Being attacked is now 'normal part of job'


The UNISON public services union is to investigate why violence is increasing, after its members working in the community reported that for some minimum wage workers, “being attacked at work” is now a normal part of the job.


During a debate on violence toward staff, delegates at the union’s community conference in Southport last month heard examples of community, housing and care workers being bitten, verbally abused, threatened, intimidated and assaulted at work. The union says the issue “has become a hardy perennial”.


Everyone has the right to expect a safe and secure workplace. But the conference heard that a review by the Skills for Care charity, Violence against social care and support staff, found that almost all (93%) reported being verbally abused, and 71% said they had been threatened or intimidated during their employment. More than half (53%) had reported a physical assault. 


Meanwhile, the results from the NHS Staff Survey 2017, published last month, showed that almost one in six members of staff (15%) report that they have experienced physical violence from patients, relatives or members of the public — the highest figure for five years. 


Staff at ambulance trusts are the most likely to be victims of violence from patients, relatives or the public (34%).


https://www.unison.org.uk/news/2018/03/community-violence-2

www.england.nhs.uk/2018/03/nhs-england-publishes-latest-nhs-staff-survey-results