To ask the Minister of Health to detail any support services, including counselling, that are available to healthcare staff who have been victims of violence in the workplace.

A range of support services are available to healthcare staff who have been victims of violence in the workplace.

Initial support includes:

Offering the opportunity for affected staff to go off duty (where necessary because of physical injury or emotional trauma).

Contacting a relative, friend or Trade Union representative

Arranging assistance and accompaniment to hospital (where appropriate) or calling a taxi or making transport arrangements to take them to hospital or home.

Signposting to support – Lena by Inspire Confidential Counselling Service and union representative.

Referral to Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service (access to OH Nursing, Physiotherapy and Psychology interventions as required).

Staff are offered the opportunity to complete a Personal Impact Assessment (PIA) as per the Regional Management of Violence and Aggression Framework.

Arrangements are made for ongoing support and contact between the manager and the staff involved, considering;

what type of support the member/s of staff think that they might require in the coming days and weeks.

when the next contact between the manager and the member/s of staff should take place and the method of contact

Staff will also be supported in this initial phase to report an incident to PSNI, should that be appropriate in the circumstances and should the member of staff wish to pursue the matter through PSNI.

Ongoing support is also provided to staff involved in incidents of violence and aggression in the weeks and months following the incident. Examples of this support include;

‘Checking in’ with the member of staff (including during subsequent supervision sessions)

Following discussions with the staff member, the employer will make a decision on the level of support to be provided and the most appropriate support mechanisms

A buddy/identified colleague will be nominated if appropriate

Individual(s) will be kept informed of any investigation process/follow up actions/any learning identified

Appropriate time off will be granted to attend appointments (as per the Special Leave Policy) made as a result of the incident, for example with Occupational Health or Inspire

The incident will be escalated to the Head of Service for consideration as to the appropriateness of a visit to affected staff by the Head of Service/Assistant Director or Director

The potential long-term effects of a distressing incident will be considered, this will be by either keeping it under review in supervision or by offering to complete the Talking Toolkit (as per the Recognising and Responding to Stress in the Workplace Policy). This will be reviewed regularly to ensure that the action plan is appropriate and being implemented

The staff member will be encouraged to contact their Trade Union Side representative where they may require further support from their Trade Union

Individual or group support such as focus group/team session(s) via occupational health clinical psychology will be offered if appropriate.

Advice will be provided on where to access health and wellbeing initiatives

Useful contact numbers will be made available

This ongoing support may also require input from both the Divisional MOVA Liaison Officer or the Trust MOVA Liaison Officer and will also include continuing support to staff in respect of PSNI investigation/court case, where appropriate.

NIAS has an established Management of Aggression Partnership Group alongside trade union colleagues to oversee systems and processes related to workplace aggression and violence including support for staff who become victims.

Staff who have been victims of physical, sexual, or verbal violence are responded to in the first instance by line managers and/or Station Officers. The incident is referred to the NIAS Critical Incident Stress Management Team who contact the victim 36-72 hours post incident. At all stages, a compassionate peer response is deployed.