Whistleblowing Policy September 2024 - Legal Protection for Workers with Concerns at Work
In this section
- What is this about?
- What legal protection do I have?
- Will I be protected if I make a public disclosure?
- What support can I expect?
- What is the Council’s attitude to malpractice in the workplace?
- Who can blow the whistle?
- What can I blow the whistle about?
- How does the policy fit in with other Council policies?
- What if I am already involved in another HR procedure?
- How does this policy fit with the Members’ Code of Conduct?
- What if I want to make anonymous allegations?
- Is my identity kept confidential?
- How do I raise a concern?
- What happens after I have raised my concerns?
- How will we deal with your concerns?
- What happens if my concerns are not confirmed after an investigation?
- What happens if I am not happy with the Council’s response?
- Who is responsible for this policy?
- What happens to your ‘information’ and ‘personal data’?
- Appendices
How does this policy fit with the Members’ Code of Conduct?
31. The Council has no power to deal with Code of Conduct complaints against an elected member. If you raise concerns about an elected member under this policy you will be given the appropriate legal protection against any acts of detriment and advised to make your concerns to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. Alternatively, the Monitoring Officer may decide to refer the matter to the Ombudsman if it is considered appropriate to do so. Details of the Ombudsman’s complaints process can be found at www.ombudsman-wales.org.uk
Members
Am I covered by the PIDA?
No, this legislation provides protection to ‘workers’ and this does not extend to Members who hold positions of public office.
What is my role as a Member in the Whistleblowing Process? You may witness or be approached by a ‘worker’ about a potential whistleblowing concern. In this situation it is not appropriate for you to seek further information or make your own enquiries and are therefore advised to speak directly to the Monitoring Officer, Deputy Monitoring Officer or Chair of Standards Committee.