Independent review into the culture of the RCN

Elected members on RCN Council, working with the staff team, are determined to confront the biggest challenges facing the College. 

Changing the culture of an organisation is key to long-lasting and meaningful transformation. Recommendations are being sought from a wide-ranging and external review, which will thoroughly scrutinise the College’s:

• decision-making and accountability;
• financial management;
• equality and inclusion;
• management of departure of staff and elected members;
• allegations of sexual harassment;
• roles and responsibilities of staff and elected members.

The RCN is determined to deliver fundamental change for its members and staff, to make them proud of the College that acts in their name. This work will make the RCN a safer and more inclusive place for many years to come.

The deadline for submissions to the review has now passed (21 Nov). Thank you to those who have engaged with Bruce Carr QC and the independent review. Further updates will follow ahead of anticipated publication in early 2022..

Our work as a College is focused on empowering and supporting our members. To act in their best interests, we must also ensure that our own house is in order. This review is part of our commitment to bring about a real shift in culture through confident, strong and modern leadership.

The review will scrutinise the College’s  

• decision-making and accountability; 
• financial management; 
• equality and inclusion; 
• management of departure of staff and elected members;
• allegations of sexual harassment; 
• roles and responsibilities of staff and elected members.  

The culture of this organisation must be open, safe and inclusive; and to ensure robust corporate governance, we must adhere to the highest standards. Now is the time to thoroughly examine how our structures can set us up for success in the future and match our ambitions for nursing, nationally and internationally.

Bruce Carr QC has a long career history and is highly respected in the field of employment law and expertise in relation to trade unions. He was appointed a Deputy High Court Judge in 2019. He has not conducted work previously with the College and was instructed directly and independently by the RCN’s Joint Head of Legal Services.

Bruce Carr QC began his preliminary work in July and the review has now reached the stage to seek information from members and staff. 

Members and staff who wish to engage with the independent review can contact Bruce Carr QC directly at carrQC.RCNreview@devchambers.co.uk.

Submissions will be treated as confidential and consent will be sought before inclusion. The closing date is now 21 November 2021.

Under the terms listed above, the expert review will scrutinise the culture of the College. We welcome all contributions to ensure that the review is informed by the greatest amount of evidence and different perspectives, truly reflective of the membership.

Absolutely not. The fight for fair pay and safe staffing are the highest priorities of the College, and that work will continue with the same level of attention and resource as to date.

We are committed to give this review the time, resource and space required to help us address issues and make meaningful change for the future of the College. The ambition is to conclude in Spring 2022.

If necessary, and if a criminal act is identified, it may be reported to the police.

If necessary, and if a breach of the Code is identified, it may be reported to the NMC.

The reviews complement each other but are distinctly different. The governance review will mainly focus on the policies and rules that form part of the RCN’s governance framework within the context of the organisation’s Royal Charter. The Carr review will mainly focus on people, their practice, and how that has an impact on decision making within the organisation.