Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure
Introduction
What is Whistleblowing?
Someone blows the whistle when they tell someone in authority about a dangerous or illegal activity that they are aware of through their work. This can include health and safety risks, environmental issues, fraud, poor standards of care and other problems.
Why is Whistleblowing important?
The Council is committed to high quality services and being open, fair and honest.
Managers have a duty to prevent dangerous or illegal actions at work. All staff, including those who work for a contractor or agency, have an important part to play. Often it is only through whistleblowing that information comes to light.
Why does the Council need a Whistleblowing procedure?
This procedure:
- Supports the Public Interest Disclosure Act.
- Gives you a way of raising concerns in a structured and supportive environment within the Council.
- Means that you can feel confident to bring up genuinely held concerns without fear of recrimination.
- Shows the Council’s commitment to investigating and taking firm management action where wrongdoing may be proven.
- Encourages and enables you to raise concerns within RBK rather than overlooking problems or "blowing the whistle" outside the Council.
Who can use the Council’s whistleblowing procedure?
- All staff, whether full time or part time, permanent or temporary;
- Councillors;
- All staff working in schools (including volunteers and students);
- Contractors working for the Council on Council premises e.g. agency workers, builders or drivers; and
- The Council’s external contractors and those providing services under a contract with the Council in their own premises e.g. care homes.
When should I raise a concern?
If you find out about activities that harm clients of the Council, colleagues working for the Council, or the Council itself. These may include:
- Illegal activities
- Miscarriages of justice
- Risks to health and safety
- Damage to the environment
- Misuse of public funds
- Fraud and corruption
- Abuse of clients
- Other wrongdoing, (including attempts to cover up wrongdoing)
For example, you could raise a serious concern about service provision, the actions of officers, or the actions of others acting on behalf of the Council, which:
- Fall below the Council’s standards of practice, including the Council’s Code of Conduct for Employees
- Are against the Council’s Standing Orders and policies
- Amount to improper conduct