Freedom to Speak up Guardian

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

Are you passionate about encouraging and advocating colleagues to speak up?

To be a guardian requires strong partnership working at all levels within the organisation to identify appropriate contacts and escalation routes as sources of support for anything that might be spoken up about.

The Freedom to Speak Up Guardian (FTSUG) will act as an impartial and independent, expert and professional resource for Trust colleagues on all aspects of practice relating to Freedom to Speak Up and associated cultural change in line with our Trust Values; to encourage the embedding of best practice in enabling and supporting Trust staff to raise concerns where they see evidence of risk and unsafe practice.

This role will operate independently, impartially, and objectively, whilst working in partnership with individuals and groups throughout the organisation. The post holder will seek guidance and support from and, where appropriate and escalate matters as required including to bodies outside the organisation.

The post holder will provide a focus on ensuring that colleagues feel able to speak up without fear of detriment to protect patient safety, identify and develop ways to improve barriers to speaking up, improve experience and promote learning and improvement.

The post holder will, adhere with directives from the National Guardian Office, regularly support and contribute to the national and regional networks.

Main duties of the job

Embed the F2SU service across the Trust including our community and 0-19 services in line with National Guardian Office guidelines

To promote a culture where staff are encouraged to speak up by raising the profile of Speaking up including challenging poor practice where this is observed.

To provide effective and compassionate support and guidance to all staff, ensuring action is taken when an issue is brought to their attention. Ensure confidentiality is respected as appropriate, that there is a fair and effective investigation and that regular feedback on progress is provided.

To ensure action is taken to ensure that groups that may face particular barriers to speaking up have the support they need. To ensure that senior leaders, including the Trust Board, receive regular reports that include information on the number and types of cases they deal with, barriers to speaking up, and details of opportunities for learning and improvement

To plan events and facilitate collaborative working with clinical and non-clinical staff to ensure the Freedom to Speak Up agenda is fully understood by staff, implementing new ways of working to support this agenda

To ensure that staff across the Trust have the capability, knowledge and skills they need to speak up themselves and to support others to speak up through appropriate training, resources and easy access to F2SU Champions.

About us

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) cares for the population in Harrogate and the local area, as well as across North Yorkshire, Leeds and parts of the North East.

At HDFT we provide outstanding care to both our patients and our staff and we value Kindness, Integrity, Teamwork and Equality. If you're looking for an interesting and rewarding career in the NHS, where you can make a real difference to patients' lives, HDFT could be the place for you!

We offer colleagues:

A supportive culture so colleagues can bring their whole selves to work.
Staff Recognition - as well as regular appraisals, we recognise achievements with our Making a Difference & Team of the Month Awards, along with annual Colleague Recognition Awards.
Employee Support and wellbeing - we offer a wide range of staff benefits including an Employee Assistance Programme, counselling service and a fast-track Physiotherapy service.

Please note:

Due to high levels of interest, posts may close early if we reach a sufficient number of applications
Visa sponsorship is only available for certain roles. Please ensure the role you are interested in meets the criteria for a visa before submitting your application.
Please also be aware that the Trust does not offer relocation packages for Agenda for Change roles.
All job offers are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks.

Date posted

24 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£53,755 to £60,504 a year PA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Home or remote working

Reference number

421-CORP-1983S

Job locations

HDH

Harrogate

HG2 7SX

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Discription and Person Specification. For more information about the role please contact -

Kate Southgate

Associate Director for Quality and Corporate Affairs

k.southgate@nhs.net

01423 554527

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Discription and Person Specification. For more information about the role please contact -

Kate Southgate

Associate Director for Quality and Corporate Affairs

k.southgate@nhs.net

01423 554527

Person Specification

essential & desirable

Essential

Educated to Masters level or demonstrable equivalent experience in a relevant role.
Track record in supporting and listening to staff and in demonstrating the values of the Trust and the NHS constitution in day-to-day practice.
Experience of handling difficult situations professionally and setting boundaries.
Relevant experience of designing and preparing senior level report
Knowledge and understanding of Risk Management, Freedom of Information, Data Protection strategies, Complaints Management and Customer Relations.
Ability to work under high level pressure managing competing deadlines
High degree of personal resilience to meet mental and emotional requirements of the post.
Ability to develop rapport with colleagues at all levels, demonstrating compassion and understanding.

Desirable

Demonstrable knowledge of CQC standards and quality governance
Datix knowledge and experience.
Evidence of managing projects in the NHS environment.

Person Specification

essential & desirable

Essential

Educated to Masters level or demonstrable equivalent experience in a relevant role.
Track record in supporting and listening to staff and in demonstrating the values of the Trust and the NHS constitution in day-to-day practice.
Experience of handling difficult situations professionally and setting boundaries.
Relevant experience of designing and preparing senior level report
Knowledge and understanding of Risk Management, Freedom of Information, Data Protection strategies, Complaints Management and Customer Relations.
Ability to work under high level pressure managing competing deadlines
High degree of personal resilience to meet mental and emotional requirements of the post.
Ability to develop rapport with colleagues at all levels, demonstrating compassion and understanding.

Desirable

Demonstrable knowledge of CQC standards and quality governance
Datix knowledge and experience.
Evidence of managing projects in the NHS environment.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information