RCN Raising concerns toolkit

Summary

Raising a concern is not always easy, but it is the right thing to do. It is about safeguarding and protecting, as well as learning from a situation and making improvements. This guide by the Royal College of Nursing is to help nurses, nursing associates, students and healthcare support workers based in the NHS and independent sector.

Content

The toolkit includes a decision-making tree to help nursing staff and students decide whether to raise a concern and when to escalate a concern. It also provides definitions of 'raising concerns' and 'escalation' and covers the following areas:

•  Why raise concerns?
•  Types of concerns
•  How to report
•  What to expect
•  Manager's responsibilities
•  What if it is unresolved?
•  Pressure not to report
•  Further help