CQC publishes independent report on bullying and harassment in order to learn lessons and make necessary changes

Published: 26 July 2013 Page last updated: 12 May 2022

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published an independent report, which outlines how the organisation should improve its working environment so that its members of staff do not experience bullying or harassment.

The report was commissioned by CQC’s Chief Executive, David Behan in December 2012 and developed by People Opportunities Limited, in response to the organisation’s annual staff survey; in this, 28% of respondents claimed that its culture was “bullying”.

CQC is committed to being an open and honest organisation, which is aware of its failings, willing to learn from them and able to make the necessary changes.

For this reason, today (Friday 26 July) CQC has published the report on its website.

David Behan, Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission said: “I appointed People Opportunities Limited to conduct this report in December last year, in response to staff survey results, which suggested that some colleagues had experienced bullying and harassment within the organisation. This was shocking and unacceptable. CQC has a zero-tolerance attitude towards bullying and harassment.

“We are very grateful for the members of staff who came forward to share their experiences. Without their honesty and courage, we would not have been able to identify the improvements that need to be made.

“From reading the report, it is clear that the vast majority of people who work for CQC are passionate about their jobs and that they are dedicated to providing patients and service users with high-quality and safe care.

“We are committed to building a future organisation to be proud of in every way. We know that we are at the start of this journey and that we need to take the time to build and maintain good relationships, which are based on trust. This is will help us to become the excellent place to work that we want to be and our members of staff expect it to be.

“Our focus is on accountability and improvement through what we do and how we do it. We will take lessons from this report into our thinking when making decisions about change and the pace of change needed.”

CQC’s leaders shared the report with staff on Monday (22 July) and asked them to consider its findings and recommendations. They will engage with colleagues throughout the organisation, listen to them and discuss their ideas and build these into various activities.

You can read the full or summary versions of the report by People Opportunities Limited below.

Exploring bullying and harassment in CQC

Exploring bullying and harassment in CQC: Summary report

Ends

For media enquiries, call the CQC press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

For general enquiries, call 03000 61 61 61.

Read the report

You can read the full or summary versions of the report by People Opportunities Limited below.

Exploring bullying and harassment in CQC

Exploring bullying and harassment in CQC: Summary report

About the Care Quality Commission

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.

We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.