Speaking up

G. Sources of further advice

61. Your professional or representative body, trade union or speaking up guardian (such as in your local optical committee or employer if appropriate) may also have specific advice on how to practically speak up about concerns. If you have any doubts or concerns about your decision, you may wish to contact them for support. These include:

Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) (which has a helpline for legal advice for its members): https://www.abdo.org.uk/
Association for Independent Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians (AIO): https://www.aiovision.org/
Association of Optometrists (AOP) (which provides legal advice to its members): https://www.aop.org.uk/
The College of Optometrists: https://www.college-optometrists.org/
Federation of (Ophthalmic and Dispensing) Opticians (FODO): https://www.fodo.com/
Local Optical Committee Support Unit (LOCSU): https://www.locsu.co.uk/
Ophthalmic Trade Union (a branch of Prospect): https://members.prospect.org.uk/our-industries/branch/j761?_ts=1

62. Protect (formerly Public Concern at Work) is the independent UK charity dedicated to providing advice on speaking up and whistleblowing: protect-advice.org.uk

63. The ‘Speak Up’ helpline is a free, confidential and independent service for those working within an NHS or social care context in England: https://speakup.direct

64. The National Guardian’s Office in England works to make sure speaking up becomes part of business as usual within the NHS, and makes recommendations for good policy and practice in this area: nationalguardian.org.uk

65. The National Guardian’s Office and Health Education England have developed e-learning modules on speaking up: https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/freedom-to-speak-up/

66. The Department of Health in Northern Ireland provides guidance on raising concerns at work in the public interest (or ‘whistleblowing’): https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/hsc-whistleblowing.PDF

67. The NHS in Scotland provides guidance on raising concerns and whistleblowing: https://workforce.nhs.scot/policies/whistleblowing-policy/

68. Healthcare Inspectorate Wales gives guidance to healthcare workers on raising a concern: https://hiw.org.uk/whistleblowing

69. The Health and Safety Executive’s goal is to prevent workplace death, injury or ill health: https://www.hse.gov.uk/