A good day for justice...

After almost two years of investigation and negotiation, allegations made by Evonne Hunt of race discrimination were upheld and allegations made against her of bullying were not upheld by an independent investigation commissioned by the Trust . Evonne Hunt has now returned to her job as the Chief Nurse of Medway NHS Trust with a public apology. It is a landmark case. I am pleased to say I was the independent adviser to the investigation.

... and accountability

Nicola Price was Chief People Officer of Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust. She was found by an Employment Tribunal to have conspired with other Board members to remove an excellent Chief Executive Susan Gilby who refused to be bullied by the Trust Chair. I reported her as not being Fit to Practice to the CIPD, the professional body for HR and OD professionals. They upheld the complaint and permanently expelled her from membership. Nicola Price no longer works in the NHS. There was no apology, or evidence of insight. The CIPD decision was in response to my complaints that she was alleged to have acted improperly in connection with the findings of an Employment Tribunal, which concluded that the member failed to investigate a workplace grievance properly, played a key role in efforts to terminate an employee and delete documentation, and demonstrated dishonesty and a lack of credibility during the Tribunal proceedings.

The Investigation Panel determined that the member breached the nine principles of the CIPD's Code of Conduct and Ethics: and the The Investigation Panel imposed a Class 6 sanction: permanent lifetime exclusion from CIPD membership. https://www.cipd.org/uk/membership/professional-standards/code-of-conduct/cases/

This is the first case anyone can recall of an NHS Chief People Officer being permanently expelled.