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Solent NHS Trust ‘best in class’ again for positive speaking up culture

Solent NHS Trust has been rated ‘best in class’ for its positive speaking up culture for the second year in a row, leading to better care for our patients.

The National Guardian’s Office issued its latest national Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Index report in July, which confirmed Solent as the best performing combined mental health, learning disability and community trust in the country. The Trust also had the second highest FTSU index score nationally.

The score is based on questions from the NHS annual staff survey. Solent scored 86.1 per cent, with the national average for the class being 80.2 per cent.

Sue Harriman, Chief Executive at Solent NHS Trust, said: “I’m thrilled that Solent has again been rated so highly in the Freedom To Speak Up Index report. A lot of hard work has gone into ensuring that our colleagues have the confidence and freedom to speak up, can raise concerns and know that they will be listened to and that we will act.

“Freedom to Speak Up is a key part of the NHS national People Plan. We have been working on the Solent Great Place to Work strategy for the last four years and are delighted to see that our focus on values, inclusion and engagement are very much mirrored in the national plan.

“We know that having this confidence is vital. It has a huge positive impact on the care that we provide to our patients and our ambitious vision of keeping more people healthy, safe and independent at, or close to, home.

“We want to continue to develop this speaking up culture, and through our excellent network of Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, we know we can continue to build on this success.

“As the report states, there is a very strong correlation between Trusts that have a positive speaking up culture and Trusts that are rated highest by CQC. We are incredibly proud of our people in Solent and strive to support them so that they can be at their best in order to provide great care to patients, service users, their families, carers and communities. We work hard across the trust to listen and learn from all people.”

Dr Henrietta Hughes OBE, National Guardian for the NHS: “Solent NHS Trust deserves enormous credit for being the highest ranked Combined Mental Health / Learning Disability and Community Trust.

“I very much hope other organisations are able to learn from this in order to achieve similar results and that Solent NHS Trust continues to strive to make speaking up business as usual.”

Freedom To Speak Up Guardians exist in all NHS Trusts across the country, allowing staff to seek confidential advice and support if they have a concern in the workplace. They can help raise any concerns and provide colleagues with confidential advice and support. 

The guardians help ensure the Trust is an open and transparent place to work where everyone is encouraged and enabled to speak up safely.

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Please visit our services page for specific services and contact details. Alternatively, contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service by emailing or calling the number below. You can also give us feedback, make a complaint or share a compliment.

pals@solent.nhs.uk

0800 013 2319

*Lines are open Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm.

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act was passed on 30 November 2000. It gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities, with full access granted in January 2005.

The Act sets out exemptions to that right and places certain obligations on public authorities.

Email: InformationGovernanceTeam@solent.nhs.uk

Phone: 0300 123 3919

*Subject to any exemptions which apply, we are obliged to provide the information requested please note that requests for Personal Information is not covered under this Act and should be applied for through the Data Protection Act 1998.

Our administrative and managerial centre is based in Southampton.

While our services can be found around various NHS locations in Southampton and Portsmouth (and surrounding districts), our administrative and managerial centre is based in Southampton at:

Highpoint Venue
Bursledon Road
Southampton
SO19 8BR

If you require a printable version of how to find us including bus times, car access and bike info please download our leaflet. (Copyright of Highpoint Venue).

Central office phone: 0300 123 3390

*Lines open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

If you are a journalist with a media enquiry, please contact the Communications Team at:

communications@solent.nhs.uk

0300 123 4156 or 02381 031076

The Communications Office is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.