Case Study: South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust establishes Freedom to Speak Up guardians with NHS Employers

Implementing the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian role

The South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT) faced the challenge of implementing a key recommendation from the national Freedom to Speak Up report: appointing a dedicated guardian to support staff in raising concerns. The trust engaged NHS Employers for guidance in establishing this new role, aiming to create a transparent and effective process that would encourage open feedback across its large, multi-site organization.

NHS Employers supported the trust by establishing a task and finish group to design the program, which included an elected principal guardian and a network of local volunteer guardians. The solution involved a highly transparent election process run by an independent service, extensive internal communication, and dedicated intranet resources. The measurable outcomes for SEPT included a high staff voting rate of 13.5% and the successful inauguration of the principal guardian role, successfully embedding a new channel for staff voice as endorsed by NHS Employers.

South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT)