When you raise an issue with a Freedom To Speak Up (FTSU) guardian, it may be that you’re not clear how best to pursue it, or even whether you’ve come to the right place, so we’ll take some time to clarify your issue with you and then help you decide.
For example, it may be that you then want to speak to your manager, a colleague, trade union representative or HR yourself, or you may want support from FTSU for the issue to be raised. You can raise issues with us in confidence if you’d like or even anonymously, although that may make it more difficult if we need more information or need to feed back to you. Mersey Care also wants to support and protect you If you raise an issue, to make sure that you don’t suffer detriment for speaking up.
The FTSU guardians aim to amicably resolve issues at the lowest practical level, and this happens in most cases. In some cases though, where appropriate, FTSU may commission a review to look at bigger problems and solutions.
Each FTSU guardian also raises the live issues within their areas regularly (within the bounds of confidentiality) with senior managers and senior FTSU guardian links for that area, particularly where an issue is proving difficult or slow to resolve.
Although FTSU guardians cover each other when required, we have our own 'patch' too so that we can see developing issues or themes and can then liaise with the relevant people.
Where issues get stuck, FTSU has an agreed escalation route right up to the nominated non-executive director for FTSU, to ensure the appropriate level of support.