Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-12983 on 12 December 2017. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

An internal audit was undertaken by NHS Lothian regarding organisational culture in January 2017. Part of this process was to review the implementation of the recommendations from the Investigation into Management and Culture in NHS Lothian Report of 2012.

In February 2017, the NHS Lothian’s Audit and Risk Committee confirmed that all recommendations within the Report had been implemented. A copy of the internal audit report is available online via link: http://www.nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk/OurOrganisation/KeyDocuments/Audits/Documents/OrganisationalCulture-BowlesReportActionPlans-Jan2017.pdf.

Although NHS Lothian has implemented all the recommendations of the Report, the Board recognises that maintaining and further developing an effective organisational culture is an ongoing requirement, in line with national policy guidelines and practice. This informs the Board's organisational values of Care and Compassion, Dignity and Respect, Openness, Honest and Responsibility, Quality and Teamwork.

As such, NHS Lothian has provided assurance that it continues to take steps to evolve its culture from both a staff and patient experience perspective. To enable this, it utilises staff survey results and the iMatter Board Report to monitor how the organisation is perceived and to take action to continuously improve performance. This is overseen by NHS Lothian’s Staff Engagement and Experience Programme Board, which reports into its Staff Governance Committee.

National reporting on iMatter and the Dignity at Work Survey will be available in February 2018.

Everyone Matters: the 2020 Workforce Vision Implementation Plan is our workforce policy for the NHS in Scotland, and our commitment to valuing the workforce and treating people well. It sets out national and Board level actions to embed the core NHS Scotland values that drive behaviours and promote a healthy organisational culture.

The Scottish Government continues to make it clear to all Health Boards, including NHS Lothian, that there should be a zero tolerance approach and that everything must be done to eradicate bullying and harassment in the workplace, and, where concerns are raised, that they must be fully investigated.

We recently asked Health Boards to remind staff of the policies and support available for anyone in our NHS who has any concerns about bullying in the workplace.

The national Dignity at Work Survey ran from 6-11 December 2017 providing staff with an opportunity to share their views on organisational culture. The results will provide an insight on bullying and harassment issues both nationally and locally and will allow the Scottish Government and Health Boards to further consider any actions that need to be taken.

The Scottish Government has made it clear to all Boards, including NHS Lothian, that there should be a zero tolerance approach to sexual harassment in the workplace, and, where any concerns are raised, that they must be fully investigated.

We recently asked Health Boards to remind staff of the policies and support available and to encourage anyone who has any concerns or may be affected by this issue to seek support and report their concerns.

We have a well-established national policy for staff in our NHS to support them in raising concerns about bullying and harassment. As with all policies to support our workforce in the NHS in Scotland these have been developed in partnership with trade unions and other key interests, including trade union representatives from NHS Lothian.

The national Dignity at Work Survey, which was welcomed by the trade unions, runs from 6-11 December 2017 providing staff with an opportunity to share their views on organisational culture. The results will provide an insight on bullying and harassment issues both nationally and locally and will allow NHS Lothian, in discussion with local trade union representatives, to further consider any actions that need to be taken locally.

A lot has been done over the past few years to tackle workplace bullying and harassment through the policies and arrangements we`ve developed for staff in our NHS. The Scottish Government continues to work in partnership to further develop and promote an open culture in all Boards, including NHS Lothian, where staff have the confidence to speak up if they have any concerns about bullying and harassment, and importantly, where all staff feel valued and supported.

The national Dignity at Work Survey runs from 6-11 December 2017 providing staff with an opportunity to share their views on organisational culture. The results will provide an insight on bullying and harassment issues both nationally and locally and will allow the Scottish Government and Boards to further consider any actions that need to be taken.

The costs of the fire training facility will be market tested by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) prior to commencement of the works. The SFRS estimate that the cost will be between £11m and £12m.

Planning permission for this project has not yet been fully granted by the City of Edinburgh Council but SFRS anticipate that the facility will be operational by the summer of 2019.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has 21 training facilities.

National

SFRS National Training Centre, Westburn Drive, Cambuslang, G72 7NA.

North Service Delivery Area

SFRS College Perth, 401 High St, Perth, PH1 1PL.

Dundee Airport Training Facility, Riverside Drive, Dundee DD2 1UH.

Blackness Rd Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Dundee DD1 5PA.

MacAlpine Rd Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Dundee DD3 8SA.

Kingsway East Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Dundee DD4 7RX.

Arbroath Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Arbroath DD11 1EU.

Fort William Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Fort William PH33 6FB

Invergordon Training Facility, Academy Road, Invergordon, IV18 0LB.

Sumburgh Airport Training Facility, Sumburgh, Shetland Islands ZE3 9JP.

Stornoway Airport Training Facility, Stornoway, Western Isles. HS2 OBN.

SFRS Training College, Portlethan, AB12 4RR.

East Service Delivery Area

SFRS Training Facility - Strathore Road, Thornton, KY1 4DF.

Newcraighall Fire Station & Local Training Facility, E821 8QS

Stirling Fire Station & Local Training Facility, KF8 1TH

West Service Delivery Area

Oban Training Facility, Soroba Rd, Oban, PA34 5SB.

SFRS Garroch Training Facility, Cargenbridge, Dumfries, DG2 8PN.

Maryhill Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Glasgow, G20 7TL

Cowcaddens Fire Station & Local Training Facility, Glasgow, G4 0ES

Kilmarnock Fire Station & Local Training Facility, KA1 4HL

Draghorn Training Facility, 7 Corsehill Mount Rd, Dreghorn, KA11 4JZ.

The Scottish Government is not a participant in pay negotiations with the Fire Brigades Union. Pay is a matter for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as the employer.

The role and responsibilities of fire service crew are operational matters for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.