Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Action plan 2026 to 2027

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Planned actions
  3. Embedded actions
  4. About Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

1. Introduction

What is an action plan?

Employers with 250 or more employees can produce and publish a voluntary action plan alongside their gender pay gap data. Their action plan shows the steps they are taking to address their gender pay gap and support employees experiencing menopause. Subject to legislation, these will be mandatory from spring 2027.

To create their action plan, the employer reviews a list of evidence-informed actions recommended by the government. They identify any that are already an established part of their working practice (‘embedded actions’), and choose at least 2 new actions to focus on (‘planned actions’).

You can see the full list of actions (opens in a new window) and guidance for employers on creating an action plan (opens in a new window).

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust submitted the following supporting narrative with their action plan:

The Trust became part of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS FT in April 2026, as part of this joint gender pay gap and menopause action plans were agreed, and these are monitored through governance structures, with senior leaders and Board accountable for progress. This ensures these actions are embedded, reviewed, challenged, and supported.

In 2026 the Trust achieved Menopause Friendly accreditation, and was shortlisted for most open culture in the annual Menopause Friendly Awards.

Read Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s equality policies or strategy (opens their website in a new window)

2. Planned actions

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has committed to working on these actions in the 2026 to 2027 reporting year:

Encourage employee development through actionable steps

About this action (Encourage employee development through actionable steps)
Giving all employees clear and actionable advice on how to develop may benefit organisations with low rates of progression and retention for women.
Read more about the action: Encourage employee development through actionable steps (opens in a new window)

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

In 2026/27 gender pay gap action plan the Trust has committed to:

- Reviewing gender representation in senior leadership

- Updating equality analysis for senior leader recruitment pathway

- Developing female leadership pipeline, aligned to NHS Leadership and Management Framework

- Developing clear career pathways in specific staff groups

Increase transparency for pay, promotion and rewards

About this action (Increase transparency for pay, promotion and rewards)
Transparency in pay, promotion, and bonus policies helps ensure everyone understands how decisions are made.
Read more about the action: Increase transparency for pay, promotion and rewards (opens in a new window)

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

In 2026/27 we are establishing quarterly gender pay gap review meetings, following similar governance for race and disability equality reporting.

This is supported through the use of the EDI dashboard that allows monitoring of gender outcomes in representation, recruitment, leavers etc.

Make job descriptions inclusive

About this action (Make job descriptions inclusive)
Inclusive job descriptions can attract diverse talent by using neutral language, listing only essential requirements, and highlighting equal opportunities.
Read more about the action: Make job descriptions inclusive (opens in a new window)

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

As part of NHS requirements all AfC Band 5 nursing and midwifery job descriptions are undergoing evaluation. The final deadline date for completion of the work is October 2028. The work is aligned to that for Annex 31 also.

Train managers to support employees experiencing menopause

About this action (Train managers to support employees experiencing menopause)
Manager training can help organisations support employees experiencing menopause.
Read more about the action: Train managers to support employees experiencing menopause (opens in a new window)

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

Menopause awareness training has been developed and is being offered for all staff to access as an online or face to face session.

This is supported through ongoing communications, including lived experience messages to promote awareness across the workforce.

Offer workplace adjustments to employees experiencing menopause

About this action (Offer workplace adjustments to employees experiencing menopause)
Personalised workplace adjustments for employees experiencing menopause can support their wellbeing and ability to work.
Read more about the action: Offer workplace adjustments to employees experiencing menopause (opens in a new window)

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

Workplace is already supported, to improve this the Trust is creating a new pathway for workplace and wellbeing support, this includes reasonable adjustments, and support for menopause and for unpaid carers.

3. Embedded actions

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has indicated that the following actions are already an established part of their working practice.

Advertise flexible working arrangements in job adverts

About this action (Advertise flexible working arrangements in job adverts)
Flexible working policies can aid work-life balance, especially for people with caring roles. Advertising flexibility can attract a wider, more diverse group of applicants.
Read more about the action: Advertise flexible working arrangements in job adverts (opens in a new window)

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

Standard text within every advert includes the sentence 'We support a flexible first approach and welcome applications from those who like to work flexibly.'

Making Flex Work - #MyFlex is the Trust commitment to staff, with a day one right to request flexible working. This includes staff and manager guidance, comms, and request forms.

Enhance and promote flexible working and leave policies

About this action (Enhance and promote flexible working and leave policies)
Enhance and promote leave policies and flexible working so employees know their entitlements and how to use them.
Read more about the action: Enhance and promote flexible working and leave policies (opens in a new window)

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

Making Flexible Work - MyFlex is the Trust approach to flexible working, with national recognition of the positive impact of flexible working in clinical services on staff and patients.

2026/27 is focusing on further communicating offers, and monitoring requests and outcomes.

Use fair and structured interview techniques

About this action (Use fair and structured interview techniques)
Structured interviews support fair, objective hiring. Standardised questions and scoring helps reduce bias and promotes equal opportunity.
Read more about the action: Use fair and structured interview techniques (opens in a new window)

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

All recruiting managers complete training, and recruitment is aligned to policy and process that has been equality assessed for equity.

Refreshed equality review of processes is identified as an action for 2026/27.

Offer occupational health advice to employees experiencing menopause

About this action (Offer occupational health advice to employees experiencing menopause)
Giving employees specialised occupational health advice can help them manage menopause symptoms, get support and work more comfortably.
Read more about the action: Offer occupational health advice to employees experiencing menopause (opens in a new window)

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

OH services are available within the Trust, with established processes for staff and manager referrals.

Set up menopause support groups and networks

About this action (Set up menopause support groups and networks)
Menopause support groups in your organisation can help provide peer support, information and guidance.
Read more about the action: Set up menopause support groups and networks (opens in a new window)

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

The Trust has monthly Women's Staff Network meetings, and Menopause Cafes. These are a mix of online and face to face events to support as wide a reach of engagement and support as possible.

The Trust has a standard operating procedure for staff networks, and regular support is provided from teams across the Trust including communications, women's health clinical services, staff side, and others.

The Networks have joint Chairs, and an active executive sponsor.

Review policies and procedures to meet the needs of employees experiencing menopause

About this action (Review policies and procedures to meet the needs of employees experiencing menopause)
Ensure your organisation’s policies align with the needs of employees experiencing menopause by reviewing your policies and procedures.
Read more about the action: Review policies and procedures to meet the needs of employees experiencing menopause (opens in a new window)

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:

The Trust has a Let's Talk About Menopause intranet page that hosts guidance and resources, training offers, and news updates.

All Trust policies, both new and reviewed, must have an equality and health inequalities assessment, and sign off includes review by the culture and inclusion team, who lead on menopause work.

4. About Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Registered address
Bevan House, 17 Beecham Court, Wigan, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, WN3 6PR
Sector
Human health and social work activities, Public sector