HPMA has called for 100 conversations to launch a campaign to prevent harm from disciplinary processes.
With the publication of its new discussion paper: ‘When we do harm’, the Association is encouraging its members to initiate conversations with their HR functions, executive teams and boards. It wants them to consider the avoidable harm that can be caused through employee investigations and how they can address it.
The HPMA is the professional voice of people working in health and care across the UK and the paper is part of its ‘Avoiding Harm’ programme, which is being launched in its 50th year. The programme highlights the damage that can occur, to both employees and organisations, when disciplinary processes are poorly commissioned and managed.
Julie Rogers, chief executive of the HPMA, said, “Our new ‘Avoiding Harm’ programme has been created to help colleagues take a fresh look at how we deliver our policies and our practice as HR professionals. This discussion paper has been produced to help organisations consider the impact of employee investigations and changes that they may need to make.
“Personally, I realise that I’ve made decisions – often driven by the process and training – which failed to consider the person at the heart of the investigation and the impact it could have on colleagues and the wider organisation. I know many of my colleagues feel the same way.
“I hope that our members will use the paper to support conversations within their organisations, as we continue to develop and improve our people practices.”
Andrew Cooper, the paper’s lead author and Head of the Avoidable Employee Harm Programme in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board in NHS Wales, said: “Research that we have undertaken has shown that employee investigations can cause harm to employees being taken through the process, those who lead them and the wider organisation.
“The discussion paper draws on emerging insights and evidence and suggests actions that could improve employee wellbeing at a time when the health and care workforce is under significant pressure. It also shows how that action could contribute to improving organisational culture and reputation and reduce costs at the same time.”
Isobel Clough, editor of the British Journal of Healthcare Management, said: “The journal supports research and ideas for the complex issues faced by the healthcare sector. We are proud to be supporting this work to improve the application of NHS disciplinary processes – particularly following the insights published in the journal that show how harmful these processes can be, to both individuals and organisations. We welcome this paper, as it seeks to support a wider conversation to address these issues.”
The ‘When we do harm’ discussion paper links to research, training and resources which support the ‘Avoiding Harm’ programme. A link to the paper is here:
www.hpma.org.uk/avoiding-harm.
The Avoiding Harm programme and its accompanying ‘When we do harm’ discussion paper is being launched at the HPMA’s annual conference, which is taking place in Belfast on 3-4 October 2024.
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