Mediation at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Overview of presentation About mediation Development of the scheme Evaluation of the pilot Problems and benefits

About mediation

Development of the scheme

Evaluation of the pilot

Problems and benefits

About Guy’s and St Thomas’ Central London teaching and research hospital 9,000 staff 1,100 beds 6,500 babies delivered 137,000 inpatients 534,000 outpatients

Central London teaching and research hospital

9,000 staff

1,100 beds

6,500 babies delivered

137,000 inpatients

534,000 outpatients

Development of the scheme NHS pilot – DH funded Facilitated by Acas Commitment from the Trust Partnership working group

NHS pilot – DH funded

Facilitated by Acas

Commitment from the Trust

Partnership working group

Partnership working group Five union representatives Five management representatives – HR, clinical managers, non-clinical managers 6 meetings

Five union representatives

Five management representatives – HR, clinical managers, non-clinical managers

6 meetings

What the working group did Agreed detail of scheme Developed procedure and policy Advertised for and selected mediators Supported the scheme after its launch

Agreed detail of scheme

Developed procedure and policy

Advertised for and selected mediators

Supported the scheme after its launch

Features of the scheme Confidential and notes not kept Voluntary Rights of access to other policies not removed 2 coordinators control access to scheme Coordinators monitor scheme 12 accredited mediators

Confidential and notes not kept

Voluntary

Rights of access to other policies not removed

2 coordinators control access to scheme

Coordinators monitor scheme

12 accredited mediators

The procedure Contact with coordinator Allocation to mediator Meet each party separately Joint meeting Written agreement Confidentiality

Contact with coordinator

Allocation to mediator

Meet each party separately

Joint meeting

Written agreement

Confidentiality

Launch of the scheme Roadshows on each site Leaflet produced Article in magazine and note in team briefing Integration into training Management training courses in H&B, discipline, grievance Corporate induction Integration into Dignity and Respect Policy

Roadshows on each site

Leaflet produced

Article in magazine and note in team briefing

Integration into training

Management training courses in H&B, discipline, grievance

Corporate induction

Integration into Dignity and Respect Policy

Support for mediators Time off for mediation and meetings Quarterly peer support meetings Quarterly meetings with the working group

Time off for mediation and meetings

Quarterly peer support meetings

Quarterly meetings with the working group

Evaluation 23 cases in the first year 8 did not get underway 3 had a part process 11 were completed 1 became a formal case Median duration from referral to resolution – three weeks Cases take a day to a day-and-a-half to mediate

23 cases in the first year

8 did not get underway

3 had a part process

11 were completed

1 became a formal case

Median duration from referral to resolution – three weeks

Cases take a day to a day-and-a-half to mediate

Evaluation It felt a much more positive method & was totally uncritical & in that way helps one move forward. The situation would have continued to escalate and get out of hand as communication was difficult. The situation would have rumbled on unsatisfactorily. I would strongly recommend mediation as an essential service I have noticed a change in both of us already.

Benefits An informal way out of a difficult situation Prevents escalation Benefits for whole team Quicker to resolve Has helped return to work Links with other initiatives

An informal way out of a difficult situation

Prevents escalation

Benefits for whole team

Quicker to resolve

Has helped return to work

Links with other initiatives

Problems Accreditation vs training Practical issues eg booking of rooms Availability of mediators Reluctance of some staff Rate of uptake

Accreditation vs training

Practical issues eg booking of rooms

Availability of mediators

Reluctance of some staff

Rate of uptake

The future of the scheme Support of the scheme by Management Executive Agreement to roll out Agreement to invest in time off and training Planning a new publicity splash

Support of the scheme by Management Executive

Agreement to roll out

Agreement to invest in time off and training

Planning a new publicity splash

Key messages Benefits of working in partnership A positive step by the organisation Easy to set up internally Inexpensive Expertise in-house

Benefits of working in partnership

A positive step by the organisation

Easy to set up internally

Inexpensive

Expertise in-house

More information from… Hendrika Santer Bream, Head of Workforce Policy & Partnership at Guy’s and St Thomas’ [email_address] 020 7188 4976

Hendrika Santer Bream, Head of Workforce Policy & Partnership at Guy’s and St Thomas’

[email_address]

020 7188 4976