Improving Working Lives

Mission Statement

‘Worklife balance for everyone’

IWL is the National Audit instrument that every NHS Trust in England and Wales is encouraged to attain in 2005 and develop in future years as accepted working practices.

It challenges NHS employers to prove that they are making a significant difference to the working lives of staff in all staff groups.

It has already been established in a number of reports that good working practices in NHS Organisations has a positive impact on the patient care that we deliver.

Birmingham Women's Hospital strives for all staff to have access to the benefits of good working practices.

• As a trust we need to work together to demonstrate the following practices:
• Access to child and carer support,
• Development opportunities,
• Flexible working arrangements,
• Staff feeling safe and supported
• Managers having a true understanding around Equality and Diversity.

IWL is an integral part of Organisational Development within the Trust and will be led through working in partnership with representatives from Trust Board, Operational Managers, the Human Resource Department and Staff Side organisations.

In order to succeed and make Birmingham Women's Healthcare NHS Trust a model employer where all our staff feel valued, it is necessary that everyone has the opportunity to contribute whether it be managers assessing current working practices or staff having a place to voice their opinions, IWL  is everyone's business.

The seven IWL areas of good practice

• Human Resources Strategy and management
• Equality and Diversity
• Staff involvement and Communication
• Flexible working
• Healthy Work Place
• Training and Development
• Flexible Retirement, childcare and support for carers

This page was last modified on Fri May 07 2010