What does a freedom to speak guardian do?
Freedom to Speak Up is about encouraging a positive culture where people feel they can speak up and their voices will be heard and their suggestions acted upon.
What is speaking up?
It is about speaking up about anything that gets in the way of doing a great job.
Freedom to Speak Up Guardians support workers to speak up when they feel that they are unable to themselves and they need support to do so.
There are over 1,000 Freedom to Speak Up Guardians in the NHS and independent sector organisations, national bodies and elsewhere.
The principles below are the fundamental requirements for an environment where people feel safe to speak up with confidence.
1 Value speaking up.
2 Role-model speaking up and set a healthy Freedom to Speak Up culture.
3 Make sure workers know how to speak up and feel safe and encouraged to do so.
FTSU Guardians are responsible for:
- Supporting staff to raise their concerns.
- Acting as an independent and impartial source of advice to staff through listening to issues raised and agreeing with the colleague speaking up, what might be the appropriate action to take.
Michael Bird is both a Consultant Psychotherapist that works for TOTUS and is your Freedom to Speak Up Guardian. Although TOTUS works in partnership with Care First 24, they are an independent organisation that takes the wellbeing of CF24 staff very seriously. All conversations with them are confidential and any staff that feel a need to speak up will be supported every step of the way. If there is anything you are concerned about and you would like support then please contact TOTUS by emailing [email protected] or calling 01992 248100.
