Anti-Violence Collaborative Wales
Background
It is widely acknowledged that NHS staff (Hospital, Ambulance, Community, and Primary Care including Dentistry and Optometry along with public sector staff undertaking caring duties) are amongst those most likely to face violence and aggression during the course of their employment.
All NHS organisations recognise their duty to provide a safe and secure environment for all staff, service users and visitors. Within their health and safety obligations and the strategic ambition of A Healthier Wales the NHS seeks to become an exemplar employer in respect of the health and wellbeing of its workforce. NHS organisations have local violence and aggression policies outlining their agreed approach to preventing and responding to such instances towards their workforce.
The vision of the Anti-Violence Collaborative (AVC) Wales group is to support NHS Wales and Emergency Services organisations to reduce and manage violence and aggression incidents. Facilitating collaboration with Criminal Justice Service partners, NHS Wales bodies, Emergency Services organisations and Welsh Government, the AVC will promote violence reduction strategies and communication with service users.
Anti Violence Collaborative Wales (AVC)
The AVC meets with all parties on a periodical basis to review the implementation and effectiveness of the updated agreement.
The Chair of the AVC is Jonathan Webb Head of Safety & Learning, NWSSP Legal and Risk Services.
The 'Obligatory responses to violence in healthcare' agreement
The 'Obligatory responses to violence in healthcare' agreement sets out the responsibilities of the partners when dealing with violent or aggressive incidents relating to NHS staff. Its focus is on those incidents that need to be addressed by the criminal justice system that includes;
- Improving the reporting of violent incidents
- Strengthen the investigation and prosecution process by improving the quality and timeliness of shared information
- Improve victim and witness care and confidence
- Raise the issues of violence and aggression against NHS staff as well as the action that will be taken by all parties.
Further Information
Information regarding the NHS Wales Anti Violence Collaborative can be found via our Communications Toolkit. This can be found in the menu on your left. The toolkit provides information regarding the AVC and contains materials to help you explain the Anti Violence Collaborative Wales to your audiences.
Further Contact
Please contact the Anti-Violence Collaborative Team on: antiviolence.collaborative@wales.nhs.uk
Anti-Violence Collaborative Wales Senior Safety & Learning Advisor Gareth Lewis can be contacted on: Gareth.Lewis11@wales.nhs.uk
