Guidance on personal relationships at work for medical staff in NES roles

This guidance applies to all medically qualified staff employed by NES in full or part time roles or via a Service Level Agreement (SLA). It is intended to provide staff with clarity in respect to personal relationships with trainees or other staff where the perception of a power imbalance may occur.

The GMC states that:

Consensual relationships (GMC)

Consensual and reciprocated sexual attraction and relationships between colleagues are not sexual misconduct.  However, when there is an imbalance of power between colleagues, or situations where training and career progression opportunities could be impacted, this could lead to environments where sexual misconduct can take place.  

https://www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/learning-materials/consensual-relationship-impacting-team-opportunities 

NES considers it essential that all appropriate steps are taken to avoid situations which may lead to concerns over favouritism, exploitation or sexual misconduct in relationships between NES medical staff and trainees or other grades of staff within the line management structure. In order to achieve this the following guidance should be followed:

• The development of intimate relationships between NES medical staff and medical trainees is strongly discouraged
• In the event of such a relationship developing the NES medical employee is expected to disclose this to their NES medical line manager
• There will be an expectation that all reasonable steps will be taken to remove training and line management responsibilities and to mitigate against all possible conflicts of interest. This may include the need to demit from the NES role.

Thank you for understanding the importance of following this guidance to protect all parties from potential concerns which may arise from the development of personal relationships at work.

This page was last updated on: 26.06.2025 at 10.57