Freedom to Speak Up report May 2025

Meeting: Trust Board – Public Meeting

Date: 7 May 2025

Report Title: Freedom to Speak Up report

Agenda Item: PUB25/05/5.1

Author: Dani Marshall and Kym Gillingham, The Guardian Service

Lead Director: Neill Moloney, Chief Executive Officer

Purpose: Information/noting

Link to Strategic Risk:

• SR1a: If we do not ensure our people are safe and their wellbeing prioritised, there is a risk that we will be unable to attract, retain and keep all our people safe and well.|

Equality Impact Assessment: No negative impact identified.

Purpose: To inform the Board of the number of Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) concerns raised via The Guardian Service in the past 8-months (August 2024 to March 2025).

In addition, it describes a campaign to improve the engagement and visibility of FTSU at EEAST.

Recommendation:

The report makes a number of recommendations for the Trust:

• Use of the reflective tool
• Improved awareness for neurodiversity
• More staff to complete the Freedom to speak up in health care modules
• A more timely response to Employee Relations cases
• Improved communication regarding The Guardian Service

Since 5 August 2024, a total of 164 cases have been recorded, with a steady increase in the number of cases. Significantly the number of cases closed is also increasing each month.

The main themes for cases remain consistent under “systems and processes”. During reviews with the Chief People Officer and Chief of Staff these can be frequently linked to Employee Relations (ER) case work concerns. There is currently a high number of ER cases in the Trust but the recommendations for improved welfare support are being explored. The report demonstrates that improved communication during a process would be beneficial for our people.

There has been no change to the number of patient safety concerns since the last report.

It is encouraging that the data demonstrate that the Guardians are a source of impartial support who can deal with issues that were not previously resolved.

The National Guardians Office presented to the Trust Board on 04 December 2024 describing EEAST as one of the worst performers for FTSU when compared with other Ambulance Trusts based on the national staff survey results (diagram to right). This is reflected in our staff survey results. In summary the number of people that feel safe to speak up has improved year on year, but the movement is marginal and lower than the national average. Importantly the data shows that our people also do not believe we will act on the concerns they raise (data 34% scores for the last two years which is 7% less than the national average).

The Board requested a communications campaign to address the improvements required and acknowledged the significance of FTSU in providing a measure of our cultural journey. The impact proposed is measured through improved metrics for the staff survey (q25e,q25f) and an increase in the number of FTSU cases. Our aspiration is that in 12-months’ time our staff survey results have continued to improve.

The recommendations from the provider and the development session are included within the campaign.

Appendix 1. – EEAST Freedom to Speak Up Report (05 August 2024 – 31 March 2025)

Introduction/background:

The Guardian Service Limited was engaged to deliver the Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) service for the East of England Ambulance Trust (EEAST) commencing 05 August 2024 and has now been in place for eight months. This report represents the first eight-month review of the service.

As requested, The Guardian Service will provide a summary update to the bi-monthly Public Board of EEAST. Additionally, comprehensive six-month and annual reports are submitted in April and November each year to align with the reporting cycle of the National Guardian’s Office (NGO).

FTSU Campaign The communication plan has been designed around the best practice as described by the NGO and incorporates the Board request to:

• Share individual stories from FTSU – how this has worked for individuals including quotes • Share the big picture (e.g. number of people who speak up, how cases have been resolved) • Improve our feedback to victims

It will seek to address the fear and futility themes described at the workshop in that it will demonstrate and provide examples of when and how we have listened to our people speaking up.

We acknowledge the missing voice as described by the NGO with rank, neurodiversity, BME and disability. We plan to utilise our staff networks and cultural ambassadors to improve the engagement and messaging.