Why we’re showing unacceptable behaviour the red card

By Mairead McCormick, Chief Executive, KCHFT. 

Everyone who comes to our services deserves safe, compassionate care and every colleague at KCHFT deserves to feel safe while they work.

Sadly, a small number of incidents each year threaten that safety. Last year more than 15 per cent of our staff experienced abuse, harassment or bullying from patients and more than five per cent experienced physical violence. More than a third of those affected did not feel able to report it. This is unacceptable and we must do more to protect our people.

That is why we have introduced a managing unacceptable behaviour policy. This policy makes clear that while we will always do our best to provide care to those who need it, threatening or harmful behaviour towards our staff, patients or visitors will not be tolerated. It is part of our wider commitment to creating a culture of wellbeing and to meeting our legal duty to provide a safe working environment.

The policy sets out how we will respond to behaviours such as violence, threats, harassment, discriminatory remarks, offensive sexual behaviour, intimidation, possession of weapons, substance misuse and other actions that interfere with care.

It also introduces a clear and fair process to manage incidents including verbal warnings and behaviour agreements for early intervention, yellow cards for repeated or serious behaviour and red cards for the most severe cases which may result in withdrawal of care or exclusion from our premises. Decisions will be reviewed by a new behaviour sanctions panel made up of senior colleagues in a variety of areas.

We recognise some behaviour may be linked to a person’s health condition or capacity. Our policy makes sure these factors are considered carefully and that decisions are made with compassion and fairness. I want to make it explicit that  compassion and fairness has equal meaningfulness for our staff as it does for patients which is why this policy supports us getting the balance right. Where care must continue, we will work to find alternative arrangements.

This policy supports safety for patients and equally for staff as one is dependent on the other.

Thank you for supporting us in creating a safe and respectful environment for everyone.