Freedom to Speak Up
Every NHS provider must have a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian (FTSUG) to give independent support and advice to staff who want to raise concerns.
Guardians collaborate with all staff to foster a more open and transparent healthcare environment, where team members are actively encouraged and supported to ‘speak up’ safely. Creating a workplace where staff feel comfortable voicing any concerns is crucial, as it enables continuous improvement of our services for patients and enhances the working environment for our teams.
The role of the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian is to:
- Listen to concerns in a supportive and non-judgemental way
- Provide confidential advice and guidance
- Help people understand the options available to them
- Support individuals through the speaking-up process
- Identify themes and learning opportunities to help improve organisational culture
- Promote an environment where speaking up is welcomed and valued
Meet Our Freedom to Speak Up Guardian
Our Pioneer Freedom to Speak Up Guardian helps ensure that all staff feel safe and supported to raise concerns, share ideas, and speak up about anything that may affect patient care, patient safety, staff wellbeing, or the quality of the services we provide.
Colleagues with concerns are encouraged to speak to their line manager in the first instance, giving them the opportunity to address the issue and take appropriate action. However, if you have already done this, or do not feel that this route is appropriate, you can speak in confidence with the Pioneer Freedom to Speak Up Guardian.
The Guardian is independent of day-to-day management processes and provides a confidential and impartial point of contact for staff who may be unsure how to raise a concern or who feel unable to do so through other channels.
For more information or to contact the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, email
freedomtospeakup@pioneer-whlc.org
