As Speak Up Month draws to a close, I am reminded of how crucial listening is to the safety and effectiveness of NHS organisations. This month’s focus on “listening up” highlights the importance of truly hearing our colleagues.

My reflections are that listening is more than hearing words, it is about fostering a culture of trust and empathy. It ensures every voice is valued, challenges are understood, and meaningful action is taken. Compassionate leaders play a key role in creating environments where staff feel safe to speak up and know their concerns will be acted on.

Creating a listening culture across our NHS system is vital. I encourage all leaders and organisations working in the NHS to review the updated guide for the NHS on freedom to speak up (FTSU) and self-reflection tool to ensure local arrangements are effective and that all NHS trusts have adopted the national speak up policy. Active listening plays an important part in encouraging people to feel confident to speak up. All our colleagues should have access to appropriate speaking up arrangements, – including Freedom to Speak Up Guardians who have been trained and registered with the National Guardian’s Office – and understand the routes available to them should they need to speak up to someone. Freedom to Speak Up e-learning is also available to all NHS colleagues.

Listening also directly impacts patient safety and quality of care. Empowering staff to raise concerns early helps improve safety, resolve issues, and foster a just, restorative culture where learning thrives.

The NHS Staff Survey and National Quarterly Pulse Survey are well established listening tools, providing further opportunities for organisations to listen to their staff. Colleagues can share confidentially and anonymously what it is like working in their organisation, and it includes questions about how your organisation treats your concerns. We encourage organisations to promote participation in the NHS Staff Survey which is open until Friday 29 November.

As we continue to promote a listening culture across the NHS, it’s crucial to build on the feedback we gather, and initiatives such as Civility and Respect and the Culture and Leadership Programme supports listening, to enable positive culture change.

Let us embrace compassionate leadership, be intentional in making listening a strategic priority, and be explicit about how this will happen within your organisations, as we work together towards a safer and more effective NHS.