HOSPEEM-EPSU Framework of Actions “Recruitment and retention”

HOSPEEM and EPSU signed the updated Framework of Actions on Recruitment and Retention (FoA R&R) on 31 May 2022 (Read Press Release). The initial Framework of Actions was adopted on 17 December 2010. Following a first implementation report in 2016, social partners have been negotiating an updated version of the Framework of Actions between 2021 and 2022.

Staff recruitment and retention are key issues in hospitals and healthcare. This agreement constitutes an important basis for social partners at European and national level to develop concrete action to tackle staff shortages and qualification needs now and in the future.

The key topics of the framework of actions are:

  • supporting the recruitment and retention of workers;
  • improving work organisation;
  • developing and implementing workforce-planning mechanisms;
  • encouraging diversity and gender equality in the health workforce;
  • promoting initial training, lifelong learning and continuous professional development;
  • achieving the safest possible working environment.

Donwload the 2022 updated framework of actions: EN
Download the 2010 framework of actions: ENFRDE, ES, SV, BG, CZ, FIN, IT, PL

A first implementation report was published in 2016: EN

Several presentations were given in 2014 about the actions taken by social partners in the following countries:

Mechanisms to access the labour market: jobs for the future and generation contract (Les dispositifs d’insertion: les emplois d’avenir et le contrat de génération), Olga Ville and Sylvie Amzaleg FEHAP / HOSPEEM France, 1 October 2014
The response of NHS Employers to current retention challenges faced by NHS England, Steven Weeks, NHS Employers / HOSPEEM UK, 1 October 2014
The recent challenges for the recruitment and retention of workers in the hospital sector in Italy and the response of the Italian government, Marta Branca and Elvira Gentile, ARAN / HOSPEEM Italy, 1 October 2014
Challenges in the leadership in health and social sector, Kirsi Sillanpää, Tehy / EPSU Finland, 1 October 2014
Austrian joint contribution on follow-up to HOSPEEM-EPSU Framework of Actions, Ulrike Neuhauser, KAV / HOSPEEM Austria, Karl Preterebner and Willibald Steinkellner, GdG-KMSfB and Vida / EPSU Austria, 1 October 2014
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for nurses and midwives in Cyprus, Zoyia Antoniou, PASYDY / EPSU Cyprus, 25 June, 2014

Further material and information provided by HOSPEEM member:

NHS:

Recruitment of young people via employment programmes
Retaining staff through good employment practices
Apprenticeship and traineeship programmes
Ageing workforce
“Nurse Back to Practice” programme
Social partnership forum
(Data on trends staff numbers in the NHS can be found via the Health and Social Care Information Centre monthly statistics)

CLAE:
Longer careers with the job life cycle model – guide to designing an age plan

*** Read 2022 Press Release – Read 2010 Press release ***

Unions and Employers discuss European Health Data Space with a representative of the European Commission

On February 3, 2022, EPSU and HOSPEEM jointly organised an online informative session on the European Health Data Space (EHDS), with the purpose of providing a space  for the exchange of information between the European Commission (EC) and social partners in the healthcare sector. The aim of the meeting was to give the EC the platform to introduce the topic and discuss what implications the EHDS will have for health workers and the health sector.

The session started with a brief introduction by Jan-Willem Goudriaan, EPSU General Secretary, who welcomed expert Barbara Susec from ver.di, experts from HOSPEEM. and Hugo van Haastert, of DG Sante. (Unit B.3, European Reference Networks and Digital Health). He presented the initiative and stressed that the framework of the EHDS should serve the public and strengthen the quality of care.

Hugo van Haastert also  explained the legal proposal EC  has been working on and provided  insight into the existing European data infrastructure. He highlighted the role of the EHDS to simplify and connect primary and secondary health data to make them more accessible for workers and patients.

The presentation was followed by a discussion, in which data protection and the importance of equal access to data and digitisation, also via targeted training tools, were highlighted. Participants also emphasised that the role and involvement of health care workers within the framework of the EHDS should be more accentuated.

The session was concluded by Marta Branca, HOSPEEM General Secretary, who stressed the relevance of the informative session in the framework of the the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee and thanked the organisers and participants for their input.

Download the European Commission’s presentation (.pdf)

EPSU also published an article on this topic

Webinar 5: Protection and compensation of victims of violence or harassment

The webinar is the fifth of a series of events as part of our joint project with EPSU, CEMR, CESI, ETUCE, EUPAE, ETF, UITP, and ETNO on the role of social partners in preventing third-party violence and harassment at workIt took place on Friday 4 March 2022– 10:00-12:30 CET.

Draft Agenda (As of 11th February)

Presentations

Zoom recording

TPV – Webinar 5: Protection and compensation of victims of violence or harassment, 4 March 2022 – YouTube

Report

Report of the Webinar 5 – 4 March 2022

Interpretation was provided in: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Bulgarian and Hungarian

EPSU also set up a page with the project-related information.

This project has received financial support from the European Union

Webinar 4: Digitalisation and third-party violence and harassment: challenges and risks

The webinar is the fourth of a series of events as part of our joint project with EPSU, CEMR, CESI, ETUCE, EUPAE, ETF, UITP, and ETNO on the role of social partners in preventing third-party violence and harassment at workIt took place on Thursday, 16 December 2021 – 10:00-12:30 CET.

The webinar explored the connections between digitalisation and third-party violence and harassment and aims to answer questions, including:

•           Does digitalisation or how it is implemented increase or decrease the risks of TPV?

•           How widespread is cyberviolence/harassment/bullying at work?

The project will examine and discuss the prevalence, causes and impact of third-party violence and harassment at work in the partners’ respective sectors and recent legislative and social partners’ responses to this major health and safety matter of common concern. It will aim to assess the application at the national level of 2010 Multi-sectoral Guidelines to tackle third-party violence and harassment related to work and whether further actions might be needed to make its implementation more effective.

The project will focus on the following sectors: hospitals, prison services, employment services, front line workers in local and regional government, secondary schools, urban public transport as well as telecoms.

Interpretation was be provided to and from English, French, Hungarian, Italian and Spanish.

Agenda and report

Draft agenda (as of 02 December 2021)

Report Webinar 4

Presentations

Recap of Webinar 3 + Update on TPV survey, with a focus on digitalisation – Jane Pillinger, Project Consultant
Digital violence and harassment – Tim Tregenza, Senior Network Manager, EU OSHA
Upgrading protection against cyberbullying – Mathias Wouters, Postdoctoral researcher, KU Leuven

Zoom recording

EPSU also set up a page for this event

*** Back to the Joint Project Page ***

This project has received financial support from the European Union

Webinar on Partnerships in Digital Skills Development

The HOSPEEM Webinar on “Partnerships in Digital Skills Development” took place online on 17 November 2021, gathering around 40 participants from across Europe, including employers’ organisations, EU institutions and other relevant stakeholders such as academia and healthcare professional organisations.

The Webinar focused on how the management processes and the related use of digital tools have been changing and adapting especially during the COVID-19 crisis. It also analysed the impact of these changes on healthcare professionals and patients.

Examples from the HOSPEEM Membership in Italy, Belgium and United Kingdom were showcased and the Flagship Initiative on Digital Skills for the health and care workforce was presented by Ms Raluca Painter, DG Reform, Head of Unit – Labour market, Education, Health and Social services.

HOSPEEM would like to thank the speakers: Stephanie Devisscher, Dominic Cushnan, Mark Halling-Brown, Giovanni Poggialini and Claudio Sorgi for their insightful contributions and extend a special thanks to Rosie Richards, NHS Assistant Director and Expert of the CPD and LLL HOSPEEM Group, who moderated the event.

Draft agenda (as of 16.11.2021)

Presentations and video

Implementing AI in Hospitals and Trusts in England, Dominic Cushnan, NHS AI Lab, NHSX (UK) and Mark Halling-Brown, Royal Surrey County Hospital (UK)

Covid telemonitoring leading to new ways of collaboration between caregivers, Stephanie Devisscher, Zorgnet-Icuro (BE)

The use of robotic technology as a support to hospital wards – Giovanni Poggialini, ASTT dei Sette Laghi, Varese (IT) – (coming soon)

A new perspective on healthcare professionals’ digital skills: The experience of Marche Regions’ Academy / Watch the video, Claudio Sorgi (IT):

Video – Marche Regions’ Academy in Italy

Webinar 3: Risk assessment, an EU health and safety obligation

The webinar is the third of a series of events as part of our joint project with EPSU, CEMR, CESI, ETUCE, EUPAE, ETF, UITP, and ETNO on the role of social partners in preventing third-party violence and harassment at workIt will take place on Monday, 25 October 2021 – 14:00-16:30 CET.

The webinar aims to understand implementing preventative risk assessment culture regarding third-party violence and harassment at work and provides good practice examples from national social partners.

The project will examine and discuss the prevalence, causes and impact of third-party violence and harassment at work in the partners’ respective sectors and recent legislative and social partners’ responses to this major health and safety matter of common concern. It will aim to assess the application at the national level of 2010 Multi-sectoral Guidelines to tackle third-party violence and harassment related to work and whether further actions might be needed to make its implementation more effective.

The project will focus on the following sectors: hospitals, prison services, employment services, front line workers in local and regional government, secondary schools, urban public transport as well as telecoms.

Interpretation will be provided to and from English, French, Italian and Spanish.

Agenda and report

Draft agenda (as of 04 October 2021)

Report Webinar 3

*** Back to the Joint Project Page ***

This project has received financial support from the European Union

Webinar 2: Gender-based violence and harassment

The webinar was the second of a series of events as part of our joint project with EPSU, CEMR, CESI, ETUCE, EUPAE, ETF, UITP, and ETNO on the role of social partners in preventing third-party violence and harassment at work took place on 24 September 2021 – 14:00-16:30 CET.

The webinar aimed to better understand gender-based violence and its consequences on workers, to discuss prevention and management measures at the workplace while sharing initial views on the potential update of the Guidelines.

The project  examined and discussed the prevalence, causes and impact of third-party violence and harassment at work in the partners’ respective sectors and recent legislative and social partners’ responses to this major health and safety matter of common concern.

It aimed to assess the application at the national level of 2010 Multi-sectoral Guidelines to tackle third-party violence and harassment related to work and whether further actions might be needed to make its implementation more effective.

The project focuses on the following sectors: hospitals, prison services, employment services, front line workers in local and regional government, secondary schools, urban public transport as well as telecoms.

Interpretation was provided to and from English, French, Italian and Spanish.

Presentations

Overview of survey responses and overview of measures against domestic violence at the workplace, Jane Pillinger, Project consultant

Ending violence and harassment in the world of work, ILO Convention 190 and Recommendation 206, presentation by Manuela Tomei, ILO

Agenda and report

Draft agenda (as of 31 August 2021)

Report webinar 2 

Materials

*** Back to the Joint Project Page ***

This project has received financial support from the European Union

Consultations on Micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability and on Individual Learning Account

HOSPEEM responded to the European Commission public consultations on Micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability and on Individual Learning Accounts. HOSPEEM stressed the need for a social partners’ led approach that respect the specificity of national industrial relations systems when defining training schemes and providing new opportunities for employment.

Read HOSPEEM response on Micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability

Read HOSPEEM response on Individual Learning Accounts

In 2022, the Council of the EU adopted two recommendations :

Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability 2022/C 243/02

Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on individual learning accounts 2022/C 243/03

HOSPEEM response to EU4Health related priorities, strategic orientations and needs of 2022

HOSPEEM responded to the targeted stakeholder consultation, which is intended to seek feedback from stakeholders on the priorities and strategic orientations and on the needs to be addressed through EU4Health annual work programmes, particularly focusing on input that could facilitate reflection for the 2022 EU4Health Work Programme and beyond.

HOSPEEM highlighted that the Programme should focus on initiatives facilitating MS to overcome workforce shortages and medical brain drain. While medical deserts are essential to achieve equal access to healthcare, the underlying factors are workforce shortages and brain drain. MS needs to recognise the importance of national self-sufficiency by investing in training, recruitment and retaining the health workforce.

Read the full contribution here