Freedom to Speak Up Guardians

Mark Wilks - Lead Guardian and Operations Manager

I’ve been a part of HHFT for nine years, and I am the operational service manager for supplies. I have also been a staff governor for the last seven years.  
I’ve been a guardian for two years and since March this year, lead guardian for the Trust.
I chose to become a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian because I wholly believe in the service. My first question to anyone coming to me as a guardian is; “have you spoken to your supervisor/line manager?” First and foremost we need to promote conversations within departments. However, if there are reasons why this route cannot be followed, we are here to assist, help and advise.

Clare Barlow - Transformation Programme Manager

I joined this Trust 14 years ago as an occupational therapist.  Since then I have worked in acute inpatients, acute inpatient rehabilitation and later became the team lead for re-ablement services.  I have completed a year as a Quality Improvement Fellow (Wessex School of Quality Improvement) and subsequently joined the transformation team in 2015, where I now work as a transformation programme manager.  I have previously been a staff governor, and then became a Freedom To Speak Up Guardian in November 2016.  I believe in the importance of everyone having a voice to be able to raise concerns safely.  I feel that the trust values are important to follow in everything we do. Helping staff to feel both able and safe to speak up is vital in implementing change to improve experiences for both staff and patients.

Kofi Quartey - Project Manager

My current role in HHFT is as a project manager for the medicine division, but I have worked in the Trust for five years in a variety of roles.
I joined the team of guardians earlier this year, because I wanted to be part of the positive culture in our Trust that encourages speaking up and seeking change for the better. I believe that there are no downsides to raising a concern – it’s something we are actively encouraged to do in our hospitals and is reflected in our Trust values.

Kevin Conn - Orthopaedic Consultant

I am a consultant trauma & orthopaedic surgeon at Hampshire Hospitals since 2001 and was the clinical director of the orthopaedic department between 2007-2009.  I represent the Medical and Dental staff at Hampshire Hospitals as a staff governor in helping to develop services and the Trust’s strategic objectives to ensure the best possible care for patients.  

For many years in the operating theatre environment,  we have been used to a culture of all staff members being important  and having a role to ensure patient safety.  That same culture is relevant to everybody within the hospital.  I am keen to support staff in my role as a Freedom To Speak Up Guardian if the normal routes of raising concerns about patient safety or staff wellbeing are not helping.  As guardians we are able to listen, to channel issues in the right direction or even confidentially take up concerns at the highest levels.  I am pleased to work in a hospital where the Freedom to Speak up Guardians have the full support of the executive team.

Helen Allen - Senior Midwife

I have worked at HHFT for 35 years starting at BNHH as a midwife having trained as a nurse. I have worked in the community and in a hospital setting as a ward sister and specialist midwife. I also have a background in supporting safe clinical practice and professional standards. My current role is as a midwife staff advocate.
I have proudly been a guardian since 2016 and I strongly believe that speaking up protects patient safety and improves the lives of NHS workers by giving a voice to staff who want their comments and concerns to be heard. This may range from just a listening ear which helps people decide what they want to do next, or escalating concerns to other levels of our  organisation.  As a group of guardians we can offer support, guidance and signposting we seek feedback from all who contact us to learn from their experiences of contacting a Freedom To Speak Up Guardian.

Sara Reed - Professional Development Lead 

I have worked within the acute sector of the NHS for 35 years and for the last 10 years here at HHFT.  I am a registered nurse with a clinical background in critical care and experience in a variety of other roles including patient experience, governance, workforce transformation and more recently education and workforce development.  All of these roles have had a focus on promoting learning and improvement. Currently I am professional development lead for non-medical staff, supporting them with their learning and development needs.  I joined the guardian team in 2019 because I firmly believe our staff are the most important asset to our Trust and that supporting them as a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian will help make a positive difference to patient care.

Lesley Smith - Project Manager for Digital Care

I have worked within the NHS for 19 years, 12 of those for HHFT.  I commenced my NHS service working with the Community Mental Health Services in Winchester. I have throughout my NHS career held the posts of medical secretary, office manager for the Peritoneal Malignancy Service, administration lead for medicine across Winchester and Basingstoke and assistant OSM for medicine across Winchester and Basingstoke.  My current post is project manager for the digital care project working across all three Trust sites.
I have been a guardian since February 2019 as I wanted to give something back to the Trust.  From my years of NHS experience from the ground up, I have experienced or have been aware of many of the issues that are raised through the Freedom to Speak up Guardian forum.  I believe that HHFT staffs are our a precious commodity and I want to be able to support staff in a confidential and safe environment which in turn allows staff to deliver excellent patient care.