The complaints system
Norman (2009) suggests that the complaints system should
be regarded as a tool for education and not be used as a
paper exercise. Complaints are central to any organisation’s
feedback system and are closely associated with quality
indicators. Investigating and dealing with complaints can
yield much insight into service provision. HCAs and APs,
therefore, must ensure they are aware of the processes
and procedures associated with the complaints system
used in their organisation. This should enable them to
feel confident when addressing complaints, pre-empt
situations from arising and learn from mistakes.
Armstrong (2009) notes that those who have been
aggrieved (patients and their relatives) when things go
wrong are often only seeking an apology. However, an
apology alone does not make an effective complaints
system (Norman, 2009). In England and Wales an apology
is not an admission of negligence or a breach of statutory
duty (Compensation Act 2006).
Six principles are associated with good complaint
handling:
n Getting it right
n Being customer focused
n Being open and accountable
n Acting fairly and proportionately
n Putting things right
n Seeking continuous improvement.
Ian Peate, Head of School, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Human Science, Thames Valley
University; Peter Walsh, Director of Nursing, Central North West London Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Abstract
Most of the time care provided to people in the National Health
Service (NHS) and by other care providers such as those in
the independent and voluntary sectors is of a high standard
with positive outcomes. However, things do go wrong from time to time
and complaints are made. This article provides an understanding of how
concerns and complaints should be managed in health and social care
settings, with the aim to make the organisation that employs Health
Care Assistants (HCA) and Assistant Practitioners (AP) an organisation
that listens, responds and learns from peoples’ experiences, these can
be in the form of compliments, complaints or concerns. The article
focuses primarily upon the NHS and England. Health and social care
providers in other countries of the United Kingdom may have their own
complaints procedures as do the independent and voluntary sectors,
nevertheless the principles discussed here can apply across the board.
Key words
n Listening n Responding n Learning
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