Jacqui Reid, Director of Human Resources, Organisational Development and Corporate Communications, Mary McAuley, Social Work Learning and Development team, Michelle Morris, Senior Human Resources Manager, Anne O'Reilly, Trust Chair, and Maura Dargan, Executive Director of Social Work and Divisional Director Children and Young People's Service.
The Northern Health and Social Care Trust has again been recognised for the support it provides for staff who are experiencing domestic and/or sexual abuse.
Earlier this month the Trust learned it has successfully renewed its Platinum Workplace Charter Status with Onus. It is the first HSC Trust in the region to have received the accreditation.
It comes as the Trust has been supporting the #16DaysOfAction campaign, shining a spotlight on and raising awareness of domestic and sexual abuse within the wider community.
Jacqui Reid, Director of Human Resources, Organisational Development and Corporate Communications with the Northern Trust, said:
“The fact we have again been awarded Platinum status is testament to a lot of hard work by colleagues to bring this issue into focus and provide invaluable resources for managers and staff across the organisation.
“Earlier this year we developed new guidance for managers to ensure they are better equipped to support colleagues who may be experiencing abuse. We also ran bespoke staff training sessions to help colleagues understand and spot signs of abuse, whether it be in their work environment, or in their personal interactions with friends and loved ones.”
Ms Reid added:
“As one of the largest public sector employers in the area, with over 12,000 members of staff, we can’t ignore the statistics around domestic and sexual abuse, because, sadly, we know it impacts on our own people.
“I’m very proud that we have been recognised by Onus for our work in this area. It’s encouraging to know that we are leading the way and setting a positive example for other organisations.”
The Trust has worked with internal and external stakeholders to refresh its workplace policy on domestic and sexual abuse, developing a support pack for staff and managers to provide practical information and advice for colleagues who are the victims of abuse, and to help signpost them to the right services and agencies.
‘Safe leave’ has also been introduced – special leave which is in addition to an employee’s annual leave allowance, which gives managers discretion to grant leave in special circumstances to support anyone who is in an abusive situation.
“We recognise that it provides an important workplace support to some of the most vulnerable in our society and are pleased to be one of the forerunners championing this approach,” said Ms Reid.
Lindsay Harris from Onus added:
“It has been my pleasure to work with the Northern Trust over the past year as they have developed a new policy and toolkit to support any member of staff who has experienced either domestic or sexual abuse.
“We know that abuse can happen to anyone, but research has highlighted that experience of domestic abuse is higher amongst health care professionals than in the general population and there is a need for informed and compassionate workplace responses.
“The Northern Trust is leading the way as the only Trust to date accredited with the Onus Platinum Workplace Charter in recognition of the high quality support they have developed, which is reinforced through ongoing training, communication and partnership working.
“We are looking forward to further learning, sharing understanding and resources to consistently evolve and improve our responses to anyone who has experienced domestic or sexual abuse by providing a Safe Place to access support.”