Darlington Primary Care Trust

The Improving Working Lives (IWL) Standard sets a model of good organisational practice. NHS organisations will be required to achieve Practice Plus accreditation by April 2006, demonstrating they are improving the working lives of staff.

Investing in and valuing staff is now recognised as vital if the health service is to reform to meet rising public expectations. Improving Working Lives is a national initiative, which aims to provide a better deal for everyone working in the NHS. Above all, it's about involving and asking staff for their views and suggestions for improvements - then working with them to put them into practice.

There are three stages to the IWL plan: Pledge, Practice and Practice Plus. The Trust achieved Pledge status in November 2002, then in October 2003 the PCT gained Practice accreditation. This was a crucial landmark for the PCT following the PCT’s creation in April 2002. The achievement of IWL Practice illustrated the progress staff felt the PCT was making in the general management of the organisation. Equally, the culture was moving towards partnership working with staff, involving them in the decisions the organisation made. This was also highlighted with the excellent response rate in the staff survey of 73% in 2003, and increasing to 77% in 2004. Staff believed their views are valued and actions are taken as a result of their responses.