Freedom to Speak Up

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Your Voice Matters

 

Freedom to Speak Up Guardians support workers to speak up when they feel that they are unable to do so by other routes. They ensure that people who speak up are thanked, the issues they raise are responded to and that the person speaking up receives feedback on the actions taken.

Freedom to Speak Up Guardians are appointed by the organisation they support and abide by the guidance issued by the National Guardian’s Office. Their role requires them to work in partnership throughout their organisation to support speaking up and translate this learning to improve the safety and experience of all.

Please Note: Temporary arrangements for Freedom to Speak Up Service in Primary Care, Derbyshire.

Linda Cross our Freedom to Speak Up Guardian for Derbyshire is currently on sick leave whilst recovering from an accident at home. Linda is doing really well and in good spirits and is keen to get back to her role when fully able to do so. Whilst wishing Linda our very best and hoping she re-joins us soon; we have put in the following temporary arrangements.

Speak Up training queries for staff or wellbeing champion support to be directed to our main inbox ddlmc.thehubplus@nhs.net

For Staff or practice speak up queries, please email just your contact details in confidence with a subject heading of ‘Freedom to Speak Up Support’ to either heidi@scott-smithconsultancy.com or Claire.leggett1@nhs.net and we will be happy to assist.

Signposting and support

The Champions would need to have detailed knowledge of local speaking up policy and process including escalation routes and useful contacts, provide information on the options available, and escalate issues that must acted on involving safety or safeguarding – again this could be through referral to the Guardian. Champions need to know about confidentiality, when to seek support, and how to deal with people who do speak up. 

Feedback

It is important to feedback to workers so that they feel listened to and valued. Workers feedback helps improve the support offered to everyone and can improve patient safety, retention of staff and morale in a workplace. 

Learning

Local mechanisms are in place to ensure that issues/themes are captured and communicated sensitively for wider learning. Speaking up is an opportunity to learn and improve Workers see positive change happening as a result of their actions and are celebrated wherever possible.

Confidentiality

People may approach champions wanting to speak up, so it is important that everyone understands the extent of the champion role and that they do not handle cases. Their role is to thank, support and signpost people to available routes that can offer resolution, including, where appropriate, the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian. Champions do not record or report identifying details of the people who contact them unless legally obliged to disclose information shared with them. In exceptional circumstances, confidentiality may need to be broken, for example, if there is an immediate risk of harm to an individual. However, there may be other ways to protect confidentiality, even in situations when the champion must take action to safeguard an individual, for example, if the person contacting them does not take that action themselves. Champions will share numbers of contacts and thematic information with the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian to enable wider learning.

Communication 

It is vital that workers understand the existence and purpose of the champion role. Clear, regular communications to workers will ensure that they are aware of who they can contact, how and what to expect in terms of support. This will help to avoid confusion between the guardian and champion roles and help workers choose the right route for them.

Training

Champions complete the Freedom to Speak Up e-learning modules co-produced by the NGO and Health Education England for workers and managers. This will ensure that champions understand speaking up and the expectations about responding well when someone speaks up. This may be supplemented with an information session delivered by the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian.

Support

Speaking up roles are not easy and require regular support. Whilst champions will not be handling cases, they are still likely to be contacted about and affected by difficult and distressing issues.

Champions can play a positive role in modelling good speaking up behaviours and empowering workers to take action themselves (subject to safety caveats mentioned in the guidance) They can signpost individuals to speak up to guardians – if that is the right route for them and those individuals choose to do so.

Freedom to Speak Up is about encouraging a positive culture in our workplace, where we feel comfortable speaking up and know that our voices will be heard, suggestions acted upon and we will be value for taking a brave step in the interests of protecting patients and wellbeing of staff.

The Freedom to Speak Up Guardian for Derbyshire is Linda Cross at The Hub Plus.

"As a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, I support people to speak up, especially where they are unable to do so by other routes. I work to ensure that people are thanked for speaking up, that issues raised are responded to and that feedback on actions taken is given. I work in partnership throughout the organisation to help identify and address barriers to speaking up and to help improve the speaking up culture. To encourage learning and improvement." 

What you can expect from me

"I take what you tell me at face value and will not judge what you have said or why. I am here to support anyone in the organisation to speak up and this means not taking sides or representing people in a dispute or at meetings. I can help you consider routes to resolve the matters you raise and may signpost you to internal or external options. I operate impartially and will not get involved in any investigations or decisions. I will endeavour to ensure that you receive feedback directly or through me about actions taken. I will also ask for and welcome your feedback about your speaking up experience." 

For more information contact: linda.cross@nhs.net