Speak Up! Month: Fostering a Culture of Openness and Action

October marks Speak Up! Month, a time to champion the importance of raising concerns, listening with empathy, and taking meaningful action. Here at Barchester Healthcare, we believe that every voice matters, and it’s everyone's responsibility to speak up when something isn't right.

Why Speak Up?

Creating a safe and supportive environment starts with encouraging people to raise their concerns, share ideas, and help identify areas for improvement. By speaking up, we can learn, grow, and ensure the highest standards of care and safety for everyone – whether it's our colleagues, residents, or patients.

The Power of Listening

A culture of openness isn’t just about encouraging people to speak; it's about truly listening. Listening with empathy and understanding helps us to build trust, empower individuals, and create an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. It’s only by listening that we can act on concerns and make changes that matter.

Taking Action

We’re committed to taking action on the feedback we receive. It’s not enough to encourage speaking up; we must follow up and ensure every concern is addressed appropriately. As Barchester’s Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, I know first-hand how crucial it is to act upon the information we are given, ensuring that concerns are taken seriously and escalated when needed.

Our Commitment

This Speak Up! Month, we’re dedicated to fostering a culture of Speak Up, Listen Up, Follow Up. We want to ensure that everyone – whether an employee, resident, patient, or family member – feels empowered to raise concerns and confident that they will be listened to and acted upon.

By working together, we can create an environment where speaking up is celebrated, listening is valued, and positive action is taken. That’s how we build a safer, more supportive community for everyone.