CONTRACT AWARD NOTICE – NATIONAL

1 Authority Details

1.1

Authority Name and Address

2 Contract Details

2.1

Title

Tender for the NHS Guardian/Freedom to Speak Up Provision

2.2

Description of the contract

The Health Board has carefully considered the options for providing a mechanism for staff to raise concerns. This has fully taken on board ABMU’s response to the NHS Wales Staff Survey (2018) and the suggestions from staff around the provision of a confidential and independent service. ABMU therefore wishes to contract the services of a freedom to speak up service which will provide independent, confidential and non-judgmental support for staff, students and volunteers who wish to raise concerns. The provider will deliver a whole system accessible solution, which focuses on supporting individuals and is resolution-focused. This could be in relation to any worry or risk in the workplace, including patient safety. The Health Board welcome tenders from organisations that have a track record of providing this service on a 24/7 basis within the public sector or NHS, providing nominated “guardians/ freedom to speak up individuals” to support individuals and face to face as requested. The provider will also work on a partnership basis with the Heath Board and will be data driven to enable the Health Board to learn and improve.

The Freedom to Speak Up Review (Francis 2015) was set up in response to continuing disquiet about the way NHS organisations deal with concerns raised by NHS staff and the treatment of some of those who have spoken up. Although this review was aimed at the NHS England the lessons are universal to Wales. The review advocates the setting up of ‘Freedom to speak up Guardians’. Speaking up is essential in any sector where safety is an issue. Without a shared culture of openness and honesty in which the raising of concerns is welcomed, and the staff who raise them are valued, the barriers to speaking up identified in the Freedom to Speak Up Review will persist and flourish.

(https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20150218150512/http://freedomtospeakup.org.uk/the-report/)

Appointing a Guardian / freedom to speak up service for the organisation will ensure a consistent approach and a coordinated drive to create the right culture.

2.3

Notice Coding and Classification

2.4

Estimated Total Value

3 Procedure

3.1

Type of Procedure

4 Award of Contract

4.1

Successful Bidders

4.1.1

Name and Address of successful supplier, contractor or service provider

5 Other Information

5.1

Reference number attributed to the notice by the contracting authority

ABM-ITT-40759-018-NC-018

5.2

Date of Contract Award

5.3

Number of tenders received

1

5.4

Other Information

(WA Ref:91700)

5.5

Additional Documentation

5.6

Publication date of this notice: