Whistle-blowing and workplace culture in older peoples' care: qualitative insights from the healthcare and social care workforce

Jones, Aled ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2921-8236 and Kelly, Daniel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1847-0655 2014. Whistle-blowing and workplace culture in older peoples' care: qualitative insights from the healthcare and social care workforce. Sociology of Health and Illness 36 (7) , pp. 986-1002. 10.1111/1467-9566.12137

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Abstract

Inquiries in the UK into mistreatment of older people by healthcare employees over the last 30 years have focused on introducing or supporting employee whistle-blowing. Although whistle-blowers have made an important contribution to patient safety it remains a controversial activity. The fate of whistle-blowers is bleak, often resulting in personal and professional sacrifices. Here we draw on the views of healthcare and social care employees working with older people to explore perceptions of whistle-blowing as well as alternative strategies that may be used to raise concerns about the mistreatment of patients by co-workers. Whistle-blowing was perceived as a negative term. Managers said they promoted open cultures underpinned by regular team meetings and an open-door ethos. Others described workplace norms that were somewhat at odds with these open culture ideals. Whistle-blowing was considered risky, and this led to staff creating informal channels through which to raise concerns. Those who witnessed wrongdoing were aware that support was available from external agencies but preferred local solutions and drew upon personal ethics rather than regulatory edicts to shape their responses. We argue that the importance of workplace relationships and informal channels for raising concerns should be better understood to help prevent the mistreatment of vulnerable groups.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Healthcare Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Additional Information:	Online publication date: 10 April 2014.
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	0141-9889
Funders:	Older People's Commissioner for Wales
Last Modified:	14 Dec 2022 02:09
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/58898

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