Shared governance and professional decision-making approaches enable staff to come together in a collaborative way to discuss and collaborate on what matters to them and the communities they serve.

Offering an evidence-based approach, it offers a way to flatten traditional leadership hierarchies and enables teams to develop collective leadership across their organisations. Working in this way has been shown to improve working environments for staff, supports innovation, drives quality and service improvements that deliver better outcomes and experiences for patients and communities. Supporting local expert led decision-making, whole system working innovation at all levels, shared governance and professional decision-making approaches ensure all staff have a voice that is listened to and valued.

Whether involving decisions that affect the day-to-day work of teams or those concerning communities, organisations or professions; by coming together in this way and underpinned by the relevant evidence-base this provides staff with a strong collective professional voice. A voice which supports the pursuit of excellence within care, within professions and across organisations and systems.

Inspired by the important work and improvement being delivered at the point of care through SPDM, many councils are emerging at regional and system levels – including within social care organisations. From 2020, at a national level, the establishment of a whole family of shared professional decision-making councils demonstrates The Chief Nursing Officer for England’s commitment to this way of working.

To learn more about shared governance and professional decision-making or to connect with colleagues from across health and care to share resources and learning, you can join the virtual Shared Professional Decision-Making Community (FutureNHS login required).

Alternatively for more information please contact the CNO Policy and Strategy Unit at england.nursingpolicystrategy@nhs.net.