Freedom to Speak Up Lead Guardian
Department: Corporate
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 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.
You 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
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 with other support functions like Chaplaincy and Staff Health & Wellbeing teams to tailor and develop support routes for staff. Do not meet every single requirement?
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 out 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
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 Trusts 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
• On site nursery (chargeable)
• Extensive staff health and well-being programme
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
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.
Key responsibilities
Accountable for managing, developing an 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 trough 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 Specific, apply anyway or drop us an email to discuss the role further.
Please refer to Job Description and Peron 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.
This advert closes on Thursday 30 Jan 2025