Posted on: 7 August 2025
A groundbreaking West Yorkshire initiative that prioritises people’s wellbeing in employee investigations has been shortlisted for the 2025 Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) Awards.
The ‘Employee Investigations – Looking After Your People and the Process,’ project has earned national recognition for its innovative approach to reducing the harm associated with workplace investigations in healthcare settings.
Rooted in evidence that highlights the emotional toll investigations can take - not just on the individual under investigation but also on witnesses, managers, HR teams, and the wider organisation - the programme promotes a people-first, trauma-informed approach.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognised for this work,” said Sonya Robertshaw, Workforce Project Lead for Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism (MHLDA) for West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.
“Traditional investigation processes, while necessary, often overlook the psychological impact on all those involved. Our aim is to change that by building a culture that supports wellbeing at every stage of the process.”
The project draws inspiration from the patient safety movement, applying its principles to employee relations by encouraging investigations only as a last resort. The goal is to minimise avoidable harm and foster a workplace culture that is safe, supportive, and transparent.
In the region, the Partnership led two large-scale training events and established a train-the-trainer model to ensure long-term, scalable impact. Over the course of just four months, more than 200 individuals from 15 organisations were trained, and 20 train-the-trainers were developed.
Winners will be announced on 20 November at the HPMA Awards 2025.
To learn more about this important work - including videos and blogs - please visit our dedicated project webpage.