About this role
Job summary
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Guardian to join the Speaking Up team at DBTH. This exciting opportunity comes at a time-of-organisational and service development and will allow the ideal candidate to participate in and contribute towards the developing journey of Speaking Up and the wider Culture work across the trust.
Delivering on the Speaking Up Strategy for 2024-2028 will provide the Guardian with exposure to engagement across all teams, from all disciplines and personal characteristics and this work will help to identify groups where specific support is required to address or remove barriers that prevent some people from Speaking Up.
Having a healthy speaking up culture is one of the key priorities in the refreshed Speaking Up Strategy and is recognised as being essential to maintaining high levels of patient and colleague safety and improved quality and experience across all services. Enabling this culture requires Guardians to role model ethical behaviours in line with FTSU Guardian Values, the DBTH We Care Values and the DBTH Way.
The FTSU Guardian will work alongside the Trust Executive and Senior Leadership teams to support the Trust as an open and transparent place to work, where all staff are actively encouraged and enabled to speak up safely. They will help to protect patient safety and quality of care.
Main duties of the job
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 and have a good experience when they choose to do so.
The FTSU Guardians 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.
The appointed FTSU Guardian will report to the Lead Freedom to Speak Up Guardian and the Chief People Officer (as Executive Lead for Speaking Up). They will also meet regularly with the Non-Executive Lead for FTSU to ensure the whole Trust Board is involved in the FTSU strategy, annual action for improvement and generally kept up to date with challenges and outcomes across the Trust.
About us
DBTH is one of Yorkshire's Leading acute trusts, serving a population of more than 440,000. Our services are based over three main hospital sites and several additional services employing over 7,000 colleagues.
At DBTH we have a comprehensive framework of behaviours that guide us in our daily working lives, these form the DBTH Way. We pride ourselves on our commitment to the values of We Care and now the DBTH Way builds upon these foundations, providing further clarity on what it means to embody these values in our everyday interactions.
As an organisation that supports flexible working, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applicants from all sectors of the community, particularly from under-represented groups including those with disabilities, members of our ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+ communities.
We offer a range of benefits to support our people including:o Extensive range of learning opportunitieso NHS Pension Schemeo Generous holiday entitlement in line with Terms & Conditionso Comprehensive health and wellbeing supporto NHS Car Lease schemes and a range of salary sacrifice schemeo Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping and finance through external providers.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please see attached to the advert a job description and person specification for further details. Please ensure you read this document carefully.Please note, if your application is successful you will be required to present original certificates of qualifications that are listed in the person specification under essential.
Certificate of sponsorship
For individuals who may require sponsorship under the skilled worker or health & care visa route please use the link below to check your eligibility. Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK
Please note that from 9th April2025, band 2 & 3 entry roles are no longer eligible for sponsorship.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training Essential
Educated to degree level (Level 5) in a relevant subject or equivalent experience Requirement to obtain or maintain professional accreditation through annual refresher training. Ongoing registration may also require bespoke and or ad hoc training depending on future national developments. Training in wider advanced communication methods.
Desirable
Coaching Qualification Speak Up Level 3 and or Speak Up Champions Training
Knowledge & Experience Essential
Significant experience of the Freedom to Speak Up agenda either as a Guardian, Partner or equivalent. Track record in supporting and listening to staff and in demonstrating the values of the DBTH Way and The NGO Guardians Values, alongside those of the NHS Constitution in day-to-day practice. Demonstrable experience of working with teams and colleagues to positively improve colleague experience. Experience of handling difficult situations professionally, setting boundaries and seeking support where necessary. Experience of partnership building and relationship management. Experience of training and building capability within the workforce. Experience of working in collaboration with senior leaders. Experience of collating, analysing, interpreting and presenting data to a wide range of stakeholders.
Desirable
Experience of facilitating mediation Development of training packages Supporting and managing groups of colleagues at Network level
Personal Attributes & Skills Essential
Emotional intelligence and empathy - strong ability to engage sensitively and impartially with colleagues who may be in distress, fear of retribution, or experiencing workplace conflict. Communication and engagement - Highly developed oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex and sensitive information to workers, board members, regulators, and external partners in a way that fosters trust and action. Collaboration and networking - Ability to engage with national and regional freedom to speak up networks, sharing good practice and driving continuous improvement. Conflict resolution - Experience in navigating difficult conversations, resolving conflicts, and facilitating restorative approaches to address concerns. Data analysis and reporting - Ability to interpret patterns in speaking up data, triangulate findings with other workforce and patient safety metrics, and use insights to influence organisational policies and decisions. Project management and prioritisation - Ability to manage multiple complex cases, competing priorities, and sensitive information while ensuring timely and effective action Personal resilience and self-awareness - Ability to manage the emotional demands of the role, develop coping strategies, and maintain personal well-being while supporting others. Commitment to learning and development - Willingness to undertake ongoing training in freedom to speak up, National Guardian's Office annual refresher training, self-assessment against the guardian development guide, organisational learning, and psychological safety. Responsive and resilient Compassionate, approachable, trustworthy, and non-judgmental Highly motivated and enthusiastic Professional approach and image Ability to maintain the confidentiality and security of information. Excellent interpersonal skills.
Desirable
Leadership and influence - Ability to challenge constructively, hold senior leaders to account, and advocate for cultural transformation. Strategic thinking - Ability to analyse complex concerns and themes, provide insightful recommendations, and develop strategic interventions to improve the speaking-up culture.
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.
Employer details Employer name Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS FT
Address Doncaster Royal Infirmary
Armthorpe Road
Doncaster
DN2 5LT
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.dbth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)