Freedom to Speak Up Guardian

Job overview

The Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Guardian will promote a culture in which colleagues feel safe, confident, and supported to raise concerns. The post holder will strengthen the visibility and accessibility of speaking‑up routes and provide independent, impartial guidance to ensure staff receive appropriate advice and timely feedback.

Working collaboratively across the organisation, the Guardian will develop and maintain a network of FTSU Champions, embed speaking‑up principles within induction and staff engagement activities, and ensure information is accessible to all staff groups, including those who may face barriers to raising concerns.

Main duties of the job

The role will support continuous improvement by reviewing and enhancing speaking‑up processes, integrating insights from FTSU cases with safety, quality and staff experience data, and ensuring relevant policies meet required standards. The Guardian will build strong relationships with senior leaders, attend key meetings, and provide analysis and reporting to influence actions that strengthen the Trust’s speaking‑up culture.

The post holder will take prompt action where concerns indicate potential risks, support quarterly reporting to the Board, and engage in national training and networks to share learning and best practice. They will work independently and with professionalism, maintaining confidentiality, impartiality, and resilience at all times.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Culture and awareness raising

• Develop and deliver communication and engagement activity to increase awareness and accessibility of the Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Guardian role.
• Promote speaking up processes and sources of support, demonstrating and celebrating their impact.
• Ensure staff are aware of, and can access, appropriate support to raise concerns.
• Develop, train and support a network of FTSU Champions across the organisation.
• Ensure FTSU information is embedded within Trust induction arrangements.
• Seek advice from, and escalate matters to, external bodies where appropriate.
• Challenge behaviours and practices that do not align with FTSU principles or Trust values.

Analysis and process improvement

• Work in partnership with the People Services Team, the clinical governance team and other stakeholders to integrate intelligence from speaking up cases with other patient safety, quality and staff experience data to support organisational learning.
• Develop and use measures to identify and report on trends and links between FTSU concerns and other safety and quality intelligence.
• Work in partnership with the People Services Team and other stakeholders to ensure speaking up processes are clear, accessible and effective.
• Review the effectiveness of FTSU processes and case handling, intervening where they are not working effectively and recommending improvements.
• Ensure relevant policies and procedures are maintained, meet required standards and are regularly reviewed.
• Undertake research to remain up to date with national guidance and best practice relating to FTSU.

Supporting staff

• Advise staff on routes they can take to raise concerns, and guide them through the process if necessary.
• Ensure individuals receive timely and appropriate feedback on investigations and outcomes.
• Provide enhanced support to individuals who experience difficulty speaking up, or feel unable to raise their concerns.
• Take action to ensure FTSU arrangements are accessible to groups who may face barriers to speaking up.
• Ensure all information is managed in line with confidentiality and data protection requirements.

Assurance reporting and escalation

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with Directors and the Chief Executive, with direct access as required.
• Attend a variety of Trust meetings / groups to promote speaking up and report on FTSU activity, trends and themes (as appropriate).
• Take prompt and appropriate action where concerns indicate potential risks to safety or quality.
• Produce and present assurance reports to the Board on the operation of the FTSU service, trends, themes, and potential barriers to speaking up.
• Support the Trust’s reporting to the National Guardian’s Office (or equivalent).
• Advise and influence senior leaders to take appropriate action to strengthen the FTSU culture.
• Ensure senior leaders are actively engaged in promoting and embedding FTSU principles.

Collaborative working  and escalation – regional and national

• Participate in National Guardian’s Office (or equivalent) and NHS England training, networks and events, contributing to shared learning and best practice.
• Escalate unresolved concerns to the national FTSU Guardian (or equivalent) where there are concerns that the Trust may be failing to meet its obligations.

Management of self and others

• Work independently, impartially and objectively while collaborating effectively across the organisation.
• Maintain professional competence through continuous development and awareness of best practice.
• Plan and manage own workload and the activity of FTSU Champions to deliver an effective service.
• Review own performance and take action to address development needs.
• Undertake additional duties appropriate to the role as required.

Professionalism

• Act with integrity and model behaviours that encourage speaking up.
• Raise and address concerns in line with FTSU principles.
• Comply with Trust policies, procedures, values and behaviours.
• Maintain professional boundaries at all times.

Wellbeing and emotional resilience

• Demonstrate resilience and a constructive approach to challenge and change.
• Recognise personal limitations and access support when required.
• Remain organised and effective when working under pressure.
• Access external FTSU mentoring support as arranged by the Trust.