Policy Updates

Restraint Policy and Procedure

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

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

Working Time Regulations Policy and Procedure

Human Resources General Human Resources Region: | Reference: DPG12

Legislation has been inserted with reference to the Working Times (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020. A new procedure has been included to confirm that employees are now entitled to carry 4 weeks’ paid leave into the following two annual leave years if prevented from taking holidays due to Coronavirus. A new form ‘Notice to take annual leave under Regulation 15(2) WTR 1998‘ and further references have been added.

Harassment Policy and Procedure

Human Resources Performance & Discipline Region: | Reference: DPP01

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 Right

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

Antimicrobial Prescribing Policy and Procedure

Clinical Governance Practice Management Region: | Reference: DCP17

This policy has been reviewed and additional content added within the procedure section. References reviewed and updated.

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.

Coronavirus Policy and Procedure

COVID-19 Hub Health and Safety COVID-19 Region: | Reference: GHS15

Policy updated to reflect the government changes from 14 September 2020 with key changes in 5.2 and 5.15. All references have been reviewed and updated.

Coronavirus Policy and Procedure

COVID-19 Hub Health and Safety COVID-19 Region: | Reference: DHS15

Policy updated to reflect the government changes from 14 September 2020 with key changes in 5.2 and 5.14. All references have been reviewed and updated.