With the help of our professionals, regulatory partners and patient representatives, we’ve identified 10 guiding principles of a good investigation into concerns about a nurse, midwife, or nursing associate’s practice. You might find these useful if you have determined that a formal investigation is necessary.
These principles aren’t meant to tell you how to do an investigation. They’re high level principles for you to consider alongside your own local processes and polices (including any relevant requirements under employment or data protection laws).
Our guiding principles:
- Promote a just culture
- Have clear policies and procedures and follow best practice guidance
- Have a clear plan and terms of reference
- Start as early as possible
- Be objective
- Listen to people who use services and families, keep them informed, and take their information and views into account
- Support staff and encourage openness without blame
- Take equality, diversity and inclusion into account
- Keep records of all evidence and decisions
- Avoid delays and stick to a reasonable timeframe
If you need to refer a concern to us, following these principles will help to make sure that your investigation will give us the information we need to reach a decision more quickly.
It’s important to note that not all concerns about someone’s practice will need to be investigated formally. Your organisation’s processes should determine when to start an investigation. Clear and transparent processes will help make sure that any decision to investigate is fair, proportionate and justified.
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