The move affects more than 1.5 million NHS staff and delivers on the government’s commitment in its 10 Year Health Plan to improve staff experience and create healthier workplaces. For the first time, trusts will be formally assessed on workforce experience as part of broader organisational oversight, reinforcing the link between employee wellbeing and service delivery.  

Rather than positioning wellbeing as a standalone initiative, the new standards make it a core organisational responsibility. Employers are expected to provide proactive health and wellbeing support, ensure managers have the skills and time to lead effectively, promote flexible working wherever possible and create workplaces where staff feel safe, respected and supported. 

Alongside the standards, NHS England has launched a new Leadership and Management Framework, with organisations asked to embed both initiatives into recruitment, appraisal, training and people strategies. Leaders and managers will complete self-assessments against the framework, with boards expected to monitor progress and identify development needs.  

The standards were developed collaboratively by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, employers, trade unions and staff representatives through the Social Partnership Forum. According to NHS England, they are intended to provide a consistent, measurable framework for improving staff experience while complementing existing initiatives such as the NHS People Promise.  

The six workforce priorities reflect issues staff have consistently identified as having the greatest impact on their working lives. Alongside supporting physical and mental wellbeing, the standards seek to improve the quality of line management, encourage flexible working, tackle racism, reduce violence towards staff and strengthen sexual safety in the workplace.  

For employers beyond the NHS, the announcement represents a broader shift in how workforce health is viewed. Rather than treating wellbeing as a discretionary benefit, the NHS is embedding it within organisational accountability and leadership expectations. As employers across sectors continue to respond to rising levels of long-term sickness, workforce participation challenges and growing expectations around employee experience, the new standards reinforce the principle that healthier workplaces are increasingly being recognised as a key driver of organisational performance, retention and productivity.