15
Conclusion
Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigation int…
Acknowledged
The National Audit Office found a mixed picture when it reviewed the health check material against the ‘leaders role-model behaviour’ indicator which suggests senior leaders should role-model a supportive culture that gives people confidence to raise concerns.37 DWP noted that in large organisations such as itself and HMRC, the culture …
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The National Audit Office found a mixed picture when it reviewed the health check material against the ‘leaders role-model behaviour’ indicator which suggests senior leaders should role-model a supportive culture that gives people confidence to raise concerns.37 DWP noted that in large organisations such as itself and HMRC, the culture they set locally stems from line manager capability. DWP works with the Cabinet Office on the line manager standards across the civil service to instil the right behaviours in their senior staff. The Cabinet Office told us it is focusing on induction training and line manager training to improve line manager capability. DWP told us it believes this will help create the right environment for speaking up, where people can comfortably find the right route to raise concerns and have trust in the process.38 30 Qq 29–31 31 Q 29 32 Q 5 33 Q 94 34 Q 24 35 Q 36 36 Qq 5, 33 37 C&AG’s Report, para 3.9, 3.18 38 Q 94 12 Investigation into whistleblowing in the civil service 2 Learning and sharing insights Seeking feedback from whistleblowers
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Government response AI summary
The Cabinet Office will continue to foster the sharing of whistleblowing best practice across the Civil Service, delivered a conference for policy leads, developed learning for departmental officers, and will work with departmental leads to commission a survey of whistleblowers.
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HM Treasury
21
Conclusion
Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigation int…
Acknowledged
We asked the Cabinet Office how it currently shares good practice. The Cabinet Office told us it holds an annual conference where it brings together nominated officers (who support whistleblowers) and policy leads (who are responsible for the policy) and HR professionals.53 It also has an online hub community of …
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We asked the Cabinet Office how it currently shares good practice. The Cabinet Office told us it holds an annual conference where it brings together nominated officers (who support whistleblowers) and policy leads (who are responsible for the policy) and HR professionals.53 It also has an online hub community of department whistleblowing leads where the Government People Group share statistics of the centrally collated data.54 DWP said it welcomed the approach that the Cabinet Office has taken in recent years to provide a network for whistleblowing across government.55
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Government response AI summary
The Cabinet Office will build on existing work to share insight and best practice, work with departmental leads to ensure senior leader oversight of cases, explore organisational learning, policies and procedures, continue with the annual whistleblowing event, consider the Department for Business and Trade’s review, …
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HM Treasury
23
Conclusion
Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigation int…
Acknowledged
The Cabinet Office guidance specifies that departments should cover their agencies as well as themselves when responding to health checks, but this is not followed by all 48 Qq 80, 82 49 Q 2 50 NAO insight - good practice guide, Whistleblowing in the civil service, 21 February 2024 51 …
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The Cabinet Office guidance specifies that departments should cover their agencies as well as themselves when responding to health checks, but this is not followed by all 48 Qq 80, 82 49 Q 2 50 NAO insight - good practice guide, Whistleblowing in the civil service, 21 February 2024 51 C&AG’s Report, Figure 4 52 Qq 52, 53 53 Qq 1, 12 54 C&AG’s Report, para 3.11 55 Q 3 56 Q 33 57 Q 21 58 C&AG’s Report Figures 6, 9 59 Q 21 60 Q 12 14 Investigation into whistleblowing in the civil service departments.61 The Cabinet Office noted that the nature of the relationships between departments and arm’s-length bodies can vary across the civil service, departments have different working practices and so it expected that there would be some slight variances. The Cabinet Office told us it was talking to departments about how they can be more consistent in how they account for whistleblowing in their arm’s-length bodies and ensure these bodies are also following the policy.62
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Government response AI summary
The Cabinet Office will build on existing work to share insight and best practice, work with departmental leads to ensure senior leader oversight of cases, explore organisational learning, policies and procedures, continue with the annual whistleblowing event, consider the Department for Business and Trade’s review, …
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HM Treasury