Disrupting disproportionality proceedings: The recommendations

Abstract

An in-depth knowledge review and analysis of literature on the involvement of Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) staff in NHS disciplinary proceedings from 2008 to 2017 as did 15 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. The research findings indicate that BME staff are disproportionately represented in NHS disciplinary proceedings, there is a continuation of inappropriate individual disciplinary action and a failure to address organisational shortcomings. Six factors emerged: closed culture and climate; subjective attitudes and behaviour; inconclusive disciplinary data; unfair decision making; poor disciplinary support and disciplinary policy mis-application were all identified as underpinning the disproportionate representation of BME staff in disciplinary procedures. Disciplinary policy needs streamlining and greater clarity needs to be achieved regarding the difference between disciplinary, capability and performance issues and to this respect we make several recommendations.