Role & Remit

ROLE

The Management Steering Group (MSG) is a subgroup of Board Chief Executives, bringing together NHS Scotland employers and Scottish Government to discuss workforce issues within NHS Scotland, particularly pay and terms and conditions, workforce-related policies, workforce sustainability and the workforce implications of NHS reform.

MSG manages the relationships and negotiations with Trade Unions and Professional Bodies at both a Scottish and UK level, recognising that leadership on pay and terms and conditions is provided by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care, who ultimately determines pay and terms and conditions of service for all NHS staff in Scotland.

MSG is an important vehicle for developing and maintaining a coherent employer voice through collaboration between NHS Scotland employers and Scottish Government, including in relation to workforce reform. It informs and facilitates discussions and negotiations with Trade Unions through the partnership structures in NHS Scotland, namely the Scottish Health Industrial Relations and Partnership Forum (SHIPf), the Scottish Workforce and Governance Group (SWAG), Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC), the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) (Scotland), the Scottish Negotiating Joint Forum (SNJF) and any formal sub-groups of these fora as appropriate.

REMIT

  1. To provide a forum where workforce policies and practices can be discussed between NHS Scotland employers and Scottish Government; this may also be done by subsets of MSG meeting with Scottish Government on specific issues. 

  2. To provide the employers forum through which workforce reform, and the workforce aspects and implication of wider NHS reform, can be considered and discussed, supporting the development of coherent and collective employer views and approaches in the context of the Scottish Government’s wider plans for reform of NHS Scotland. 

  3. To consider and provide appropriate advice on the workforce and employment implications of any proposed future NHS employer models or arrangements, including the implications for pay, terms and conditions, employment policies, workforce governance, partnership working and associated employment arrangements. 

  4. To act as a conduit for pay and terms and conditions of service and employment matters where a collective perspective is required (e.g. job evaluation); determine recommended approaches and ensure implementation of agreements across NHS Boards and monitor outcomes. 

  5. To participate in pay and terms and conditions negotiations on behalf of NHS Scotland employers, seeking a common employer/Scottish Government position through appropriate advice from employers and research, where appropriate. 

  6. Where employers wish to amend pay and terms and conditions, MSG provides the conduit for proposals to be raised, discussed and agreed on a multi-disciplinary basis across the professions and support staff, to inform negotiations with the Trade Unions.

  7. Where Scottish Government are proposing to amend pay and terms and conditions, MSG ensure that the impact on NHS Scotland employers and resources required are fully understood and inform negotiating positions.
     
  8. To ensure employer input to the partnership structures in NHS Scotland and any subgroups; provide the employer secretariat to the Scottish Terms and Conditions Committee (STAC), the BMA Joint Negotiating Committee (Scotland) and the BDA Scottish Joint Negotiating Forum, as well as Scottish employer input to the UK Staff Council and any subgroups.

  9. To provide agreed employer positions on pay, terms and conditions and employment policies to NHS Boards where concerns arise and interpretation within NHS Boards is at odds with nationally agreed positions, ensuring and maintaining a “Once for Scotland” approach.
      

This remit can be extended, or MSG asked to undertake specific pieces of work by employers (including at sub-national level), Scottish Government or the Cabinet Secretary.

Updated and Approved by MSG (October 2026)