Assaulted at work (healthcare sector)

[Perimenopausalprincess]

Hi

Looking for help or advice.
Has anyone been in the unfortunate position of being a member of staff who has had to put up with vile comments from male patients and despite reporting has fallen on deaf ears?
Sadly things escalated quite quickly and I've had to work solely alone with a gentleman who has now taken things too far and it's turned to sexual assault. I've reported it via the correct paperwork and channels but despite a couple of colleagues backing me up as they've also had first hand encounters, it's not being addressed as perhaps it should and tbh it's not even being addressed. Not one member of staff above my grade has asked if I'm ok or spoken to me even though they've read the reports and incident logs. I have just been told to ignore the man involved by another staff member to protect myself and have no further dealings, this isn't ideal as other female members of staff are now having to work alone with personal care and bathing of this man which is putting them at risk

Not told my husband and I feel so bad for not but I can't let him know as he will be too worried and his health is poor at the moment otherwise I would have just walked out of work and never returned but desperately need the job as it's our sole income at the moment.

Not mentioned on this post how it's effecting me but I'm in bits just writing this as it's really knocked me sick having to go through this when we should be safe at work and clearly not. Had it not have been a work incident it would be a police matter for sure.
Not sure what I'm asking tbh just maybe that it's not acceptable and an idea of where to turn for help or to report the incident to somewhere external (ideally not police)

Thanks for your time whoever is reading

Report to the police. You've given work time to deal with it and they haven't. Time to escalate.

i work in health as a senior position and had this a few times against staff. It’s difficult as you need tk check if the patient is mental unwell or just being terrible.

My first concern are the staff so I check on them. Then I give the patient a warning on unacceptable behaviour if appropriate. This normal calms it down.

I have had a patient who was nasty. Just knew how to press buttons. I went through every channel and they were still upsetting everyone. We called the police. They warned them but it still continued. I ended up getting Cheif nurse involved and the patient was discharged. They ended up in another local hospital causing same issue.

call the police. It’s your job and professional reg. you don’t want to end up saying something that harms out career. You are human. We ended up doing that as no policy coverec this

Contact Acas and ask for advice on what to do.

Your employers have a duty of care to protect you. I would refuse to go near that man again and really he should be dealt with by male staff.

Write down each incident in as much detail as possible. Include witnesses, who you reported it to and copies of reports if you have them.

You can read more here. I would join a union.

i work in health as a senior position and had this a few times against staff. It’s difficult as you need tk check if the patient is mental unwell or just being terrible.

Even if the patient is mentally unwell they should not be assaulting staff. To the OP I would escalate this to a higher manager/police as that isn't acceptable at all.

Always in two's to care for a person like this - hard luck if it takes more time/staff away from the unit.

get your union involved. Staffing ratios should be increased with such patients. Doesn’t sound like a police matter.

Sadly we are so understaffed it's unbelievable. So many at risk, not just staff but patients too. First job in healthcare since graduating and really thinking I've made a mistake in choosing the sector as seems there's no care just want profit and allow staff to do work understaffed for little pay in very poor conditions.

Really don't want to involve police as think that will just halt my career full stop and I have no faith after them failing me as a victim of burglary not too long ago, they didn't give a sht.
The man in question has capacity although it's an elderly health care ward.

ACAS and union sound good options. Just feel I need to speak to someone as this has really messed with my head, I feel physically sick and let down to be honest and feel ashamed. Other than a couple of colleagues who were aware of the state of me when I left his room instantly knowing something was wrong and asking if I was ok then nobody else at work higher up or management (other than who was at work at the time who said to stay away from him) etc cares full stop about me or what's gone on as not one has asked what's happened or pretended it's not happned. it's upsetting as could have been much worse especially if this happens to someone else or another patient. İt's got me fuming as well as feeling let down.

Thank you all for your kind help so far I don't feel as alone now than I did when I initially posted this.

@Perimenopausalprincess

It's not your fault. You've been badly let down.💐

You can contact Rape Crisis they aren't just for rape but any kind of sexual assault. You can also contact the Survivors Trust, they have a good helpline.

Don't worry I've kept a record of the incident log and report forms I filled in. I photocopied them despite it being a sackable offence as I feel they will try to brush this under the carpet and want to keep it documented in case it gets nasty and they try to act like nothing has happened.

Good luck

Datix?
What did your ward manager/ site manager/ matron say or do?
Has the patient got dementia and aggression due to delirium and disease ?

No he doesnt have aggression. Mild dementia but he's fully aware.

Line manager (use the term loosely) just advised to stay away from this man. Not a long term option nor solution unfortunately as due to staffing problems it's inevitable that I will need to deal with patient as he's here long term.

I meant in case it gets nasty in the work environment on the whole as can't see some other colleagues or management who aren't aware yet of what's happened being happy with me just not dealing with him anymore as a patient for the inevitable. Someone will get cheesed off with it as some colleagues have previously moaned at staff for begrudgingly complaining of his wondering hands as some staff are saying it's part of the job and stop making a fuss. They don't know it's escalated but then I doubt they'd be bothered. Perhaps it's happened before with him as some refuse to talk about things like this saying it's best to keep quiet.

Document in his notes, complete an incident form, write a risk assessment which makes it clear ‘no lone female working’.

Record every single incident, do not keep the photocopied notes, you’ll get in trouble and it will overshadow what’s happened. I’m assuming you’re a nurse, so speak to NMC, go to HR.

Encourage others to record in the same way and if nothing changes, report to CQC.

Realistically you’re right, police won’t do anything if he’s ill / has dementia / is already in some sort of restricted setting, but a) it will be on formal record and b) the company you work for will need to acknowledge it.

Look for another job.

In some settings certain behaviour can be expected but that doesn’t mean it needs to be tolerated or excused. Sufficient protection for everyone needs to be in place.

And there's the big problem with healthcare ...its part of the job. Its absolutely 100% not part of the job and staff and the unions have lobbed as such. If we could change that mindset or the "just get on with it" when people are struggling with lack of staff, burn out in general.

I'm so sorry you have went through this and I agree you need to escalate this and contact you union or acas as well. I'm also agree you should reach out for support from an outside source- clearer boundaries and neutral territory might be a better place for full disclosure on thoughts and feelings and help you feel more comfortable discussing everything.

Please be kind with yourself. It's easy for me to say you shouldn't feel ashamed because the blame is on the higher ups and the paitent but that's not how the mind works. Please do be kind to yourself. You have every right to feel angry and upset. You have been very badly let down.

You haven't made the wrong choice in field either, its just a very muddy field in places. Some of it is a bog. Might be time to look at a different sector of healthcare if possible.

I had levels of aggression and verbal abuse aimed at me at work, but my patients had severe Dementia, didn't have a clue where they were and what was happening, they were on the verge of becoming non verbal, incontenent, unable to walk anymore, trouble eating and drinking, you name it.
We did make sure to tell them that it wasn't acceptable etc etc and some would apologise and then a short while later repeat.
You defiantly need a thick skin in dementia care, being grabbed, kicked, sworn at regularly is awful. The first time I took it personally, then after that I learned quickly.
If this is still bothering you greatly, it may be time to move to a different sector of care.

İ wish it was just being the odd word or sworn at but sadly the level of sexual assault was unwarranted and inexcusable. He knows 100% what he's doing and is getting kicks out of it. He's a tall strong man that will seriously raise the risk level of sexual violence if this gets whitewashed which I'm worried is going to happen it will end up whitewashed until it's too late and some woman on low wage will never recover from mentally whilst just trying to do a job. I do have a thick skin but I also have a very fine line and sexual assault crosses that line.

HRTFT- have you put in an incident report and sent it to your SLT? I know sometimes when busy seems like the last thing to do but they get discussed at higher management meetings and I’m sure this will be on their radar if you do the report, also call the police

Go to your freedom to speak up guardian for advice too

Hi there OP, also in community healthcare and now in a senior role. You have been failed by your line "manager" who has not "managed" this at all. Have you completed a Datix?? This will go to senior managers to review and question your line manager on their actions/ inactions. I have also experienced very poor "managers", it seems endemic in the community unfortunately ( in my area). Please please escalate this, involve your union, speak to local rep etc. I am sorry you have been a victim twice over by management inaction, but please listen to the advice given by the posters above, and take time off if you need to, it's not your problem to sort out staffing levels.

What's the setting, hospital, care home. Has he had a behaviour risk assessment, have the staff had a safety risk assessment and clear guidelines who is to look after him, in pairs, does his doctor know and has any suggestions. Was it a physical attack on you. I'd be sending a datix or incident form to risk management.

Go to your freedom to speak up guardians! Failing that, email chief nurse and request a meeting.

Have you updated the risk assessment?
That needs to be done as a matter of urgency and state clearly on it this man should be a 2 person.
Circulate it widely amongst anyone involved in his care.

I'm so sorry this has happened to you. Short staffed is not your problem. I was taught very early on these patients are the responsibility of your organisation, not you personally. Contact your union for advice and support right away, and whatever happens DO NOT be with this person alone.

Carers are physically assaulted everyday, you can't stop someone with dementia punching you or groping you if that's what the choose to do.

Carers can't restrain people, not even allowed to remove a walking stick if it is also used as a weapon as that is classed as restraining someone.

Carers have a horrendously difficult job.

OP if you're employer doesn't have your back, speak to ACAS, keep a diary and report him to the police.