Speak to a Guardian
A safe place to start the conversation
You don’t need to have everything worked out before you speak to someone.
If something doesn’t feel right at work, or you’re unsure about something you’ve experienced, a Clear Voice Guardian provides an independent and supportive space to talk.
You can explain what’s happening in your own words, ask questions and explore your options without having to decide immediately what you want to do.
What happens when you speak to a Guardian?
We listen
You’ll have the opportunity to explain what’s happening in your own words, in a safe and supportive space.
You don’t need to know whether what you’re experiencing is a concern, a problem or something else. You can simply talk it through.
We understand
We’ll listen carefully, ask questions where helpful and make sure we understand what you’re concerned about.
Our role is to help you make sense of your situation, not to tell you what you should do.
We explore your options
We’ll help you understand the possible routes available to you and consider what feels right for you.
You remain in control of what you choose to do.
We agree next steps
Where appropriate, we’ll discuss what could happen next and who may need to be involved.
If you decide that you want to take your concern further, we’ll help you understand the appropriate route.
We keep you informed
Where you have provided contact details and it is possible for us to do so, we’ll keep you informed about what happens next.
You don’t have to know what to call it
You don’t need to have a formal complaint or know whether something meets a particular definition before you talk to a Guardian.
Sometimes you simply know that something doesn’t feel right.
That’s enough to start a conversation.
What a Guardian can help with
A Guardian can provide an independent space to talk about things such as:
- concerns about workplace culture
- experiences that have affected you at work
- difficulties speaking up through usual channels
- concerns about how an issue may be handled
- uncertainty about what options are available
- situations where you would like to talk something through before deciding what to do
What a Guardian does
A Guardian is there to listen, support and help you understand your options.
Where a concern needs to be taken forward, the Guardian can help you understand the appropriate route and, where appropriate, act as an independent conduit to the relevant person or organisational function.
A Guardian does not automatically investigate concerns as part of the Guardian role.
Where an organisation requires an independent investigation, Clear Voice Partners can provide this as a separate service.
Confidentiality
We will explain how confidentiality works when you speak to a Guardian, including any circumstances where information may need to be shared.
We’ll be clear about this so you can make informed decisions about what you want to discuss and what happens next.
Ready to talk?
You don’t have to have all the answers.
If you’d like to speak to a Clear Voice Guardian, you can get in touch and we’ll explain the next step.
[Speak to a Guardian]
This page will be updated as our Guardian reporting and contact arrangements develop.