NHS Highland is looking to bring in two independent services to support its staff in the wake of the Sturrock report into bullying in the organisation.
An NHSH spokesman said the services will be “the best in class” and will ensure that we “never again allow the conditions that led to the Sturrock Report to persist unchecked.”
A Guardian, or Speak Up service, such as is used in NHS England, will provide a 24/7 listening ear to concerns raised by staff, which could include whistle blowing, while an employee assistance programme would support staff facing a range of personal challenges.
The group who blew the whistle on bullying at NHSH said they welcomed both staff benefits, which could help regain lost staff confidence.
Sturrock recommended establishing an independent channel for staff concerns.
The idea is that a ‘Guardian’ will listen to such concerns, without overlapping with the NHSH board’s Whistleblowing Champion roles.
The board says the champions will not listen to or action whistleblowing concerns, but give the board ‘oversight and assurances for whistleblowing.”
The Guardian service would provide “a route to discuss work-related concerns and understand how to take them forward within the organisation.”
It would not duplicate any of the champion’s role, the board says.
Dr Iain Kennedy of the whistleblowers group said: “An independent speak up Guardian would be an important way of allowing NHS Highland staff and board members to speak up without fear, and would be a much needed external conscience on our board, which due to the lack of change in personnel since 2017, has yet to gain the confidence of victims.”
The board is also looking at procuring a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) available for staff to access from home or work.
It would offer a range of support and services, including financial, legal and emotional advice or information, and telephone or face-to-face counselling.
The confidential service would also include manager support help lines and critical incident response, along with a range of information and support tools.
EAP services are already deployed across the NHS, including a recently commissioned service in NHS Tayside.
Dr Kennedy said: “Employee assistance programmes are well established features of good occupational health services for many organisations and such a service would be very beneficial to NHS Highland workers.”
Consultation and commissioning of the services is earmarked for March.
Health minister Jeane Freeman is visiting NHS Highland today to discuss the board’s progress in its ‘Culture Fit For The Future’ programme, addressing issues raised in the Sturrock Report.
