Following a review of the current policy, the nursing union has updated its policy in five areas notably in terms of accountability and supporting its members.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has approved a new member resolution and disciplinary policy. This, it says, will enable the RCN to support members who have concerns about the behaviours of others by providing a fair and just process to seek resolution, while addressing poor conduct where needed.
Following the scheduled review of the existing RCN member resolution policy, the world’s largest nursing union and professional body commissioned external consultancy Unheard Voice to invite the views of members to inform an update on the policy. All elected and appointed members, as well as those with experience in the process, were also asked to make submissions to the external review and provision was also made for anonymous submissions.
The review and experience of members looked at five areas of policy development.
First, the experience of members raising complaints or being named in a complaint at the start of the process. Then how can the RCN better support and encourage informal resolution of matters where that is appropriate.
Third the review looked at tightening timeframes and actions within the formal disciplinary investigation and hearing stages.
The review also looked at supporting members throughout the resolution process. And finally, clear lines of accountability for the delivery of the process have been drawn.
