Our policies and procedures

 Our Modern Slavery Statement can be found here

Equality & Diversity annual reports

• 2022/23
• 2021/22
• 2020/21
• 2019/20
• 2018/19

Equality Delivery System (EDS) Reports

• EDS2022 Grading Report

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan

• EDI Plan 2023-27
• EDI Action Plan 2023-27

Positive Action Project annual report

• 2022/23
• 2021/22

Pride reports

• 2023
• 2022
• 2020 & 2021 - no reports due to pandemic
• 2019
• 2018

Mela reports

• 2023
• 2022
• 2020 & 2021 - no reports due to pandemic
• 2019
• 2018

Friends and family test (FFT) reports

• View monthly and quarterly reports here

Patient Survey annual report 

• 2022/23

Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) is an NHS initiative that encourages staff to speak up when they see, hear, or experience something that could affect:

• Patient safety
• Quality of patient care
• Staff wellbeing
• Bullying, harassment, or discrimination
• Unsafe working practices
• Fraud, misconduct, or wrongdoing
• Any issue that prevents the organisation from providing safe, effective, and compassionate care

The aim is to create a culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and confident to raise concerns, knowing they will be listened to and treated fairly. Speaking up is not about blaming individuals; it is about identifying issues early, learning from them, and improving services for patients and staff.

A Freedom to Speak Up Guardian is an independent person within an NHS trust who supports staff to raise concerns, they act as a supportive and independent facilitator, helping workers navigate the most appropriate route for their concern. NEAS have 4 trained FTSU Guardians who:

• Provide a confidential service for staff to discuss concerns.
• Listen without judgement and help staff understand their options.
• Support individuals who may feel unable to speak up through normal management channels.
• Ensures concerns are directed to the right people for investigation or action.
• Monitors whether concerns are handled appropriately and whether any barriers to speaking up exist.
• Identifies themes and trends to help improve organisational culture.
• Promotes awareness of speaking up and encourages a culture of openness and learning.

Staff may contact a Guardian when they:

• Feel unable to raise a concern with their manager.
• Have raised a concern previously and feel it has not been addressed.
• Are worried about reprisals or negative consequences.
• Need confidential advice before deciding what to do.
• Want support throughout the speaking-up process.

Every member of staff has the right to speak up about concerns that may affect patients, colleagues, or the organisation. The Freedom to Speak Up Guardian provides a safe and confidential route to ensure those concerns are heard and acted upon, helping to build a culture of trust, learning, and continuous improvement.

To contact the guardian team email: FTSU@neas.nhs.uk. If you are employed by the Trust please visit the intranet (Siren) for further information. 

FTSU is for staff, students and volunteers working for or with NEAS. If you are a service user or patient wishing to raise concerns please visit this page.