Publish date: 19 August 2022

The Freedom to Speak Up Guardian are developing a Freedom to Speak Up Champion role across the Trust to make it easier for colleagues to access advice and guidance regarding how to raise an issue of concern. The team are starting to pilot this approach within the Secure Care Division and have recruited 10 champions so far. They will receive training and support to undertake this role on a regular basis through their guardian.

Champions will ensure that information about speaking up is readily available, and help colleagues link in with guardians and other suitable staff. Having a local link to Freedom to Speak up will enable staff to feel more comfortable with sharing their issues and speaking up as colleagues feel more at ease when speaking to people who work in the same area and understand some of the issues that are of concern.

The Freedom to Speak Up team want to make speaking up about concerns at work an everyday issue and everyone's responsibility and right.

Your point of contact should always be your line manager, but where you feel unable to do this, the guardians and champions can help find a way for your voice to be heard.