Lead Freedom to Speak Up Guardian

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Working Relationships

NHS C&M Senior Responsible Officer for FTSU
Non-Executive Lead for FTSU
Chief Executive and Executive Team Members
Chair and Non-Executive Directors
Senior Managers and wider ICB colleagues
NHS C&M’s Freedom to Speak Up Guardians and Ambassadors
People Team
National Guardians Office
Local, regional and national Freedom to Speak Up Leads, Guardians and
Champions/Ambassadors
Senior leaders across Cheshire and Merseyside, NHS, local authorities and other third sector organisations
Clinical Leaders
HR Directors and Deputies
ICS People Board members

Primary Care Network Clinical Directors
Local and Regional Trade Union representatives
Local professional committees (LMC, LPC, LOC, LDC)
FTSU national and regional guardian and networks
GP Portfolio leads, member GP practices and other practice staff
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Leads
Professional people networks across the region
Other Integrated Care Boards and System colleagues
NHSE - National and Regional Representatives

Main duties and responsibilities

The FTSUG will work with colleagues to support the Board in the development of a FTSU organisational vision, identifying gaps in speaking up provision and engaging with key stakeholders to lead on the development and implementation of an FTSU strategy and action plan.

Working with the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO), the FTSUG will oversee the development of the long-term strategic plan for FTSU for NHS C&M include the roles, responsibilities and accountabilities of internal and system partners

The FTSUG will work with the SRO, Chief Executive, Board and Senior Leadership Team to guide them in the creation of an open culture which is based on listening and learning

The FTSUG will lead the ICBs system responsibilities including monitoring, oversight and assurance linked to the ICB’s quality arrangements, and ensuring the ICB can demonstrate and evidence to external regulators in respect of action to develop speaking up arrangements

The post holder will have day to day operational responsibility for FTSU including awareness, recording, reporting and analysis of FTSU activity and management of highly sensitive and confidential information held on the FTSU Database

The post holder will provide a range of accurate and analytical reports to Boards, Committees, FTSU Forums providing analysis of FTSU data, themes, identified learning and recommendations.

The post holder will liaise with the National Guardian’s Office and other external bodies and Networks to monitor FTSU processes and the organisational and system response to FTSU and provide relevant analysis of data and evidence.

The FTSUG will report quarterly to the National Guardians Office on all relevant data and support the National Guardians Office in the case review process. The post holder will also participate in National Guardian Office activities and training, actively supporting fellow FTSU Guardians and Ambassadors.

The role will work with colleagues to develop, embed and promote an inclusive and values-based culture which supports all of our people to achieve their full potential.

The FTSUG will work with the Chief Executive and Board and with Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, Organisational Development and engagement colleagues to support development of a culture based on listening and learning where FTSU is a catalyst for innovation and change.

The FTSU Guardian will lead the long-term strategic planning for FTSU for NHS C&M and how to engage the wider health and care system in long term plans for FTSU, including primary care, social care and VCSE.

To work with colleagues to develop and embed an inclusive and values-based culture which supports all of our people to achieve their full potential.

The FTSU Guardian will deputise for Senior Responsible Officer for FTSU as required. 

Communication and relationships

The post holder will meet regularly with NHS C&M Chief Executive, NED FTSU Lead, FTSU Senior Responsible Officer and Guardians to highlight areas of concern, feedback themes from staff speaking up and share experiences and outcomes.

Act as a ‘critical friend’ to Board members, supporting the Board in ensuring it takes appropriate action to create a Freedom to Speak Up culture, assess trends, and actively respond to issues that are being raised.

Working in partnership with Communication and Engagement colleagues to develop and deliver FTSU communication and engagement interventions aimed at:
- Increasing the understanding and visibility of the FTSUG and FTSU Ambassador roles amongst the organisations workforce
-  Promoting speaking up processes and sources of support and guidance, demonstrate the impact that speaking up is having in the organisation, and appropriately ‘celebrate’ speaking up
-  Ensure the freedom to speak up message is relayed clearly to all staff

The post holder will ensure that staff are aware of, and have access to, support to help them speak up.

The FTSUG will be a highly visible individual, who spends time with staff providing expertise in developing a safe culture which supports and encourages staff to speak up and if necessary, advising them on how to raise concerns, including externally.

Ensure that individuals receive appropriate feedback on how issues about which they speak up are investigated, and the conclusion of any investigation.

The post holder will support managers to develop appropriate attitudes, knowledge and skills to respond to staff speaking up.

The FTSUG will coordinate and further develop a network of ambassadors who will work for cultural change to ensure that FTSU is embedded within the cultural change process and reaches all parts of the organisation with easy access to advice and support

The FTSUG will develop personal networks and peer relationships, contributing to wider networking, including the NW Regional network events, and sharing and learning from best practice.

The postholder will role model behaviours in support of FTSU best practice and challenge colleagues if this is not adhered to.

Provide FTSU specialist support to a wide range of internal teams, who maybe experiencing conflict. This will involve challenging behaviours which are not aligned with the culture and values of NHS Cheshire & Merseyside.