Chief Executive Fortnightly Blog to NHS Orkney Staff - 1 October 2024 - Speak Up week

Message for All NHSO Staff 

Hi All

This week it’s Speak up Week in the NHS in Scotland.

In direct response to your feedback, this year we have identified six priorities, one of which is you being able to confidently raise concerns, including those about safety, recognising we have more work to do in this area.

We know from our latest iMatter results and your feedback throughout the year, including at our all staff briefing last week, that we have more work to do to create the right conditions for you to feel safe speaking up knowing you will be listened to, your details will remain anonymous when you request this and many of you still lack confidence that action will be taken and results will be seen.

At the staff briefing your feedback was clear on what we need to do to see the changes that are necessary and so you feel safe speaking up. I wanted to share these changes with you and summarise the work we are doing in each of these spaces to respond positively to your feedback.

1. Confidence that your anonymity will be protected – concerns about confidentiality/anonymity – I know in a small Board like this can be even more challenging, but this doesn’t mean we can’t improve. We are giving thought to how we can promote more independent support for you where you wish to take this up (including making support from other Boards one of the options for all staff should you choose this). We are also, this week, launching a new online form for you to raise concerns in an anonymous way to support our awareness, review and mitigation of risk and to do all we can to change our culture for the better. Watch out for more information about this over the coming days and we welcome your feedback on this idea
2. Confidence that your concerns will be acted on and will lead to change and results – we know we have more to do to close the loop and evidence we have listened and responded to your feedback. Whilst anonymity sometimes limits what we can feedback to you in this regard, there are more examples we can share across the organisation which will demonstrate that where staff have spoken up, that action has been taken. We already include themes and trends from your feedback in our quarterly whistleblowing report under how we receive and act on concerns (this report goes to our Joint Clinical and Care Governance Committee which is a Board Committee). These reports will be published within the whistleblowing section on the blog and you are encouraged to read these to see the ways our organisation listens and acts. We will share the themes and headlines from these reports more regularly in our all staff communications, for greater visibility and transparency
3. Someone other than the CEO being the whistleblowing Board-level lead –in response to your feedback, the Board-level Lead will be transferring to another Executive Director in Quarter 4 of 2024/25 – more to follow on this as we review Executive Director portfolios ahead of 2025/26
4. Support for managers to be able to respond and support – we will give thought to more regular sessions for managers and how we can better promote the modules on Turas relating to speak up and whistleblowing. Managers can always contact me as the current Executive Lead, Jason Taylor, as our Whistleblowing Champion, Kat Jenkin, our Head of Patient Safety, Quality and Risk, or one of our three Confidential Contacts for any support/advice

Over the coming days, we’ll be sharing more information on Whistleblowing, Confidential Contacts and the many Ways We Listen to you – so you know where and who you can turn if you have questions or concerns, including about safety.  Please know there is always support available to you, and there are options and choices depending on who you feel most comfortable speaking to. You can find the link to the Ways We Listen on the Blog and also the Speaking Up, Speaking Out leaflet, both of which can be found on the Staff Wellbeing sharepoint site.

I have also recorded a short video in recognition of Speak Up Week which you can find on the link here.

We’ve also arranged two drop-in sessions via Teams where you can come and speak about Speaking Up at NHS Orkney and ask any questions you may have – details as follows:

• Wednesday 2 October from 1pm – 1.30pm via Teams
• Friday 4 October from 10.30am – 11am via Teams

Come and join us – all welcome – and stay as little or long as you want to.

The Independent National Whistleblowing Officer for the NHS in Scotland has also announced a week-long programme of events, with the theme for this year ‘Enabling Speak Up’ – consistent with our own priority here at NHS Orkney.

A full programme of activities, further information and how to sign up can be found here: Speak Up Week | INWO (spso.org.uk) and on the direct link here: Register now to attend our live Speak Up Week 2024 events! | INWO (spso.org.uk)

I recognise things are tough currently as we remain busy and as we navigate some tricky issues, which we will work through, together. As a colleague wisely reminded us at all staff briefing last week, let’s look out for each other, be kind and support one another.

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud” – Maya Angelou

Please take care and have a good week. Thanks for everything.

See you soon.

Laura Skaife-Knight

Chief Executive