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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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