Healthcare

Supporting resolution and trust across the NHS and healthcare providers.

Resolving conflict in complex clinical environments

Workplace challenges in healthcare settings are complex, shaped by high-pressure environments, diverse teams and sensitive power dynamics. When issues arise, they need to be handled with care, credibility and a deep understanding of context.

We work with NHS Trusts, integrated care systems, private healthcare providers and medical schools to resolve conflict, rebuild trust and embed fair, psychologically safe cultures. From independent investigations and mediations to leadership coaching and behavioural interventions, our team brings sector-specific insight and national reach.

We understand the realities of delivering care while managing complex people issues, and we partner with you to create lasting, practical change.

Our connection to the NHS

HR leaders in the NHS have been trailblazers in improving workplace cultures; adopting early resolution approaches, workplace mediation and Resolution Frameworks as part of their work around strategies such as the Just and Learning Culture charter.

They’ve needed to make workplace relationships a priority. Relentless pressures on physical resources are combined with those on people, their reserves of psychological and emotional resilience. Heavy workloads and performance targets mean so much more when they involve saving lives.

CMP continues to play an important role in supporting NHS’ initiatives and raising standards of practice, working with Trusts across the country. Our experience means the approach and recommendations is always tailored to the very specific culture and regulatory environment in terms of fitness to practice standards and complaints processes.

“Outstanding service, an outstanding outcome, really went the extra mile(s) in achieving a win win outcome for everyone.”

The Human Factor in Science

Resolving Workplace Fault Lines in Pharma

Sophisticated pharmaceuticals businesses, with their global operations and pools of research and development talent and skilled HR partners, come with their own fault-lines of tension.

It’s a sector that’s highly performance-driven, there’s pressure to continually improve and a culture of competition over bonuses. In this context, professionalism and drive can lead to conflict — particularly when there are different national cultures involved, with their own management styles and expectations from employees; when there can be ‘dotted line’ relationships between an organisation’s departments and limited appreciation of each other’s roles; silos of expertise. As with other science and technology-related sectors, successful staff will often rise to senior levels positions because of their technical expertise and not their people management skills.

CMP works closely as a partner with some of the world’s largest pharmaceuticals employers, delivering the highest standards of professional investigations, mediations and support for developing managers, resolution skills and improving workplace cultures.

Trusted By:

CMP has supported a wide range of NHS Trusts, private healthcare providers and medical education institutions across the UK.

The Client:

NHS Highlands

Case Studies

Description

In 2019, a public report exposed a widespread culture of bullying and harassment across NHS Highland, one of Scotland’s largest health boards, covering 41 percent of the country’s landmass and serving over 300,000 people. The damage was not only organisational but deeply personal. NHS Highland needed a trusted partner to help lead a system-wide restorative process that put dignity, healing and individual experience at the centre.

CMP was appointed to co-design and deliver the Healing Process, a confidential, person-led mechanism for former and current staff affected by bullying and harassment. CMP provided the frontline support: a dedicated phoneline and webform to register, one-to-one advisory sessions, and ongoing communication management. We acted as a bridge between individuals and the Independent Review Panel, ensuring each participant’s experience was heard, documented and responded to with clarity, empathy and care.

Over 340 individuals registered for support, with 272 progressing to panel meetings and many receiving tailored reparations, including financial payments, therapeutic services and formal apologies. Each participant received an average of three sessions with a CMP advisor, many of whom became vital anchors for individuals navigating one of the most difficult chapters of their working lives. The programme has been publicly praised by NHS Highland’s executive leadership and participants alike.

Key Services

Confidential phoneline and secure webform for participant registration
Delivery of nearly 1,000 one-to-one support sessions
Case management and communication support for over 340 individuals, with 272 progressing to panel meetings
Administrative and reporting support to the Independent Review Panel
Management of complex reparations including financial redress, therapy, counselling and personal apologies
Coordination across stakeholders under intense public scrutiny, with extremely tight timelines and evolving needs

“CMP is committed to their person-centric principles. They delivered a rare combination of tailored individual support, excellent admin, and a robust organisational understanding. I would not hesitate to recommend them.”
Chief ExecutiveNHS Highland

Key Personnel

Client Relationship Management Team

Nicola Cross

CRM

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Sheila Robbie

CRM

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Rachel Shaw

CRM

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Owen Bubbers-Jones

CRM

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