Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced full-time Outreach Freedom to Speak Up Guardian (OFTSUG) based at Wycombe Hospital. This permanent full time Band 7 post is part of our established Freedom to Speak Up Team. Applicants must be NGO registered, trained, and have experience as a Band 7 FTSUG or advanced Band 6.
You will support colleagues to speak up without fear of detriment or blame, promoting a positive Speak Up culture and strengthening outreach. The role requires excellent listening skills, a strong understanding of Speaking Up processes, and the ability to actively engage with underrepresented voices to promote inclusivity.
The post involves significant outreach work, requires travel across all Trust sites and beyond as needed. Management experience and advanced concerns case handling at a senior level are essential and must be able to uphold strict confidentiality. You must have a demonstrable record of enabling people to speak up safely and you must be motivated and committed. You will deputise for the Lead Guardian when required.
We welcome applicants from all colleague groups with a passion for the Speaking Up agenda, committed to fostering a safe environment for raising concerns. The Lead Guardian endorses the Trust’s commitment to equal opportunities, equality, and diversity.
Main duties of the job
The Outreach Freedom to Speak Up Guardian (OFTSUG) will work with the Lead Guardian, Head of Service, team and Trust colleagues to strengthen a positive speaking up culture across BHT. The role will involve some strategic, policy and governance work. The role supports delivery of high-quality FTSU services by identifying and addressing barriers, improving psychological safety and enabling staff to speak truth to power constructively.
Guardians help protect patient and colleague safety and experience, promote learning and foster an inclusive Trust wide Speaking Up culture. The OFTSUG will ensure concerns are heard, addressed and lead to improvement, whilst always upholding confidentiality. Acting in line with the Guardian values of Courage, Impartiality, Empathy and Learning, the postholder will enable colleagues to Speak Up safely. Active engagement of under-represented voices and delivering an accessible, visible high quality service is key.
The role involves creating and delivering presentations, promotion work, engaging effectively with staff at all levels, and strengthening psychological safety across teams. Applicants must have management experience, with clinical background desirable but not essential. A strong understanding of good governance, data informatics and information governance is required.
Working for our organisation
Listen to why colleagues think we are a great place to work! -
What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?
1. As part of our BHT family, you’ll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.
2. We offer flexible and agile working opportunities, alongside your NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement, pension and access to NHS discount schemes.
3. We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.
Why work for us?
4. We’re committed to promoting inclusion and making sure all colleagues feel they belong. We encourage new colleagues from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply.
5. As an employer, we aim to create a workplace where differences are valued and colleagues treat one another with dignity and respect.
6. Greater diversity within our BHT family improves positive outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
What do we stand for?
7. Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.
8. Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.
9. Our CARE values are collaborate, aspire, respect and enable.
Person specification
Education, Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
10. Educated to Masters level or equivalent / Appropriate equivalent experience will be considered.
11. Professional registration / qualification e.g in medical, nursing, AHP, social work etc (A clinical background and understanding is desirable for this post and is helpful but not essential)
Experience
Essential criteria
12. Proven track record of experience as a manager including people management, management of sometimes highly complex and sensitive concerns, situations and issues and an ability to appropriately asses risk.
13. Upholding excellent standards of information governance and confidentiality.
14. Handling sometimes highly complex and sometimes confrontational relationships or conflict to a high standard with positive outcomes
SKills and Knowledge
Essential criteria
15. Knowledge and skills around the Speaking Up Agenda and able to demonstrate a strong commitment to supporting speaking up and to creating a positive speaking up culture and working in a way that demonstrates this.
16. Excellent skills in managing difficult conversations / of a complex nature and complex relationships
17. Good demonstrable leadership / management skills including a strong understanding of assessment of risk and appropriate escalation.
18. Proven track record of strong communication skills with people and ability to be flexible and comfortable in using different mediums.
19. Evidence of ability to project plan, implement and deliver and is organised
Desirable criteria
20. Excellent report writing and record keeping skills, demonstrating a very good standard of written English.
Personal
Essential criteria
21. Demonstrates being a strong team player
PPE requirements: Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust requires all colleagues to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with our infection prevention and control procedures.
COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations remain the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the viruses when working in our healthcare settings. We encourage our staff to be vaccinated when recommended.
Application deadline: This post will close on the closing date stated at midnight, however if we receive a large number of applications or there is a change in circumstance, we may be required to close a job before the advertised date.
Application information: If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records (ESR) system.
Shortlisting: The monitoring and safeguarding sections are not made visible to the shortlisting panel. The safeguarding section may be made visible to the interview panel, dependent on the role being recruited into.
Travel expenses: It is Trust policy that travel expenses for interviews will not be reimbursed.
Smoking: All Trust sites are NO SMOKING. Smoking in all areas of the buildings and premises is prohibited.
Employer certification / accreditation badges