New framework to support fair and proportionate approaches to concerns about a practitioner’s performance
Today (16 January), NHS Resolution, in collaboration with NHS England's professional standards team, has launched a new framework to promote fairness, proportionality, and consistency in decision-making when managing performance concerns for all practitioners.
It has been widely reported how different practitioner groups can be disproportionately impacted by the application of local and national policies, processes and Regulations applied in the management of performance concerns and this framework is intended to help employers address this.
The Principles and Framework for Fairness and Proportionality is intended to support fair and proportionate approaches to concerns about a practitioner's performance leaving more practitioners feeling that performance concerns were handled fairly and ultimately helping to deliver safe and effective patient care.
The framework seeks to address five key areas in case management:
- ensuring welfare and support
- understanding the issues
- ensuring the practitioner is heard
- adherence to process
- equity and proportionality.
This work supports the NHS People Plan's ambition for more people to work in a compassionate and inclusive culture.
The development of the framework was a collaborative effort by a working group consisting of experienced members from NHS England and NHS Resolution. These members brought their extensive experience in managing and presenting cases within the NHS, representing practitioners, and providing independent expert advice.
