Leading the way. Improving working lives.

Health and wellbeing is, of course, something the NHS knows all about. But we don't just look after the people who use our service. We're equally committed to taking care of our people within the NHS, and no one is doing more to lead the achievement of a healthy work/life balance for the benefit of all.

And we don't work in isolation to ensure the well being of our staff. NHS Employers represents trusts in England on workforce issues and helps employers to ensure the NHS is a place where people want to work. They also work in partnership with programmes and initiatives such as Investors in People (IIP) and their 'Health and Well-being at Work' framework, the Department of Health's 'Health, Work and Well-being' strategy, and the Positively Diverse programme.

In 2000 we launched the Improving Working Lives (IWL) standard, which has since become a cornerstone of our work on becoming a healthy employer. Its effectiveness is recognised by regulatory bodies that use its standards to assess organisations. Plus, it has enabled NHS organisations to deliver their commitment to staff by offering employment practices such as:

• flexible working (including options for flexible retirement)
• valuing equality and diversity
• access to childcare and carer support
• tackling discrimination, harassment and bullying in the workplace
• training and development
• health in work
• staff involvement and communication

The IWL initiative has also prompted the NHS to invest considerably in improving work/life balance.