Question for the Masses, if a Staff member gets Suspended, at what point will they be informed of the reason for the Suspension such as allegations? I’ve got a friend who just found out they have been Suspended but have not been told what, when, why or who and this is coursing them more unnecessary stress in a very difficultly time right now.
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Is all their mandatory training up to date?
I believe so, if they are out of date anything it might be First Aid, but they haven’t said.
They should be told immediately. They should have received a letter from their WHQ explaining why. Maybe not any detail at this stage, but there should be a reason of some sort.
All I can say is they received a call from the WEXO saying they are suspended, and they couldn’t disclose the reason why.
If it’s an allegation, which it sounds like (mandatory training shouldn’t be so secretive), the organisation has it in its mind that it can’t tell you to prevent you from potentially taking action against the accuser.
@Rouge_2 there will be a letter follow up which may contain some more info, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s still vague.
How anyone is supposed to defend themselves against allegations they don’t know, about, I have no idea. Suspended personnel in this org are unfortunately left in limbo, often for an extended period of time, and not adequately supported.
Tell your friend to make sure they read up on the processes in ACP 20 and track if RAFAC are conducting themselves in line with their own processes.
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Thank you I’ll pass it on, but whatever the outcome they are indicating they will be leaving.
They may as well just go then - all of the people I’ve known who’ve been suspended to allow an investigation to take place have been through the wringer, both mentally and emotionally.
No one has come through it feeling happier, more secure, and in a better place. Everything suffers: work, family, friendships - even if they are completely exonerated.
If your friend was minded to walk anyway, tell them to just go.
Obviously, there are issues with that. They may have problems joining other youth orgs, and if it’s serious, the police could become involved - but if it’s serious, the police will become involved anyway.
I’d be wanting the WEXO to a) give a rough outline of the nature of the allegations/problem, and b) an explanation of how the investigation is to be conducted.
If they refuse, just go. Your friend will need their mental energy for anything that follows, and the ACO is small beer in a life. Clear the decks for the big stuff, and that’s the police, not your WExO.
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Yes, but they should still be getting a rough outline. They should get a reason, in writing, asap. Even if it’s just ‘an allegation has been made against you that we need to investigate, you can discuss this more with X and we’ll be back in contact with you in X days’. ACP 20 makes clear a letter should be sent.
In all circumstances of suspension a formal letter must be issued which includes a copy of the information sheet ‘Notes for a person under suspension’. A template letter can be found at Annex A, the information sheet can be found at Annex B. A suspension may not be lifted without the prior agreement of the relevant HQ RAFAC Caseworker.
All formal suspension letters (with the exception of those issued on expiry of criminal records checks) are to be approved by the relevant HQ RAFAC Caseworker before being signed and issued by the appropriate person as defined in the table below.
If the person hasn’t been given any information, they should call HQ and ask to speak to the personnel casework team.
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If I read the flow diagram correctly, the suspension should have been confirmed by HQ RAFAC - but more importantly, they should have approved the wording of the suspension letter (which should be as ACP20 Annex A). The suspension letter should have been issued to the individual.
Suspending via a call would seem to be in breach of all the above. File a grievance.
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It can be done directly by the WExO in exceptional circumstances, but HQAC should be informed ASAP, and a proper letter formulated. Either way, I’d be calling HQ and asking if they know anything about what is going on.
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Maybe so, but not knowing why you have been suspended doesn’t really help the situation on all accounts.
Sadly your friend is in for a terrible time.
They won’t be told until the initial interview, and even then the allegation will be kept very vague. The initial interview could take a while.
After that they will remain suspended while a laughable approximation of an investigation takes place, they will receive next to no updates, regardless of whether they or their AO badger for them.
Eventually they will receive a copy of the safeguarding report, this could be 6 months plus down the line. They will be able to respond to it, but their comments won’t really matter. Their comments together with the report will be passed to the Regional Commandant. The Regional Commandant will spend time reading this and set a date for a case conference with Safeguarding. After that’s done there will be another wait while the RC drafts a letter to the person. The letter will go via Legal and Pers, meaning another wait. The letter is then sent. There will be opportunity to respond, but the comments made in response don’t actually matter (a friend of mine received a decision letter which pre dated the date of his response). Once the response is made the RC will make a decision which will go to Pers, SG, Legal etc, and eventually make it back to the person who’s suspended.
Your friend won’t be kept up to date, treated like an actual human being, or supported by HQRAFAC in any way. They will receive a ‘welfare leaflet’ that basically says “don’t kill yourself without speaking to the Samaritans” (I’m paraphrasing).
All in all by the time the process concludes they will have had their reputation ruined by the rumour mill (which nobody will step in to control), and be thoroughly fed up of the organisation.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The process is wildly unfair, but since we are volunteers they can do what they want to us, with no legal obligation to follow any rules.
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Suspending via a phone call is now the norm. With letter to follow.
The call is pretty much “you’re suspended, wait out”.
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Could potentially be that it’s a criminal investigation and they don’t want to person down but don’t want to tread on the Police’s toes if they aren’t yet ready to arrest or invite for interview under caution.
Which I get, if you are parading tonight and the organisation doesn’t want you down they don’t have time to wait for Royal Mail. They could tell you on arrival but is a confrontation at the unit a good idea?
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I know this is far out there but have they checked with the OC to start with? It could be an expired DBS.
Unless the individual is the OC they are going to know if a member of staff has been suspended.
so they received the letter this morning its allegation of inappropriate conduct towards Cadet, they are trying to rack their brain but they believe they have limited contacted with cadets and missing a lot of night over the past couple on months.
Time to stop discussing any details on here I think!
For what it’s worth, I’d suggest you and your friend have a good read through of ACP 20 in the bit about suspensions. Have they been given an AO and all that stuff etc.
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