In the latest in our series of blogs to mark Speak Up Month, we spoke with Paul Elms, Elysium’s Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, about the role of the group’s 40+ Freedom to Speak Up Champions.
“The role of Freedom to Speak Up Champions is really important. We currently have around 40 Champions across Elysium and our ambition is to double that. They offer colleagues a friendly and safe place to share their concerns at a service-level and they then know when those concerns should be escalated – and help them to do so.
“We are currently recruiting for more Champions across our services. The qualities a person needs are to be friendly and approachable as well as being discreet and protecting people’s confidentiality.
“The colleagues who take up the role of Freedom to Speak Up Champions really are playing a vital part in their service. Freedom to Speak Up Champions help to raise awareness and ensure colleagues understand the importance of speaking up, listening up and following up.
“They are also key in helping signpost people to help. They can discuss concerns with colleagues and provide details on the routes they can take to speak up. They can also ensure that people who speak up are thanked, the issues they raise are responded to and that the person speaking up receives feedback on the actions taken.
“All of that is really essential in helping our teams know that they are valued, that their voice counts and that concerns will be acted on.”