Have clear policies and procedures and follow best practice guidance
Last Updated 02/02/2021
Your organisation’s own policies and procedures should outline how to do a good local investigation into concerns. You may want to review them to make sure there’s a consistent approach that applies to everyone, whenever concerns are raised.
Here’s some best practice guidance that you might want to take into account:
We recognise that both trade unions and professional associations play a vital role in offering local support, representation and guidance to staff.
When concerns arise in relation to a nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s practice, we would encourage you to work with any elected representatives to ensure that staff are fully supported.
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- Last Updated: 02/02/2021
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Managing concerns
- Introduction
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Deciding to make a referral
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Concerns you should refer to us
- Concerns you should refer to us - overview
- Concerns that pose a serious risk to people who use services and would be difficult to put right
- Concerns where local action can’t effectively manage any ongoing risks to people who use services
- Concerns requiring us to take action to protect public confidence in the professions and uphold standards
- Considering evidence of insight and strengthened practice
- Deciding whether to refer concerns related to health
- Ensuring your decisions to refer are fair and unbiased
- Who should approve and make the referral
- How to make a referral
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Concerns you should refer to us
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Referral Scenarios
- 1. Health condition – employer can manage the concerns locally while investigating
- 2. Verbal abuse of patient – employer can manage the concerns locally while investigating
- 3. Alleged theft of medication – employer can manage the concerns locally while investigating
- 4. Alleged unprofessional behaviour: concerns being suitably managed locally
- 5. Concerns about clinical competence – local investigation should conclude before referral
- 6. Concerns about clinical competence – referral should be made before conclusion of local investigation.
- 7. Concerns about putting patients at risk and falsification of records – immediate referral required
- 8. Concerns about physical abuse of patient – immediate referral required
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Conducting a local investigation
- Overview
- Dealing with concerns involving agency staff
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Guiding principles
- Guiding principles - overview
- Promote a just culture
- Have clear policies and procedures and follow best practice guidance
- Have a clear plan and terms of reference
- Start as early as possible
- Be objective
- Listen to people who use services, keep them informed, and take their information and views into account
- Support staff and encourage openness without blame
- Take equality, diversity and inclusion into account
- Keep records of all evidence and decisions
- Avoid delays and stick to a reasonable timeframe
- During your investigation
- Concluding your investigation
- Managing concerns
- Supporting your employees