October is Speak Up Month
October 14, 2020
October is Speak Up Month and this year, the National Guardian’s Office is drawing up an Alphabet of Speak Up. There are 26 letters of the alphabet and 26 days to explore the issues, the people, the values, the challenges – everything which goes into what Freedom to Speak Up means in health. When things go wrong, we need to make sure that lessons are learnt and improvements made.
This year we will be supporting the National Guardian’s Office looking at the alphabet of speak up, with each day identifying a word and what that means to colleagues across the Trust. We are encouraging managers to use this as an opportunity for discussion with your colleagues and team. Speaking up is an important part of a culture that focuses on safety and quality, and we would like you and your teams to play a part in encouraging these conversations to be part of who we are and how we work.
K is for Kindness
Today’s first letter letter is provided by Ian Galligan, Capital Equipping Manager, Medical Engineering and Speak Up Guardian
Kindness, compassion and empathy make us human. Being kinder to ourselves where we can, showing kindness to each other, our families, neighbours and colleagues matters more than ever, it reduces stress and can improve emotional wellbeing.
Today’s second letter letter is provided by Melanie Roberts, Deputy Chief Operating Officer
For me kindness starts at home. It’s about living with integrity, knowing what your principles are and what right and wrong means in your life. It’s also about treating others how you expect to be treated. Kindness is a deeply personal value one that should always be shared with others in how you behave and speak.
Today’s third letter letter is provided by Siten Roy, Group Director of Surgical Services and Orthopaedic Consultant
‘Kindness’ may be the ‘buzz word’ at the moment in the middle of this pandemic with so much uncertainty and stress around. However, it is all about understanding people, their contributions and their views, which encourages us to appreciate and accommodate them in our day to day dealings. It also allows a certain degree of tolerance about shortcomings, habits, practices and cultures. ‘Kindness’ creates space for people to open up and express their views without the fear of rejection and ridicule. It encourages people to stand up and ‘speak up’, knowing that their views will be heard and counted.