New Listening and Learning colleague survey results show NHS Highland moving in the right direction – it was designed to track the experience of working at NHS Highland and Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership
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NHS Highland has today shared the results of its first Listening and Learning colleague survey.
It was designed to track the experience of working at NHS Highland and Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership.
The results show that the organisation is moving in the right direction.
A total of 41 per cent of staff completed the anonymous survey and their responses revealed teams that know what they are doing and do it well.
In addition they were supporting each other and looking after each other’s wellbeing.
People also felt able to be themselves at work and many commented on the support of their local managers – there was a sense of positive change underway.
The results also showed that the organisation needed to do more to improve the visibility of senior leadership, and to increase understanding of its vision and priorities.
There was a need to improve internal communication and engagement, particularly when changes are suggested. And they needed to help people to access development, and to navigate its systems and processes.
Since the Sturrock report, NHS Highland has focussed on preventing bullying, with a culture change programme that has launched the Healing Process, independent speak up Guardian Service, and training in Courageous Conversations.
To track progress, two questions on bullying and harassment were included in the survey. The responses showed that experiences of bullying and harassment have reduced with 38 per cent of respondents reporting having experienced this at some point in their employment, but 233 colleagues who responded stated that it was still ongoing, which NHS Highland takes very seriously.
The culture change programme continues, with leadership and communications training soon to be rolled out, as well as values-based facilitated team workshops. In direct response to the survey, executive and non-executive directors will be increasing their in-person visits to colleague locations across the area to listen and learn about local experiences.
More and clearer information about NHS Highland structures and strategy will be shared with colleagues. Local improvements, such as to IT and facilities, will also be prioritised. NHS Highland will also invite a random selection of colleagues to join Listening and Learning Panels, to input to future priorities.
Chief executive Pamela Dudek said: “Everyone deserves to feel safe and valued at work. While I am glad that experiences of working at NHS Highland are improving, it is clear we still have more to do. I would like to thank the 4,234 colleagues who shared their feedback.
"We will continue to act on that feedback, demonstrate progress with this and to encourage more colleagues to take part in future opportunities to shape the direction of the organisation.”
Director for people and culture, Fiona Hogg, added: “We are the first NHS Board in Scotland to undertake such a detailed examination of staff experience, and the results give us a lot of data to inform improvements. We’ll continue to learn from our people and track progress, to make sure we are doing all we can to be a great place to work.”
