As Freedom to Speak Up guardians, you understand the importance of not taking part in investigations or making decisions on the issues connected to your speaking up cases. There is a difference between being assured that investigations are happening well and taking decisions about the scope and conduct of investigations.
Ensuring that everyone understands your role is to support rather than solve and taking a lead from the person you are supporting helps maintain your impartiality.
Supporting individuals to speak up is a core function of your role and ideally people are empowered to have conversations with those best placed to resolve the issue being spoken up about.
However, there may be instances where someone asks you to attend such meetings with them. Each case is different and needs to be approached on that basis, but we would urge caution against giving the impression that you are attending any meeting as a representative of the person speaking up.
Perceptions that you are acting on behalf of someone could create barriers to others wanting to speak up to you and compromise your independence and impartiality.
Requests to attend grievance and disciplinary meetings with someone you are supporting, even if you are not expected to speak in the meeting, should be refused. People are better supported in those types of meetings by a union representative, a work colleague or other appropriate person.