- Further concerns raised about behaviour of managers at West Suffolk FT
- Workforce chief said managers were trying to identify staff who had spoken up
- CEO says matter being taken seriously but warned culture change ‘takes time’
Fresh concerns have been raised about the treatment of whistleblowers by managers at a trust recently embroiled in a high-profile bullying scandal, the hospital’s workforce director has disclosed.
A series of further accusations have been made against managers at West Suffolk Foundation Trust, where executives were recently judged to have led an “intimidating, flawed” hunt for a whistleblower, prompting a series of high-profile departures.
The trust’s executive director for workforce detailed in a paper for the hospital’s July board meeting how managers had been hunting to identify staff who had raised concerns through supposedly confidential channels.
This included one staff member who said they had been “told off” by their manager for “going [above] their heads”, while others reported being put under pressure by managers to say what they had been “speaking up” about.
The report, by executive director of workforce and communications, Jeremy Over, said: “Feedback has been given indicating that some people have had a poor experience when speaking up.
“In two separate cases, where people spoke up in confidence, it was reported that the managers were then asking and wishing to find out who had spoken up making the individuals very uncomfortable.
“Another case reported that the individual was ‘told off’ by their manager for ‘going about their heads’ [sic] and another where staff felt discouraged from raising any points or suggestions as these were taken [as] a personal offence [by] the senior staff. In a further case, the person speaking up was criticised [for] doing so.”
These new allegations follow a review published in December, which concluded an investigation by trust leaders to uncover the identity of the author of an anonymous letter sent to a patient’s family was “not fit for purpose… impractical and unwise”.
The scandal, which only came to light after staff raised the issue in the media, prompted several board members, including the chief executive and chair, to step down.
CEO: ‘Culture change takes time’
A source at the trust familiar with the previous investigation, and who has been highly critical of the previous chief executive and board, told HSJ interim chief executive Craig Black has been leading a genuine effort to improve the trust’s culture.
In response to the allegations, Mr Black told HSJ in a statement the trust board was taking the matter seriously. He said he accepted the trust “had more to do” but cautioned “a change in culture takes time and must be supported by openness and transparency”.
He added: “It is vitally important our staff feel confident to speak up about any aspect of work that is concerning them, and we support staff to listen up – with openness and in a non-defensive manner – to ensure all voices are heard.
“Our freedom to speak up guardian and our team of champions are doing great work in support of this goal.
“However, we have more to do; a change in culture takes time and must be supported by openness and transparency.
“Having our freedom to speak up guardian regularly publish and discuss all findings in our public board is evidence that we are taking this seriously, considering issues in depth and wanting to make speaking up business as usual.”
The trust declined to comment on what level of seniority the managers were or what action had been taken against them.
Source date
July 2022
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