Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Band 8a £53,755 - £60,504 per annum, pro rata if part-time
Hours: up to 37.5hrs, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
We are looking for a compassionate, caring and approachable professional, preferably with experience working within a clinical setting, to lead the Freedom to Speak Up Service and support the Freedom to Speak Up Team.
You will need to demonstrate a commitment to inclusion, fairness, and integrity so that our staff feel safe and supported when raising concerns. In addition to being a passionate advocate for people and a skilled listener, you will also have experience of leading on and embedding strategy and culture change, policy development and implementation, delivering presentations and training, and staff engagement.
The successful candidate will be expected to work collaboratively across the Trust to raise the profile of the service and develop systems and processes to ensure that staff receive equitable access to support and advice from the Guardians and to build our Guardian and Champion network.
Applications for part-time hours are welcome.
If this role has piqued your interest, we would be delighted to hear from you. Contact details: Louise Clayton, Deputy Chief People Officer, Louise.clayton@mkuh.nhs.uk, or Kate Jarman, Chief Corporate Services Officer, Kate.jarman@mkuh.nhs.uk
Interviews: 24th February 2025
Main duties of the job
As a current Freedom to Speak Up Lead Guardian or Champion, you will be experienced in ensuring the voice of our workforce is heard, with opportunities to report on the service development and lessons learned through our board committee.
You will also have an opportunity to work and contribute your existing skills with other support functions like Chaplaincy and Staff Health & Wellbeing teams to tailor and develop support routes for staff.
The Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Guardian will act as the expert and professional resource for employees on all aspects of practice relating to the Freedom to Speak Up agenda and associated cultural change in line with our Trust values; to encourage embedding of best practice in enabling and supporting employees to raise concerns where they see evidence of risk, wrongdoing and unsafe practice.
The FTSU Guardian will work alongside trust leadership teams to support the organisation as an open and transparent place to work, where all staff are actively encouraged and enabled to speak up safely.
Working across all sites and teams - clinical and corporate - the FTSU Guardian will lead and support a team of FTSU Champions across the Trust, ensuring all staff are able to report concerns.
The FTSU Guardian operates in an independent, impartial and objective capacity with complete autonomy to support the Trust's aim to improve openness and transparency when encouraging staff to speak up safely as well as encouraging a listening and learning culture.
About us
MKUH staff scored highest for 'I look forward to coming to work' (NHS Staff Survey 2023).
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital; our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trust's values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
* Free on-site parking
* Free tea and coffee
* Great flexible working opportunities
* Discounted gym membership
* Lease car scheme
* Generous annual leave and pension scheme
* Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital; we conduct research and teaching on site to improve the care of our patients. The hospital is undergoing significant investment, and we are proud to be rated good by the CQC. Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Job responsibilities
Key responsibilities
* Accountable for managing, developing and influencing the speaking up culture across the organisation.
* Promote people's equality, diversity and rights.
Management and Leadership Responsibilities
* Develop and implement the Trust-wide vision and action plan for FTSU, working closely with staff experience colleagues for maximum impact.
* Work with senior leaders and investigators across the organisation to ensure an open FTSU ethos is embedded in enquiries.
Research and Audit Responsibilities
* Implement an audit programme of Freedom to Speak Up concerns.
* Assess staff knowledge and willingness to raise concerns through surveys and collation of intelligence and information.
Education and Engagement Responsibilities
* Deliver Freedom to Speak Up training in line with national requirements, particularly in relation to FTSU champions.
* Develop and implement training for Guardians of FTSU concerns which is based on the principles of FTSU laid out by NHSE and the Nations Guidance Office.
MKUH is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you're excited about this job and you meet our Trust values, but you feel your past experience doesn't quite align perfectly with every part of the JD and Person Specification, apply anyway or drop us an email to discuss the role further.
Please refer to Job Description and Person Specification for further details.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
* BSc/Masters level qualification in health related subject or equivalent experience.
* Experience of leadership in an operational function gained from working in an NHS environment.
* Evidence of continuing personal development.
Experience
* 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.
* Demonstrable experience of working with teams and colleagues to improve staff experience positively.
* Experience of handling difficult situations professionally and setting boundaries.
* Cognisant of national initiatives and the policy direction indicated by the CQC, NHS England and the Department of Health in relation to Freedom to Speak Up.
* Knowledge of the legal requirements within the NHS in respect of complaints.
* Knowledge and understanding of Risk Management, Freedom of Information, Data Protection strategies, Complaints Management and Customer Relations.
* Knowledge and experience of the development and implementation of major policy change.
* Awareness of own limitations.
* Ability to provide supervision and support to staff.
* Ability to influence and overcome barriers to change, recognising limitations of self and others and taking appropriate action.
* Relevant experience of designing and preparing senior level reports.
Skills
* Strong understanding of raising concerns including the barriers to raising concerns.
* Effective skills in mediation and facilitation.
* Effective skills in managing highly sensitive and confidential issues.
* Ability to develop, deliver and evaluate training in line with local and national requirements.
* Ability to hold senior colleagues to account to create a positive speaking up culture.
* Ability to develop rapport with colleagues at all levels, demonstrating compassion and understanding.
* IT Literacy and ability to use a variety of Microsoft Office applications.
* Advanced communication skills including effective verbal, non-verbal and written.
* Ability to facilitate conversations between staff of differing levels including manager and direct report.
* Ability to support and speak for members of staff who do not feel able to speak for themselves whilst at the same time managing expectations.
* Ability to interpret data to make recommendations about delivery & take appropriate action.
* Ability to present complex issues clearly and concisely at all levels of the organisation, including to executive colleagues.
Personal and people development
* Ability to work under high level pressure managing competing deadlines.
* High degree of personal resilience to meet mental and emotional requirements of the post.
* Well organised and practical with a logical, analytical approach to work.
* Pays careful attention to detail.
* Positive and motivated.
Communication
* Excellent communicator - using a range of media across different levels.
* Strong influencer, able to contribute to shaping service strategies.
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.
Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Salary: £53,755 to £60,504 a year, pro rata if part-time
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
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