Safeguarding

124 ANNEX F Recommendations of the Kerr/Haslam Inquiry
No*
Page
no
Inquiry recommendation
Government response
Para
Comment
8 25 The Department of Health should
develop and publish a specific policy,
with practical guidance on
implementation, to guide NHS
managers in their handling of
allegations or disclosure of sexualised
behaviour. The policy should address
the various issues and difficulties set
out above and include examples of
good practice, as well as the extended
range of options for action that could
be applied; where advice and
assistance can readily be provided;
guidance on record-making and
keeping. The guidance should also
include a range of preventative
measures (for example, specific
accessible information for patients on
what they should and should not
expect in consultations, and who they
can speak to for confidential advice
and assistance).
9 26 In relation to disclosures of alleged
abuse, voluntary advocacy and advice
services (independent of the NHS)
should be supported by central public
funding to offer advice and assistance
to patients and former patients
(particularly those who are mentally
unwell, or who are otherwise
vulnerable).
10 26 All Trusts should develop, within their
Code of Behaviour , guidance to
reduce the likelihood of sexualised
behaviour, that is incorporated into the
contracts of employment of those staff,
or contracts of engagement for all
other persons providing mental health
services within the NHS.
6.6 The Department of Health
accepts these recommendations
and is asking CHRE to progress
them as part of the project
referred to in para 6.4 of this
response.
6.7–9 All ICAS advocates have received
mental health awareness training
and an increasing number across
the country have received
specialist training in order to be
able to support clients with
allegations of abuse.
6.4 The CHRE project described at
para 6.4 of this response will
develop guidance both for
professionals and for healthcare
organisations on how to minimise
the risk of boundary violations in
all therapeutic situations,
including mental health services.