Wednesday 31st March 2021. Despite well documented evidence that an open and transparent culture leads to a healthier, happier and more productive workforce, recent Say So research reveals care sector providers are continuing to resist developing a truly transparent organisation, much to the frustration of their staff.
The Say So research exposes a deep divide between the workforce and owners in the care sector when it comes to the reporting and management of issues and concerns. The data findings show at least 50% of employees are unhappy about current reporting systems and the management of reported issues, with 25% of staff not comfortable to report concerns at all. However, 100% of owners felt the systems they had in place were adequate*.
Delving a bit deeper into the research exposes more about this divide between staff and owners. Staff indicated the most important outcome to them when reporting concerns is to resolve the issue, with keeping their job a close second. This shows a genuine wish from staff that issues are resolved, but an insecurity that doing so could see them lose their job.
Paul Adams co-founder and director at Say So commented, “I cannot understand why leaders in the care sector are resistant to being more open and transparent. Every organisation has issues, whether they acknowledge it or not. You need to get in early with a plan to deal with concerns. Having an infrastructure of a speak up policy is key to support the individual who is brave enough to raise issues, because they need to feel safe and confident they will be listened to.”
One solution is for care providers to be brave and put an impartial third-party reporting system in place to reassure employees and give them the confidence to speak up. At the same time this will help owners ensure they have the right systems and procedures in place to manage and investigate issues, before they escalate into potentially damaging situations.
This also provides evidence to key stakeholders and inspectors that care providers have good governance and are trying to go the extra mile to support staff and create a positive workplace culture that removes patterns of behaviour that are negative.
For more information, please contact Paul Adams, paul@say-so.co.uk
About Say So Ltd
Say So provides a trusted and impartial facility for reporting workplace concerns. Say So works alongside its clients to help them reduce risks, improve standards and create a better working environment.
*The research was based on 180 respondents across the care sector in the UK.
