Freedom to Speak Up: National Developments
Karyn Richards-Wright Lead Freedom to Speak Up Guardian St George’s Hospital
Chair Freedom to Speak Up London Regional Group
• the role of the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian: current issues and developments from reviews and the National FTSU Steering Group
• the National Freedom to Speak Up Policy and Freedom to Speak Up reflection and planning tool
• FTSU and Covid-19
• supporting the role at board level and learning from the FTSU Index
• ensuring all staff within the trust feel able to raise any issues or concerns, or challenge any wrongdoing
• supporting vulnerable workers
• supporting FTSU Guardians
• developing the role of the FTSU Guardian
Achieving a Culture of Candour & Freedom to Speak Up
Bethany Carter Freedom to Speak Up Lead Guardian
Solent NHS Trust
Jude Diggins Freedom to Speak Up Guardian
Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
• creating the right environment for staff to speak up safely and share this best practice across the NHS
• accountabilities and reporting requirements
• the importance of leadership and management behaviours
• how do we achieve a culture of candour in our organisations and services?
Bethany and Jude gave a great practical presentation on organisational culture, Jude started by saying there is little consensus on what organisational culture is and how it influences behaviour. She said it's important to shift from who is to blame to what has happened. Punishing people who make mistakes just doesn't work for improving patient safety. She went on to say that in a just culture staff have no fear of reporting even a small event. They have tried to make clear pathways so staff know how and where to speak up, with posters and links on the staff network.
They found barriers to a just and open culture include:
- our tone, language and communication style
- talking down to others
- interrupting, excluding and ignoring
- non-verbal insults, rolling eyes, smirking
- pay little attention or interest in others
- neglect to say please and thank you
Beth went on to say they are passionate about supporting their workforce and colleagues, and that staff have a voice to share ideas and suggestions. She shared what they are doing to create a culture of candour. She said if we need to challenge staff, it needs to be done in a compassionate way, we are challenging because we care. Staff should feel safe to bring their whole selves to work without fear.