Lorraine Turnell

Senior Associate

Lorraine is passionate about fostering kind, fair and inclusive working environments that support learning and improvement, enabling people to deliver their best and have a great experience at work. Lorraine qualified as a Solicitor in 1998 and was a partner in private practice, as well as working in the public and third sectors. Lorraine has extensive experience in the whistleblowing/speaking up arena, having provided advice and consultancy to individuals, organisations, and systems in the UK and internationally. Lorraine also has an MSc in HR management and development (international development).

After her time at Protect as Head of Legal Services, she joined the National Guardian’s Office (NGO) for Freedom to Speak Up in the NHS (FTSU) in 2016. FTSU Guardians and the NGO were established following Sir Robert Francis KC’s Freedom to Speak Up Review, and the public inquiries and reports into the events at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

While at the NGO, Lorraine helped develop the NGO’s early strategic framework, policy, national FTSU guidance and training for all healthcare staff in England. She was part of working groups looking at the development of NHS equality, diversity & inclusion strategy, NHS FTSU policy and guidance, and NHS settlement agreement guidance. She remains an advocate for greater assurance about how FTSU Guardians are supported and the quality and consistency of the support they provide to healthcare staff.

Following roles in system culture transformation and FTSU consultancy in NHS primary care settings, Lorraine returned to legal practice acting for individuals who speak up to safeguard the public. She continues to present and contribute to publications on the topics of FTSU and whistleblowing.

Lorraine supports widening legal protection for whistleblowers, and under the Equality Act 2010 in terms of socio-economic disadvantage, to ensure protection and representation of diverse voices in society.