Freedom to Speak Up Lead Guardian, Band 8a - Gloucester, United Kingdom - Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Verified Company
Gloucester, United Kingdom

1 month ago

Tom O´Connor

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

This is a really exciting time to be joining GHFT to shape and drive the innovative and creative cultural work that is underway.

There is no better barometer for our organisational culture than the Freedom to Speak Up agenda, and the Lead Guardian will play a pivotal role in this cultural journey.

Although operating in an independent capacity and reporting to the Board, the Lead Guardian will benefit from working alongside those in the 'Learning and Culture' portfolio to ensure insight and coherence across the whole cultural agenda.

The FTSU Lead Guardian role leads the work to achieve the following outcomes:

  • A culture of speaking up is instilled throughout the Trust.
  • A culture of openness and transparency is instilled throughout the organisation.
  • Speaking up processes are effective and continuously improved.
  • All staff have the capability to speak up effectively and managers have the capability to support those who are speaking up.
  • All staff are supported appropriately when they speak up or support other people who are speaking up.
  • The Board is fully sighted on, and engaged in, all Freedom to Speak Up matters and issues that are raised by people who are speaking up.
  • Safety and quality are assured and processes in place to support this.


Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest employer in the county and with over 8,000 staff, we are one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK.

We offer a generous annual leave allowance, excellent bank rates, access to the excellent NHS Pension Scheme, discounts for local shops, restaurants and services, access to our health and well-being hub, access to our two on-site nurseries, flexible working options, discounted public transport, reward and recognition schemes, exercise and activity classes and membership to our popular hospital choir.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience Required

  • Substantial NHS experience working with stakeholders at all levels
  • Experience of developing and reviewing cross organisational policies or initiatives
  • A demonstrable track record of supporting and listening to staff and of providing impartial advice
  • Experience and understanding of the effective use of mediation and of managing highly confidential matters.
  • Committed to professional development.
Leadership and management

  • Develop strong and open working relationships with the CEO, NEDs and other Directors, with direct access to Trust leaders as required.
  • Attend board meetings regularly to report on Freedom to Speak Up activities. Reports should include assessment of issues that people are speaking up about (and trends in those issues), and barriers affecting ability of people to speak up. Particular attention should be given to concerns which may suggest a link to patient safety and quality.
  • Hold the Board to account for taking appropriate action to create a Freedom to Speak Up culture, assess trends, and respond to issues that are being raised.
  • Lead the FTSU Guardian team, ensuring colleagues are supported and the team is representative of the wider workforce
  • Ensure that all staff have the relevant skills and knowledge to enable them to speak up effectively, and those supporting, managing or investigating speaking up issues have the capability and knowledge to do this effectively.
  • Ensure all staff have access to training that is appropriate for their job role.
  • Ensure that groups of staff and individuals who may find it difficult to speak up are given particular support.
Education and training

  • Educated to degree level or equivalent qualifications or experience
  • Postgraduate (Masters) qualification or equivalent
  • Clinical/professional knowledge
Improving quality and developing practice

  • Develop, alongside the Board, Chief executive and executive team a range of mechanisms, in addition to the formal processes, which empower and encourage staff to speak up safely.
  • Be entirely independent of the executive team, so they are able to challenge senior members of staff, reporting to the Board or externally as required.
  • Meet monthly with the Chief executive and Executive Lead for Speaking Up to feedback themes from the concerns raised and to share positive and negative experiences and outcomes.
  • Participate in the national network for the guardians, sharing and helping to develop excellent practice in supporting members of staff who speak up.
  • Ensure FTSU policy is within National Guidance of policy.
  • Report at least every six months to the Board and the organisation as a whole.
  • Participate in the organisation's educational and induction programme for all staff so that they understand how they can raise concerns and for managers about how they respond to concerns and supporting the member of staff appropriately. Monitor success and report to board.
  • To recruit, train and provide support and guidance for the FTSU Guardian team
  • Be a highly visible individual, who spends the majority of their time with 'front line' staff, provid
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