The Staff Recognition Framework provides guiding principles for health and care leaders and managers to implement best practice approaches to staff recognition. It is intended to support health and care leaders and managers with improving their understanding of and approaches to staff recognition. In doing so, we can ensure that, as the NHS People Promise says, ‘we are recognised and rewarded’, and that we are delivering the retention aims of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.

It provides simple, easy-to-follow guidance and ideas for organisations to inform their own strategies and approaches so that unwanted variation in recognition approaches across organisations can be minimised. It encourages embedding meaningful praise in everyday interactions, underpinned by organisational values. The overall aim is to ensure staff feel valued and are appreciated for their contribution and dedication at work.

Analysis of recent NHS staff survey and Pulse Survey responses shows colleagues would like more informal acknowledgment, thanks and support from management.

This framework provides evidence-based guidance on how leaders and managers can implement recognition approaches within their organisation. It focuses on staff-led and informal approaches to recognition; for instance, embedding meaningful praise in everyday interactions, underpinned by organisational values. The overall aim is to enable organisations to embed a culture of meaningful recognition and ensure staff feel valued and are appreciated for their contribution and dedication at work.