I believe in unicorns.

You’ve heard the phrase – “unicorn employee”. People with unique skills and qualities, who bring exceptional integrity and value to their organisation.  

Mythical, some might say.

But I think the people who undertake the role of Freedom to Speak Up Guardian in the NHS are unicorns.

Working on the cultural frontline of the NHS, the UK’s largest employer; listening to workers’ concerns through what feels like constant times of ‘unprecedented change’; challenging their organisations to do better.  Their role has never been more important, nor under so much strain in the current climate of uncertainty in the NHS.

Passion fatigue

I’m concerned that their unicorn passion for making a difference may mean that they are at risk of what I call passion fatigue.

The latest Freedom to Speak Up Guardian survey published today shows the emotional burden of this role on those who undertake it.

Nearly two-thirds (65%) reported that they sometimes, often or always find the role emotionally exhausting, with two in five saying they had experienced burnout due to the demands of the role.

Guardians working in NHS trusts are even more affected: with 81 % reporting emotional exhaustion and 60%  reporting burnout.

The warning signs have been there for some time. More than half of guardians who were interviewed for one study by Lorraine Turnell published last year reported a deterioration in health and wellbeing, with reports of burnout and even hospitalisation amongst guardian colleagues.

I’ve been conducting an informal survey to understand more about the impact of the guardian role on wellbeing, and while the majority of respondents so far say that the impact is neutral (52%) – 41% scored it as having a negative or very negative impact on their wellbeing.

(If you are a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian and would like to take part, here’s the link – it’s anonymous, and the results will be used to inform the support I offer you).

I have had several conversations with Freedom to Speak Up guardians recently, who have been told that there is a ‘shelf life’ to being a guardian before you get burnt out. Although this acknowledges the emotional complexity of the guardian role, guardians are humans. They are not there to be used up, drained of their passion and discarded. Their unicorn qualities should be cherished.

Burnout is not just about workload. Although research by positive psychologists shows that having a sense of purpose is beneficial to our wellbeing, what happens when your sense of purpose is so strong that it can actually be detrimental to you?

There can be a darkside to having a vocation, a job you care and are passionate about. This is applicable to anyone with an emotionally demanding role.

How can we maintain balance and boundaries whilst still keeping our passion burning, without burning out?

Toxin handlers

Part of the Guardian role is to listen to workers who come to them when they feel they cannot speak up in other ways, or have tried and not been listened to. This can mean that guardians are working, often in isolation, at the darkest edges of human behaviour. Guardians have shared how some of the concerns raised with them are traumatic and personally triggering.

Our society feels a dark place right now. And whether it’s experiences of racism, bullying, sexual assault, job insecurity, mental health issues – Freedom to Speak Up guardians are still listening. They may feel isolated with an overwhelming sense of responsibility and feelings of powerlessness when unable to change the systemic issues which are the cause of concerns – world events, global conflicts, redundancies, budget slashing, crumbling infrastructure.

Freedom to Speak Up guardians are toxin handlers. They take these concerns and flush them out, bringing the themes to their leadership to support their organisations to listen and act.

Last year, guardians handled the highest number of cases in a single year – over 38,000, an 18% increase on the previous year. But while this increase indicates continued trust and importance in the role for workers, it does not reflect an increase in guardians. And some guardians are working without the resources they need: whether that’s time, budget, buy-in or even a confidential space.

In environments where leaders are under pressure, in cultures which only want to hear good news, this “problem sensing” can be uncomfortable and unwelcome. This can make Freedom to Speak Up guardians themselves vulnerable when they speak truth to power. I would like to see the government offer protection for those in roles like Freedom to Speak Up guardians. We have seen how doing your job has affected some compliance officers – like the former Head of Internal Audit at Gulf International Bank, Ms Kong.

Supporting wellbeing

The guardians I have spoken with are driven by their passion to support colleagues and make their organisations great places to work. We know happy workers benefit patients. But in this strained environment I am concerned that their self-care can take a back seat.

It is vital for workers and patients, that the  wellbeing of Freedom to Speak Up  guardians is safeguarded in these challenging times.

That’s why I have developed a wellbeing workbook with Freedom to Speak Up guardians in mind. I can also offer support to groups of guardians as workshops to explore elements of wellbeing in more depth. Although this cannot eliminate stress or solve the problems which guardians are facing, I hope that it will offer some support for their wellbeing and an opportunity to fill their cups a little.

This issue of passion fatigue is not limited to Freedom to Speak Up guardians, so if this resonates and you would like something similar developed for the toxin handlers in your organisation, please get in touch.

You cannot pour from an empty cup. But you can take a moment to focus so your glass is half full, rather than half empty.