Safe and Well at Work: Occupational Health and Safety Strategic Framework for NHSScotland

Executive Summary

1. This strategic framework sets out how NHSScotland Boards should approach occupational health and safety to keep staff motivated and healthy, engaged and safe. It aims to:

• ensure consistent and effective organisational commitment to improving the health, safety and wellbeing of all staff;
• demonstrate that the improved health and wellbeing of staff is clearly linked to improvements in patient care; and
• demonstrate clear links to the Quality Strategy and the Staff Governance Standard.

2. This person centred Occupational Health and Safety Strategic Framework provides a national statement of aims and priorities, together with a clear framework for delivering improvements in the occupational health and safety of NHSScotland staff. In doing so, this strategic framework makes a commitment to ensure that:

• NHSScotland staff should not be injured or made ill by their work;
• the health and wellbeing of staff will be promoted and improved within the workplace; and
• where necessary, staff are supported, when affected by illness or injury, to remain in the workplace with adjustments and support as needed.

3. NHSScotland Boards are expected to build upon existing systems of management, including those covering occupational health and safety risk and controls, to drive forward improvements against the strategic aims outlined in this framework. Boards must ensure these systems of management are fully in place and operating, before focussing attention on the four priority areas which have been identified for action. An effective response to these priority areas will help address the NHSScotland-wide challenges of:

• promoting a positive safe working environment; and
• developing cultural changes to workplace attendance and prevention of ill health and injury.
• The four key priorities are:
• • mental health and wellbeing;
  • musculoskeletal disorders;
  • aggression and violence; and
  • slips, trips and falls.

Deliverables

• The successful delivery of this strategic framework will result in NHSScotland Boards having a clearer direction of travel for occupational health and safety which is person-centred and demonstrates a clear commitment to the health, wellbeing and safety of staff.
• The framework will assist Boards in determining future occupational health and safety provision, taking account of the four priority areas, and ensuring that occupational health and safety is incorporated into mainstream management activity as well as the wider health and wellbeing agenda.
• Successful delivery will impact positively on the employee experience, ensuring staff are supported in their role, and able to take responsibility for their own health, safety and wellbeing, which will ultimately benefit patient care.

4. All NHSScotland staff have a right and a responsibility to implement this framework and ensure that its aims and priorities are reflected in plans, strategies and practices. Successful delivery will depend on demonstrable leadership and ownership at all levels of the organisation, and a commitment to changing culture and behaviours where this is necessary. This will help to ensure that occupational health and safety is fully integrated into all NHSScotland Board activity. This includes the management of the delivery of quality healthcare as well as the wider governance and workforce health and wellbeing agendas that all NHSScotland Boards are responsible for.

5. A summary of actions is provided at Appendix 2.