Volunteers Policy and Procedure

Administration Business Operations Region: | Reference: GAB22

This policy has been reviewed and updated to include information in the procedure section about NHS Volunteer Responders who can assist at-risk patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further Reading has been added and references have been reviewed and updated.

Restraint Policy and Procedure

Clinical Governance Risk Management and Safeguarding Region: | Reference: GCR09

Policy reviewed with no significant changes and references checked and updated.

Harassment Policy and Procedure

Human Resources Performance & Discipline Region: | Reference: GPP01

This policy governs the interactions between employees and when complaints from employees may amount to bullying or harassment. If there is a potential bullying or harassment complaint, this policy also sets out the process to follow in dealing with this complaint.This will be applicable across all employees and all sectors from top to bottom of an organisation. The implications for an employer for failure to protect staff adequately from bullying and harassment can be threefold: breach of the Equality Act, breach of the Protection from Harassment Act, and breach of Health and Safety legislation.

The policy has been amended to include specific reference to the Human Rights Act, in particular Article 8 where there is a crossover between this and the Equality Act. The procedure section has been updated to ensure clarity and a new definition of aggrieved employee has been inserted. The references have been updated and additional underpinning knowledge from the Equality and Human Rights

Equality and Diversity Policy and Procedure

Human Resources Equality and Human Rights Region: | Reference: GPE01

Policy reviewed with no significant changes and references checked and updated.

Distribution of Safety Alert Broadcasts, Rapid Response Reporting and Safety Notices Policy and Procedure

Administration Business Operations Region: | Reference: GAB27

This policy has been reviewed and updated. The new QCS Safety Alerts Checklist and Safety Alerts Log can be found in the Resource Centre and replaces the previous Central Alerts Summary Form. This will enable the Practice to document in detail the safety alert information and actions taken, in order to meet CQC requirements. Further Reading has been added and References have been reviewed and updated.

Flooding Policy and Procedure

Health and Safety Health & Safety Region: | Reference: GHS05

This policy has been reviewed with no significant changes, but the Business Continuity Policy and Procedure must be checked to ensure it is up to date. References have been reviewed and updated.

Lone Working Policy and Procedure

Health and Safety Health & Safety Region: | Reference: GPG11

This policy has been updated with further content added such as required PPE on visits. Changes made to 4.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 5.19 and other related policies have been highlighted. A new Lone Working Checklist has been added to the forms section and there is a lone worker risk assessment available in the QCS resources. References have been reviewed and updated.

Sickness Absence Policy and Procedure

COVID-19 Hub Human Resources COVID-19 Region: | Reference: GPA07

Policy updated to include reference to returning back from foreign travel, ensuring that employees are aware that this quarantine period will be unpaid and staff will not be entitled to statutory sick pay. Changes made in 5.7, 5.8, 5.10, 5.11 and professional key facts. A further reading reference to the Government website about travel corridors has been added.

Annual Holiday Policy and Procedure

Human Resources Absence, Holidays and Sickness Region: | Reference: GPA02

Policy updated to include reference to returning back from foreign travel, ensuring employees are aware that this quarantine period will be unpaid and staff will not be entitled to statutory sick pay (5.11). References have been reviewed and updated.

Needlestick Injury and Sharps Policy and Procedure

Health and Safety Health & Safety Region: | Reference: GCH11

This policy has been reviewed with links to QCS policies added in the Further Reading section. References have been reviewed and updated.