Creating a safe and respectful environment across the NCA
We are committed to a culture where every colleague feels safe to work and every patient and service user feels safe to receive care.
The Unwanted Behaviours Campaign sets out how we will strengthen dignity, respect and safety across the Northern Care Alliance (NCA). It explains what we expect and how we will support colleagues, patients and service users to feel safe, respected and heard.
This is not a one-off campaign, but part of a wider culture change to build the environment we all deserve. We’re committed to:
- Championing dignity, respect and safety in every interaction.
- Making expectations of behaviour clear for everyone.
- Supporting colleagues, patients and service users to speak up.
- Ensuring concerns are taken seriously and acted on.
It brings together:
- Clear expectations of behaviour.
- Simple steps to report and respond to concerns.
- Visible campaign materials across all sites.
- Leadership accountability and role modelling.
Why this is needed
We know from our data, the NHS Staff Survey and colleagues’ experiences that unwanted behaviours happen too often across health and care.
These behaviours include:
- Bullying and harassment
- Violence and aggression
- Discrimination
- Sexually inappropriate behaviour
We also know:
- These experiences are not equal – colleagues with protected characteristics are more affected.
- Unwanted behaviours impact wellbeing, retention and performance.
- They directly affect the quality and safety of care.
Doing more of the same will not improve outcomes. We need to change how we work and how we treat one another.
Creating a safe, respectful culture is essential to:
- Deliver high-quality care
- Support colleagues to thrive
- Build trust with patients and service users