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Speaking up Safely

 

Speaking up Safely has replaced Freedom to Speak up in Cardiff & Vale University Health Board.

What is Speaking up Safely (SUS)?
SUS is a process to encourage colleagues to speak up to raise concerns safely within a culture where no individual will suffer victimisation or detrimental treatment as a result of speaking up. Concern types are not limited and can be wide ranging. Speaking Up Safely is about encouraging a positive culture where people feel they can speak up and their voices will be heard, and their suggestions acted upon. If in doubt on anything, this can act as a first point of contact.

How can I raise a concern under Speaking up Safely?
You may have tried to escalate your concern via a process/team or with management and remain dissatisfied. Or, you might not feel like you are able to or, you may want to raise your concern anonymously. In these instances, the Speaking Up Safely process may be the best route for you. Put simply, you can start a ‘Private conversation’ with a member of your organisation just like writing an email, except it’s anonymous on the Work in Confidence system.

The Work In Confidence System works hard to protect your identity when using the system by:

  • Guaranteeing that your identity is never revealed to CAVUHB, your manager or anyone else unless a court requires this (because an illegal act has been committed).
  • The CAVUHB will never know who has and who has not registered for using the WorkInConfidence.
  • All information that is sent between your browser and the system servers is encrypted – look for the certificate details at the top of the page.
  • All sensitive information, including your messages, are encrypted before being stored on the servers which CAVUHB have no access to.

Message to Colleagues
Please raise a concern under Speaking up Safely if you think this could help you. This is a confidential opportunity for you to be listened to and you can choose a colleague to support you (a Connector). They are trained to use this system, whilst none are problem solvers, they can listen and provide support and connect you to avenues that may be able to help. There is no judgement and your anonymity is guaranteed until you agree to disclose it.

If your ready to raise a concern you have the following options:

  1. Visit the website - Sign In | WorkInConfidence or click Report a Concern below

  2. Scan the QR Code

  3. Call: 02921 846000

  4. Email: SUS.CAV@wales.nhs.uk

Who can speak up?
Anyone who works in the UHB in NHS healthcare, including pharmacy, optometry and dentistry. This encompasses any healthcare professionals, non-clinical workers, receptionists, directors, managers, contractors, volunteers, students, trainees, junior doctors, locum, bank and agency workers.

Why speaking up matters
When people speak up, everyone benefits. Building a more open culture, in which leadership encourages learning and improvement, leads to safer care and treatment and improved patient experience.

People are the eyes and ears of an organisation. Their views, improvement ideas and concerns can act as a valuable early warning system that a policy, process or decision is not playing out as anticipated or could be improved.

A speaking-up culture benefits staff satisfaction and performance, too. When people feel that their opinions matter and are valued and acted on, they become more committed – and performance and retention improve.

When people feel that speaking up about poor behaviour is welcomed and encouraged, and that it will be addressed at an early stage, organisations become less entrenched in formal employee relations processes. These can be costly and damage relationships.​​​​​​​