The event was kicked off by Kaajal Kotecha-Chotai, Cygnet’s Director of Corporate Governance and Freedom to Speak Up Executive Lead. In her opening speech, Kaajal reinforced the central role of Freedom to Speak Up within the organisation, noting: “Our commitment to fostering an open, transparent, and supportive environment is central to our mission of delivering outstanding care to our service users, and ensuring the wellbeing of our colleagues.”
This message set the tone for the day, reflecting Cygnet’s core values of creating a supportive space where staff feel empowered to raise concerns without fear of repercussions.
Gareth Williams, CEO of Cygnet Social Care, followed Kaajal’s speech with a reflection on the transformative changes made in the past 12 months. He highlighted how Cygnet’s Social Care services have developed a stronger individual identity and the significant improvements in care environments that have enhanced both staff and service user experiences. Gareth emphasised that speaking up is crucial in social care, where the well-being of both residents and staff can greatly benefit from an open and transparent culture. His talk encouraged attendees to continue driving positive change in their respective areas by embracing the values of communication and feedback.
Our first keynote speaker of the day was Jenni Fellows, Senior Freedom to Speak Up Guardian Support Manager at the National Guardian’s Office. Jenni spoke passionately about the role of the National Guardian’s Office and the essential function of Freedom to Speak Up schemes within organisations like Cygnet. She focused on the importance of understanding the specific barriers that prevent staff, service users, and residents from raising concerns, whether they stem from personal, cultural, or systemic factors. Jenni also shared practical examples of how organisations across the sector have successfully implemented measures to encourage people to speak up, and how removing barriers can lead to better outcomes for everyone involved.
Following a well-earned break, the event resumed with a lively panel discussion, hosted by Agnes Tutani, Cygnet’s Freedom to Speak Up Guardian. Agnes led a conversation with four of our dedicated Freedom to Speak Up Ambassadors, who shared the personal stories that motivated them to step into their roles. They spoke about the vital work they’ve done to champion the speaking up culture in their services, sharing powerful, real-life examples of how fostering an environment where speaking up is supported and it has positively impacted staff and service users. The panel gave attendees an insight into the practical steps they’ve taken to address concerns and promote open communication, reinforcing the theme of how speaking up can lead to tangible improvements across the organisation.
Next, Ryan Faulkner, Cygnet’s Deputy Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, took to the stage to present the findings from Cygnet’s latest annual staff survey. The survey revealed encouraging feedback, showing an increase in staff feeling comfortable speaking up about issues, whether related to patient care or workplace conditions. Ryan’s key message was about embedding a culture where speaking up is no longer seen as an extraordinary action, but rather “business as usual.” He urged colleagues to continuously strive for improvement, saying, “Don’t settle for good—make it better and build something great.” Drawing inspiration from the popular TV character Ted Lasso, he encouraged everyone to “be curious, not judgmental” and to never underestimate the importance of any colleague’s voice.
The second keynote speaker, Kirsty Matthews, Chief Executive of DFN Project SEARCH, delivered an inspiring presentation on ‘Tackling Barriers to Speaking Up’. DFN Project SEARCH is a transition-to-work programme that helps transform the lives of young adults with learning disabilities and autism. Kirsty discussed the importance of recognising diverse cultural backgrounds and how this can influence whether individuals feel comfortable speaking up. She also outlined the need for clear processes, effective anti-bullying policies, and, critically, leadership by example from senior managers. Kirsty’s talk was a reminder of the multifaceted challenges organisations face in promoting a speaking-up culture, and how essential it is to address these challenges with empathy and awareness.
After lunch, attendees were treated to an engaging workshop by Dik Veenman, Founder of The Right Conversation. Dik’s ‘Right Conversations Skills Workshop’ focused on the power of listening—a fundamental aspect of creating a culture of speaking up. Through interactive exercises, Dik demonstrated how leaders and colleagues can ‘Listen Up’ more effectively, ensuring that when someone speaks up, they feel truly heard and supported. His workshop provided attendees with practical tools to improve communication within their teams, reinforcing the idea that listening is as important as speaking up in creating a healthy work environment.
“It was a fantastic day, and I especially loved the talk by Dik Veenman. That session was a very impactful learning experience and will certainly help me in my role going forward.”Delegate
The final keynote of the day was delivered virtually by Karen Johnson, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for the Behavioural Health Division of Universal Health Services (UHS). Karen explored the core values and purpose statements at both Cygnet and UHS, highlighting how these principles continuously support and empower the Freedom to Speak Up initiative. She emphasised that creating a culture where everyone, staff and service users alike, feel safe to speak up is fundamental to both organisations’ commitment to delivering the highest standard of care. Karen’s address reinforced the global nature of this mission and the shared dedication to fostering a transparent, open environment where feedback and concerns are welcomed.
The event concluded with the distribution of CPD-certified certificates to all attendees. In her closing remarks, Kaajal Kotecha-Chotai extended her heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to the day’s success: “I would like to sincerely thank our guest speakers for their time and support today, and for sharing their experience, thoughts, and insights. I am immensely grateful to Agnes Tutani, Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, Ryan Faulkner, our Deputy Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, and all of our Ambassadors. Your dedication and commitment to making our organisation a place where speaking up is not only encouraged but celebrated is truly inspiring.”
This year’s Freedom to Speak Up event underscored Cygnet’s unwavering commitment to promoting a culture where every voice matters, and where speaking up is not just accepted but actively encouraged and supported.
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