updated: June 2021 "do a little with certainty & leave the rest to others that come after, than explain all things by conjecture." Isaac Newton "..everybody has been wrong so often it has taken.. a weary while to find out [that the] authority is proved.. fallible." Charles Dickens
Last Opportunity for CE Dominic Hardisty to Apologise for Trust's Vile Treatment of Whistle-blowers Dominic Hardisty publicly claims, “Creating an inclusive, fair working environment and putting equality, inclusion and diversity at the heart of everything we do is really important to us, so to have that work recognised in this way is testament to the hard work of all our staff to treat each other, our patients, carers and families with equality, dignity and respect.”
This is so much hot air. Chief Executive Dominic Hardisty (& several forebears) consistently refuse to acknowledge solid evidence of a bully culture at AWP, at the setup of Lift Psychology, Swindon. This gross behaviour had life-changing impact for one of the whistle-blowers but has taken a shocking 18 YEARS to reach top NHS complaints body, Sir Robert Francis' NHS Improvement. In June 2021, NHS Improvement agreed to oversee this latest attempt by anti-bullying-at-work campaigner, Marianne Richards MSc., to find justice & closure for herself & colleagues at what is now Lift Psychology, Swindon, with vulnerable mental health patients put at risk by the degrading of therapists, whilst a clique of sycophants received unjust favours. Hardisty himself has issued several nonsensical statements, based on false information given the Board by rogue HR 'Expert' [sic] Christopher Stancliffe, Dr Anne Booth, Dr Bill Jerrom & Alan Metherall # - all senior staff at the Trust. The new Stand-Up Guardians have been requested to set up an extra-ordinary Board meeting, to give long-awaited closure to victims - with salutary lessons to what has long-proved an arrogant & dismissive attitude among Board members.
AWP is one of the largest mental health trusts in the UK. Their Board has the potential to provide leadership values among other Trusts infected by bully cliques, which are widely reported as on the increase. In part, this is due to Trust's like AWP using legal 'experts' to prevent whistle-blowers reaching Tribunal. Bevan Brittan LLP trousers £millions in legal fees, whilst victims are forced into paltry settlements, with no acknowledgement of suffering or proper closure. Hardisty & several forbears (Iaian Tulley, Simon Truelove, Dr Hayley Richards et al) pocketed high salaries whilst ignoring a major duty to investigate staff complaints: using astonishing excuses and naively believing lies told by the aforementioned#. At this last trump, will AWP achieve the public values they are paid to uphold?
Successes for Anti Bullying in the NHS Campaign Marianne Richards MSc., has received thanks in 2021 from the Senior President of Tribunals, NHS Improvement & CQC, following her Report on NHS bully cultures, citing AWP as case study. This is 4th of several successful intervention by InspirationWorks4U.co.uk.
2020 Snr President of Tribunals promises better support for litigants-in-person.
2019 thanks from NHS Improvement for revealing deficiencies in NHS investigatory bodies
2018 confidential staff anti bullying helpline set up at AWP
2017 BANES Health Commissioners insert check-backs, preventing tampering in Dignity at Work investigations
In 2021, CQC and NHS Improvement acknowledge AWP are 'slow to learn.' AWP Board have been receiving support over poor Governance for nearly THREE YEARS. NHS Improvement are working with AWP to improve the latter's shoddy treatment of whistle-blowers like Marianne.
The small successes are the result of Marianne's harrowing 16 YEAR fight for justice at Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Trust. She is now standing down IW4U due to ill health. This site will remain, with periodic updates, by way of encouragement for victims and a resource for HR's & social researchers. two books cover the story arc with suggested amendments to legislation and governance, with a separate comprehensive self help manual for victims of bullying :
Why small victories are Important Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust (AWP) ignore whistle-blowers. Such silence is untenable in a Trust paid £millions in public money to help victims; to say nothing of their stated values. The 2020 victory verifies unfairness in current systems. Rogue NHS Trusts like AWP too easily evade responsibility, adopting a blaming culture instead of admitting, apologising and addressing faulty systems. They fail to give victims FAIR compensation. Rogue managers are never investigated, exposing clinicians to mentally unsafe environments. Whistleblowers like Marianne lose careers, credibility & mental stability for daring to speak out. This is why bullying in the NHS is on the increase. Such behaviours are indefensible. All it takes is for ONE Trust to admit errors of judgement - can this be AWP?
Marianne Richards MSc. author website Marianne Richards Amazon.co.uk Marianne was a Counsellor with over two decades experience in private practice & the NHS. Her qualifications include: