A new job role has been created at Nottingham hospitals in an effort to tackle a 'culture of bullying' which was identified in a report last year. Nottigham University Hospitals (NUH), the trust which runs the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital, is in the process of recruiting a project manager for improving workforce culture.
It follows a damning Care Quality Commission (CQC) report in September last year, which highlighted problems with bullying across the trust, including cases of racial discrimination. One employee told directors of the hospital trust that it was "still happening" at the latest board meeting.
NUH says the new post was created to help with improvements after the report and subsequent staff feedback. As part of its response to the inspection, NUH launched the 'Big Conversation' online scheme to allow staff to offer their input into how the trust could improve.
Read more: Bosses of Nottingham's hospital trust quizzed over response to 'horrendous' culture of bullying
A recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed the two-phase programme has attracted 1,938 unique logins, equating to 11.4 per cent of its total workforce. However the trust says this will be higher due to 'group accounts'.
Of those employees who logged in, 66 per cent made a contribution to the exercise, which was carried out by consultation firm Clever Together at a cost of more than £90,000. The new project manager role is designed to help a culture change ‘journey’ to create a ‘just’ culture, according to the job listing on Indeed.
"We recognise that this will only be achieved when all of our staff are fully engaged, enabled and empowered to excel in their roles and in their teams," it reads. "This requires working within a culture that is intolerant of racism, discrimination, bullying or harassment, and where our values and behaviours are embedded and supported by compassionate management, inclusion, civility and respect."
The full-time role will entail leading a number of projects which are aimed at ensuring a more 'inclusive, open, compassionate and just' environment. Applications have closed for the position.
