Freedom to Speak Up Guardian

The FTSU Guardian is a pivotal role in fostering a compassionate, open, and transparent culture at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Acting independently, the FTSU Guardian works alongside leadership teams to promote a supportive, listening environment, aligned with the Trust's leadership behaviours and compassion commitment.

We are seeking a creative, resilient and inspired individual to play a pivotal role in ensuring we have a culture where speaking up is routine and welcomed. As our Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, supported by a network of FTSU Champions you will have four key functions: to provide:

• An impartial and confidential supportive service to colleagues and where appropriate advice and guidance is given to foster resolution and continuous improvement.
• Developing strategies and communications plans to promote speaking up.
• Presenting, engaging and promoting the guardian service and speaking up more generally, as part of the Trust's focus on Staff Experience.
• Reporting to committees, Trust Board and the National Guardian Office.

Main duties of the job

• Promote a Speaking-Up Culture: Lead initiatives to enhance the visibility of the FTSU Guardian and champions, ensuring all staff, especially those facing barriers, have access to support and are empowered to speak up safely.
• Support Staff Compassionately: Protect confidentiality, signpost, provide feedback, and offer direct support to individuals or groups who face challenges in raising concerns or managing issues that arise from speaking up.
• Collaborate with Leadership: Build strong, trusting relationships with the Board, Chief Executive, and Senior Leadership Team. Advise on themes and support the Board in responding to staff concerns, while championing the Trust's commitment to compassion, inclusivity and safety.
• Ensure Safety and Quality: Take prompt action when concerns impact safety or quality, and contribute to the development of a just culture, ensuring a supportive and inclusive environment for all staff.
• Contribute to National Networks: Engage in National Guardian Office activities, participate in regional FTSU networks, develop a communication plan for FTSU month, and share best practices to enhance the Guardian's role within the wider NHS.

This role provides the opportunity to contribute to patient and staff safety, build professional networks, and drive meaningful cultural change across the organisation.

About us

NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

NHFT promotes a culture of learning to improve the care and safety of our patients and staff, which focuses on people who enable our Trust to be 'outstanding' by supporting opportunity, innovation, development and growth.

Job responsibilities

For further information on the advertised role, please refer to the job description located under the Supporting Documents heading. The full person specification can be accessed under the About You Section of the document.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Educated to Master's level (in a relevant discipline) or equivalent level, or equivalent experience of working at a senior level.
• Aware of and understands working in a complex organisation, Trust policies as well as local and national NHS initiatives.
• Designing and delivering specialist training and presenting to groups of people.
• Responsible for data collection, analysis and report writing. This will include analytical and problem solving skills, interpretation of a range of options and assessment of data reports.
• Experience of engaging and communicating effectively with people at all levels.

Desirable

• Demonstrate a people first approach in all they do.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to develop reputation and networks with pace, honesty, and authenticity.
• Ability to remain non-judgmental when presented with information.
• Highly complex communication skills & negotiating skills with the ability to establish boundaries.
• Able to develop written/podcast/verbal presentations and material to support learning and training.
• Ability to work independently and organise a varied workload, meeting competing demands. The post holder will need to take initiative and work in a self-directed manner.

Employer details

Employer name

Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

St Mary's Hospital

London Road

Kettering

NN15 7PW

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

270-TF636-CORP