Job summary
The role of Freedom to Speak Up Guardian has an aim of ensuring that colleagues feel as confident as possible in raising concerns about working practices and patients safety . The post holder will work as a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian focussing on one or two of the Trust's divisions and will carry a caseload of cases . This will mean that they need to link closely with divisional managers to enable the issues being raised to gain the earliest possible resolution.
The Trust is fortunate to have a small team of Freedom to Speak Up Guardians across the Trust , offering all colleagues an equal and active support service.
The Freedom to Speak Up team work proactively with colleagues including divisional managers , safeguarding team , Staff Side and Organisational Effectiveness Team to identify areas that require additional support.
Shortlisting date is planned for 15th June 2023
Interview date is planned for 28th June 2023
Main duties of the job
- Act as Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, enabling staff to share any concerns they have with managers to ensure that safety and quality issues can be reviewed and remedial actions put in place.
- Proactively engage staff in their linked area to identify the concerns of staff before they become overly problematic and to give voice to those staff who would feel too vulnerable to raise their concerns.
- To liaise with senior managers to ensure that they are aware of any obstacles to the earliest possible resolution of concerns raised.
- Document issues raised and actions taken.
- Work closely and flexibly with team colleagues to ensure that Freedom to Speak Up services are provided across the working week.
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 11 million people.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Work across the Trust supporting it to be a safer place for staff to share concerns and a more open place to work.
- Ensure that staff are encouraged to speak out and are not disadvantaged by doing so.
- Ensure that information regarding how to speak out is shared with all staff
- Act in an independent and impartial capacity, listening to staff and supporting them to raise concerns they may have by using the available structures and policies, both within the organisation and outside.
- Ensure that relevant levels of confidentiality is maintained dependent on the situation and where necessary individual anonymity should be assured.
- Ensure that any safety issues raised are addressed and feedback given to the member of staff who raised it.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Work across the Trust supporting it to be a safer place for staff to share concerns and a more open place to work.
- Ensure that staff are encouraged to speak out and are not disadvantaged by doing so.
- Ensure that information regarding how to speak out is shared with all staff
- Act in an independent and impartial capacity, listening to staff and supporting them to raise concerns they may have by using the available structures and policies, both within the organisation and outside.
- Ensure that relevant levels of confidentiality is maintained dependent on the situation and where necessary individual anonymity should be assured.
- Ensure that any safety issues raised are addressed and feedback given to the member of staff who raised it.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Evidence of significant personal development both professionally and managerially.
- First degree.
- Recognised clinical professional qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working in a multi professional team in an NHS or social care environment.
- Experience of working with people at all levels of an organisation, including very senior people leaders.
- Awareness of current NHS and government strategic initiatives and key policies
- Understanding of the issues and implications relating to The Francis Enquiry, Freedom to Speak Up and the Compassion in Practice Strategy.
- Understanding of the issues relating to cultural change, organisational development, staff engagement and the NHS Constitution.
- Knowledge of safeguarding principles and practice
Desirable
- Experience of working in a senior clinical role in an NHS or social care environment.
Skills
Essential
- Flexible working approach.
- Self motivated
- Professional attitude
- Ability to adhere to strict deadlines.
- Possess a caring, compassionate and empathic attitude
- Ability/willingness to undergo further training as necessary
- Undertake all mandatory training as required
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Evidence of significant personal development both professionally and managerially.
- First degree.
- Recognised clinical professional qualification
Knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working in a multi professional team in an NHS or social care environment.
- Experience of working with people at all levels of an organisation, including very senior people leaders.
- Awareness of current NHS and government strategic initiatives and key policies
- Understanding of the issues and implications relating to The Francis Enquiry, Freedom to Speak Up and the Compassion in Practice Strategy.
- Understanding of the issues relating to cultural change, organisational development, staff engagement and the NHS Constitution.
- Knowledge of safeguarding principles and practice
Desirable
- Experience of working in a senior clinical role in an NHS or social care environment.
Skills
Essential
- Flexible working approach.
- Self motivated
- Professional attitude
- Ability to adhere to strict deadlines.
- Possess a caring, compassionate and empathic attitude
- Ability/willingness to undergo further training as necessary
- Undertake all mandatory training as required
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
