More than 200 Care Quality Commission (CQC) staff feel they have been bullied or harassed at work, a review commissioned by the organisation suggests.
The review found evidence of a bullying culture which has led to some employees being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress.
CQC commissioned the report in light of the annual staff survey in which 28% of staff said the culture is “bullying”.
But the independent report released late last week showed that 92% of CQC staff felt subjected to bullying or harassment.
Independent researchers said they were “overwhelmed” by examples of poor practice, entrenched bullying and a culture of blame.
Earlier this month it was revealed that the organisation’s “defensive culture” had led to the destruction of a report into a failing trust.
At that time CQC chair David Prior said in the past the “senior level [of] the organisation was dysfunctional”.
Prior added that since the incident, the CQC board and senior executive team has been “radically changed”.
Based on interviews with 236 staff and line managers, the review found that 79% had personal experience of being bullied or had observed unacceptable behaviour.
The researchers from People Opportunities Limited recommended increased training for managers and a larger focus on cultural change.
A full copy of the report is available on the Care Quality Commission website.
