Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 19 May 2024 at 06:14
This is the theme for this year’s Freedom to Speak Up month across October. Six simple words which have proved somewhat difficult to implement at EEAST and other ambulance services as detailed in the National Guardians Office “Listening to Workers” speak up review of ambulance services which was published in February this year.
How do the board, Freedom to Speak team, senior leaders and every manager make EEAST a psychologically safe and supportive work place? A work place that enables staff, volunteers and managers to speak up about things that are causing them distress or harm or are impacting on the quality of patient care?
There are many things which can stop people from speaking up, and you have shared some of those reasons with us during our discussions with colleagues, volunteers and managers. Janice, the Lead Guardian, has been sharing your thoughts with leaders and managers across the trust, helping them to get a picture of the barriers that need to be overcome.
They are:
Lack of buy in
This includes everything from a lack of understanding by managers of their responsibilities under FTSU and the feel that any concern raised brings negative attention to their service area. The negative views from staff who have spoken up previously as it has not gone so well, the feeling that it’s “too big and too late” to change, managers not having enough time to support staff and for others the sometimes confused messaging about who to speak up to.
Fear of reprisal
This encompasses a fear of staff and volunteers being shamed, shunned, or ostracised. Having support withdrawn, not being treated fairly, worrying the process is not confidential or concerns about how it works and a lack of clarity, some of which is based on the experiences of others.
Relationships within the workplace
In this case barriers come in many forms of relationship within the workplace. These range from familial and those “additional” relationships, friendship circles which are difficult to navigate if there is a breakdown. Staff also have long working friendships with shared work histories that are difficult to penetrate and often leads to staff colluding if there is an issue or an investigation.
These are very hard, but very true, messages to deliver and the leadership team have listened, discussed, debated and they understand and truly believe that these are the real reasons colleagues are reluctant to speak up.
We are committed to breaking down these barriers to speaking up and, in turn, enabling you to raise your concerns safely, to listen without judgement and to see your cases through to a resolution. We continue on this journey to breaking down barriers so that you can enjoy working for EEAST and give your best as a member of staff, so that we can all contribute to providing the very best of patient care.
During Freedom to Speak Up month we will be visiting many of the stations around the region, and you can find a full list of roadshow dates below. Please stop and have a chat with us when we’re visiting your station, office or base or get in contact on the details below.
Remember - Your voice does matter.
FTSU@eastamb.nhs.uk
Mike Rampling 07562 158013
Kim Perry 07354 163278
Janice Scott 07729 108696
The Freedom to Speak Up team
Freedom to Speak Up month (October) engagement visit calendar
Focus of engagement visits:
|
Date |
Time |
Area |
Station / Additional info |
|
28/09/23 Thursday |
10:00 – 18:00 |
Norfolk and Waveney |
Waveney Depot, Excalibur Rd, Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth NR31 7RQ |
|
02/10/23 Monday |
10:00 – 18:00 |
Suffolk and North East Essex |
Ipswich Station, Woodbridge Road East, IP4 5PG |
|
03/10/23 Tuesday |
10:00 – 14:30 |
Suffolk and North East Essex |
Bury St Edmunds Fire Station, Parkway North, IP33 3BA |
|
03/10/23 Tuesday |
14:30 – 18:00 |
Suffolk and North East Essex |
Bury St Edmunds Brooklands Close, IP33 3JX |
|
04/10/23 Wednesday |
10:00 – 15:00 |
Suffolk and North East Essex |
Colchester Station, Halstead Road, CO3 9AG |
|
04/10/23 Wednesday |
15:00 – 18:00 |
Suffolk and North East Essex |
Clacton Station, Valley Road, CO15 4AQ |
|
05/10/23 Thursday |
10:00 – 18:00 |
Mid and South Essex |
Chelmsford Station, Chelmer Valley Road, CM1 7FJ |
|
07/10/23 Saturday |
12:00 – 19:00 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
Luton Station, Cosgrove Way LU1 1XL |
|
09/10/23 Monday |
10:00 – 15:00 |
Mid and South Essex |
Southend Station, 12 Aviation Way, SS2 6UN |
|
09/10/23 Monday |
15:00 – 18:00 |
Mid and South Essex |
Thurrock Station, Hogg Lane, RM17 5QS |
|
10/10/23 Tuesday |
10:00 – 18:00 |
Mid and South Essex |
Basildon Station, Great Oaks, SS14 1EH |
|
10/10/23 Tuesday |
10:00 – 18:00 |
Corporate and Support services |
Melbourn, Whiting Way, SG8 6EN |
|
11/10/23 Wednesday |
10:00 – 19:00 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
Kempston Station, Bedford Road, MK42 8AA |
|
11/10/23 Wednesday |
10:00 – 18:00 |
Cambridge and Peterborough |
Peterborough Station, Ocean House, PE1 5UA |
|
12/10/23 Thursday |
10:00 – 18:00 |
Hertfordshire and West Essex |
Stevenage Station, Babbage Road, SG1 2EQ |
|
12/10/23 Thursday |
11:00 – 19:00 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
Leighton Buzzard Station, Bassett Road, LU7 1AR |
|
14/10/23 Saturday |
12.00 – 20.00 |
Mid and South Essex |
Chelmsford EOC, Chelmer Valley Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 7FJ |
|
16/10/23 Monday |
10:00 – 18:00 |
Hertfordshire and West Essex |
Harlow Station, Wych Elm, CM20 1QP |
|
16/10/23 Monday |
11:00 – 19:00 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
Luton Station, Cosgrove Way, LU1 1XL |
|
17/10/23 Tuesday |
10:00 – 18:30 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
PTS Bedford, Hammond Road, MK41 0RG |
|
17/10/23 Tuesday |
10:00 – 18:00 |
Hertfordshire and West Essex |
Watford Station, Colonial Way, WD24 4PR |
|
18/10/23 Thursday |
11:00 – 19:00 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
EOC Bedford, Hammond Road, MK41 0RG |
|
20/10/23 Friday |
10:00 – 17:00 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
Bedford, Recruitment and Support Services, Priory Business Park |
|
21/10/23 Saturday |
11.30 – 18.30 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
Kempston Station, Bedford Road, MK42 8AA |
|
23/10/23 Monday |
11:00 – 19:00 |
Central Operations |
Melbourn / HART, Whiting Way, SG8 6EN |
|
24/10/23 Tuesday |
10:30 – 15:30 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
Dunstable Station, Kings Way, LU5 4HE |
|
24/10/23 Tuesday |
17:00 – 19:00 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
Ampthill Station, Oliver Street, MK45 2SA |
|
25/10/23 Wednesday |
11:00 – 19:00 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
Biggleswade Station, Chestnut Avenue, SG18 0LL |
|
26/10/23 Thursday |
11:00 – 19:00 |
Bedfordshire and Luton |
Luton/Dunstable PTS |
|
09/11/23 Thursday |
10:00 – 18:00 |
Norfolk and Waveney |
Longwater Depot, Norwich, NR5 0JT |
|
10/11/23 Friday |
10:00 – 18:00 |
Norfolk and Waveney |
King’s Lynn Station, Holding Lane, PE30 4EU |
Published 4th October 2023