- Conference
- 2022 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 8 December 2021
- Decision
- Carried
Conference recognises that a lot of work has been done in all 4 countries of the UK to raise awareness of Gender-Based Violence as a public health issue and to keep it on the agenda at a strategic level.
Gender-Based Violence is an umbrella term that encompasses a spectrum of abuse experienced mostly by women and perpetrated mainly by men including: domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault, childhood sexual abuse, sexual harassment, stalking, commercial sexual exploitation and harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage and so-called ‘honour’ crimes. It is recognised that in excess of 80% of those are on the receiving end of Gender-Based Violence are women.
Conference notes however, that while our healthcare services are the largest employers of women within the UK, and while work has been done by both the Scottish Government and the NHS Staff Council to set out responsibilities that the NHS has as an employer to support staff who have experienced violence and abuse both at home and at work, this was a significant period of time ago. There also does not seem to be much evidence of any work done on implementing and monitoring policies to address Gender-Based Violence.
Conference further believes that the pandemic has increased levels of Gender Based Violence and employers need to be reminded of their duty of care for staff.
Women who have been experiencing Gender-Based Violence require a level of both understanding and practical support from their employer. This can require moves of job, base, hours or even pay bands and a need to meet the criteria for Universal Credit.
Conference calls on the Service Group Executive to work with the devolved nations to use the negotiating & partnership arrangements to renew and reinvigorate the existing policies on employers support to staff who have experienced Gender Based Violence. This needs to include both implementation & monitoring plans.