Whistleblower channel absence
Lack of independent or unconnected channels for staff to report concerns, especially when management or ownership involves close relationships.
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Inquiry recommendation
70match
BAHA-18 - Whistleblower Protection
JDP 1-10 should address the protection that will be afforded to service personnel who make complaints or allegations in good faith of the mistreatment of CPERS. It should give guidance as to those who can be approached when service personnel have concerns about the treatment of CPERS.
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Committee recommendation
70match
#16 - Whistleblower experience feedback not systematically collected across government departments.
The annual RAC data collection does not cover the treatment of whistleblowers; for example whether a whistleblower in a specific case has experienced any mistreatment, such as victimisation or bullying.39 The ‘whistleblowing heath check’ guidance issued by the Cabinet Office suggests departments should gather feedback from individuals on whether their concerns have been handled responsibly, professionally and in...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Committee recommendation
66match
#29 - Government must improve valuing whistleblowers, addressing Sellafield mistreatment allegations.
The previous Committee took evidence on how the civil service responds to whistleblowing, and found that the government needs to do more to signal the value of whistleblowers.85 It is particularly important that everyone working on a site as hazardous as Sellafield feels free to raise any concerns they have. This Committee–and its predecessors–have received a number of...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
PFD report
65match
Leigh Wilde
The coroner noted a lack of supporting documentation and consideration of risk factors when suspending an employee, with no evidence of referral to support services. Additionally, the approach to whistleblowers and their support was unclear.
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Committee recommendation
65match
#22 - 78th Report - The Bank of England’s Real-Time Gross Settlement Renewal Programme
The Bank acknowledged that it is traditionally a hierarchical organisation. For the programme, it was keen to encourage an open ‘no-surprises’ culture.46 It put in place a number of mechanisms to support such a culture, including a behaviour manifesto setting out expectations, a ‘transparency channel’ that allowed people to share concerns anonymously and various staff groups and events...
Matched on
terms: channel
Committee recommendation
62match
#18 - Systematic interviews capturing whistleblower experience are not routinely conducted by departments.
We asked the Cabinet Office if any interviews are undertaken with whistleblowers to capture their perspective of the experience. It told us it is not aware of interviews taking place currently. There was a hesitancy from the Cabinet Office on the method of capturing feedback as it believed this could create a potential barrier to people coming forward.45...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Inquiry recommendation
61match
L81 - Enhanced Whistleblower Protection
An enhanced system for protection of whistleblowers and for providing assistance for the Police Service on general ethical issues should at least comprise the following: (a) greater prominence should be given to the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) telephone line operated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC); (b) there should be an 'ethics line' to the IPCC,...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Inquiry recommendation
61match
DM-13 - HMICFRS review of whistleblower protections
It is recommended that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services conduct a thematic investigation of the operation of the practices and procedures introduced following the adoption of the Code of Ethics in 2014 to determine whether sufficient resources are available to ensure appropriate protection of those police officers and police staff who wish to...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Committee recommendation
61match
#19 - Collecting systematic feedback from anonymous whistleblowers presents significant challenges for departments.
The Cabinet Office told us that it is considering ways of capturing feedback from people who have come forward anonymously. DWP acknowledged it finds it hard to collect information from whistleblowers who are anonymous and HMRC told us it has 39 Q 11 40 Q 11; C&AG Report, para 2.22 41 Q 81 42 Q 8 43 Qq...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Committee recommendation
60match
#14 - High anonymity rates among whistleblowers reflect ongoing trust issues in civil service
The Cabinet Office told us that just under half of whistleblowers come forward anonymously, acknowledging that this fact shows it has more work to do to convince people it is safe to speak up.31 We asked HMRC and DWP how they embed a culture that encourages people to raise concerns.32 HMRC told us it sets standards it expects...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Committee recommendation
59match
#31 - Fifty-Second Report - Ministry of Defence Equipment Plan 2021–31
We asked about the lack of tolerance of those involved in projects to voice their concerns without facing serious repercussions. The Permanent Secretary told us that “there are some particular challenges within the uniform chain of command about how you raise concerns” and he wanted the Department to have “the kind of safety culture where people feel able...
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
57match
#17 - Whistleblower support predominantly relies on nominated officers and case-by-case handling.
We asked both HMRC and DWP how they currently support whistleblowers. HMRC told us the majority of support comes from nominated officers within the department but it also points people to other sources of advice and support, such as the employee assistance programme, the trade unions or the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).43 The Cabinet Office also...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Inquiry recommendation
57match
16 - Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
The functions of the National Guardian’s Office should be taken over by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in England. The Ombudsman’s powers must be increased to include: a. investigating complaints that whistleblowing in the NHS has not been dealt with adequately b. assisting whistleblowers by referring their concerns to the relevant NHS bodies and overseeing the response.
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Inquiry recommendation
57match
26 - Clear national whistleblowing policy
We commend the introduction of a clear national policy on whistleblowing. As well as protecting the interests of whistleblowers, we recommend that this is implemented in a way that ensures that a systematic and proportionate response is made by Trusts to concerns identified. Action: the Department of Health.
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Detention investigation recommendation
57match
Independent Investigation into Concerns about Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre - Rec R8
Managers should undertake a review of present local policies and arrangements for whistleblowing and reporting matters of concern. They should devise policies and arrangements that are easily understood by staff, command the confidence of staff and encourage and support them to report colleagues whose behaviours are inappropriate or below standard.
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
56match
#3 - Ensure departments build a positive environment encouraging civil service whistleblowing concerns to be raised.
A ‘speak up’ environment is not yet embedded throughout departments to encourage people to comfortably raise concerns. There are still negative perceptions 6 Investigation into whistleblowing in the civil service of whistleblowing which can create barriers to achieving the right environment for speaking up. The annual Civil Service People Survey in 2022 had a median organisational score of...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Inquiry recommendation
53match
69 - Whistleblowing policy routes for staff
The Prison Service’s policy on whistleblowing should identify the most appropriate way for staff, in an exceptional case, to get confidential advice from an independent outsider and to raise their concerns outside the Prison Service. It should also ensure that the members of staff of companies who contract with the Prison Service, such as escort contractors and those...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
53match
R80 - NED for confidential staff reporting
Consideration should be given to the creation of a role for a NED in each HSCT with the specific remit to receive confidential reports from members of staff. The individual should receive training via a programme focused on safeguarding and patient safety. It should be the duty of that NED to actively to seek out information and to...
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
53match
Royal Victoria Infirmary
The trust must ensure that staff are able to report service user safety concerns without fear of reprisal, retribution or detriment using internal routes and in line with policies and procedures.
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
52match
#26 - Third Report - The MoD’s tackling of economic crime and misconduct
We asked the Department about the feedback given to whistleblowers from the Confidential Hotline. The Department told us that feedback is provided to whistleblowers in every case, noting that details provided would be case-specific. However, the separate case management systems operated by counter-fraud and police teams and limited visibility over them may mean it is difficult for the...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Committee recommendation
52match
#4 - Require all departments to collate feedback from whistleblowers at the end of the process.
The Cabinet Office and other departments do not seek feedback from whistleblowers and so are missing vital insights into the effectiveness of the process. The ‘whistleblowing heath check’ guidance from the Cabinet Office suggests departments should gather feedback from individuals on whether their concerns have been handled responsibly, professionally and in a positive manner. Feedback can provide a...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
HSSIB recommendation
49match
Workforce and patient safety: temporary staff - integration into healthcare providers — HSSIB
How do you ensure that temporary staff know how to speak up and that they feel safe to raise concerns?
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
49match
William Harvey Hospital
The trust should ensure the Freedom to Speak Up processes are sufficiently resourced to support staff to raise concerns.
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
49match
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital
The trust should ensure the Freedom to Speak Up processes are sufficiently resourced to support staff to raise concerns.
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
49match
Fleetwood Hospital
The trust should ensure staff know how to raise concerns and staff are aware of the role of Freedom to Speak Up Guardian.
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
49match
Moorfields Eye Hospital
The trust should continue to find ways to encourage staff to raise concerns and act where appropriate.
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
49match
Bedford Hospital
The trust must ensure its supports all staff, including those with particular equality characteristics, to feel respected and valued and support an environment where staff are encouraged to speak up and raise concerns without fear of blame or reprisal.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
48match
WATE-(8) - Establish clear whistleblowing procedures for staff reporting child welfare concerns.
Every local authority should establish and implement conscientiously clear whistleblowing procedures enabling members of staff to make complaints and raise matters of concern affecting the treatment or welfare of looked after children without threats or fear of reprisals in any form. Such procedures should embody the principles indicated in recommendation (7) and the action to be taken should...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
48match
27 - Professional duty to report concerns
Professional regulatory bodies should clarify and reinforce the duty of professional staff to report concerns about clinical services, particularly where these relate to patient safety, and the mechanism to do so. Failure to report concerns should be regarded as a lapse from professional standards. Action: the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Professional Standards Authority...
Matched on
classifier match
IOPC learning recommendation
48match
Operation Hotton recommendations - Metropolitan Police Service, September 2021
The IOPC recommends that the MPS should take steps to ensure that when it has been identified that an officer has failed to report or challenge improper conduct, whether or not misconduct processes are initiated against that officer, appropriate steps are taken to understand the reasons from a learning perspective. This follows an investigation into allegations of misconduct...
Matched on
classifier match
IOPC learning recommendation
48match
Investigation into recruitment irregularities and the actions of a civilian staff member – British Transport Police, June 2018
The IOPC recommends that British Transport Police reviews how it manages interactions with people who report wrongdoing through the internal CARS reporting system. This should include both how they are kept informed and their involvement in providing information to the investigation. This follows an IOPC investigation in relation to a report made by way of the CARS system....
Matched on
classifier match
Detention investigation recommendation
48match
Independent Investigation into Concerns about Brook House Immigration Removal Centre - Rec R51
The SMT and G4S managers should review the policy and arrangements for raising concerns and their own handling of such matters to ensure that they encourage and support staff to report wrongdoing or misconduct or inappropriate behaviour by colleagues and managers. (To be completed within 3 months)
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
47match
#7 - Cabinet Office whistleblowing data has improved but lacks outcome and whistleblower perspective
Cabinet Office’s information on concerns and arrangements across the civil service has improved but it still has several quality limitations. For example, there is no method for capturing outcomes for concerns that are ‘ongoing’ at the point of an annual data collection and no structured data on what the process is like from the whistleblowers’ perspective.10 The Cabinet...
Matched on
terms: whistleblower
Committee recommendation
47match
#8 - Cabinet Office does not centrally track whistleblowing investigation lengths from departments
HMRC told us it understands that it is important to whistleblowers that it investigates as quickly as possible, and both HMRC and DWP monitor the length of time cases take.13 But the Cabinet Office is not collating this metric from departments.14 HMRC told us that more complex cases can cause delays to investigations, either due to being particularly...
Matched on
terms: absence, whistleblower
CQC action
45match
Standon Gardens Domiciliary Services
Consideration should be given to how staff could report concerns, should they have any, to someone unconnected to these relatives or relationship groups.
Matched on
classifier match
HMICFRS recommendation
45match
FRS 2023-25 CoC Recommendations: Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cause of concern: The service needs to do more to ensure that its staff routinely demonstrate behaviours in line with its values. We found strong evidence of behaviours that weren’t in line with service values. We were told about cultures among some teams where staff demonstrate unacceptable behaviour. And staff don’t always have the confidence to report these...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
71 - Research on duty to report wrongdoing
Research should be conducted on how effective the obligation to report wrongdoing – and the designation of a failure to do so as a disciplinary offence – has been. This should be done by comparing the number of instances of reported wrongdoing before and after these measures were implemented.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
45match
37 - Westminster whistleblowing policies for CSA
Government, political parties and other Westminster institutions must have whistleblowing policies and procedures which cover child sexual abuse and exploitation. Every employee must be aware that they can raise any concerns using these policies and that the policies are not limited to concerns specific to a person's employment.
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#8 - Seventh Report - Progress on tackling the sexual exploitation and abuse of aid beneficiaries
An audit will also help the FCDO along with other donors to hold aid organisations accountable for their treatment of whistle-blowers. The results of an audit could help donors to develop incentives for managers to encourage effective reporting on standards of conduct.
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#7 - Seventh Report - Progress on tackling the sexual exploitation and abuse of aid beneficiaries
A full and transparent audit of whistleblowing in the aid sector has still not taken place. The FCDO should undertake an audit to provide a full understanding of how whistleblowing practices are being implemented and used, to give confidence that whistle-blowers are actively supported and not retaliated against by their organisations.
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
45match
#9 - Second report - The cost of complacency: illicit finance and the war in Ukraine
Journalists, however, are not the only truth-tellers who need protection. They often rely on whistle-blowers inside companies and organisations. These whistle-blowers need protection. The FCDO should therefore push for a Whistleblowing Bill to offer protection to those who speak out against, or uncover, economic crimes and other wrongdoing.
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
45match
University Hospital of Hartlepool
The trust should consider addressing its Freedom to Speak Up literature to make it clearer that the guardian can be directly contacted as a first point of contact by staff in line with national guidance.
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
45match
Montagu Hospital, Mexborough
Thetrustshouldensurethatallstaffgroupsareawareofthefreedomtospeakupguardiansandwhotheyareacrossthetrustsites.
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
45match
Glenfield Hospital
The trust should consider increasing the capacity of the Freedom To Speak Up Guardians (FTSUG) to sufficiently support all staff at the trust.
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
45match
Doncaster Royal Infirmary
The trust should ensure that all staff groups are aware of the freedom to speak up guardians and who they are across the trust sites.
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
45match
Royal Bolton Hospital
The trust must ensure staff feel supported to speak up without fear of retribution by seeking and acting on feedback from relevant persons or other persons on the service provided in the carrying on of the regulated activity, for the purpose of continually evaluating and improving such services.
Matched on
classifier match
CQC action
45match
Verve Health
The service must ensure that staff are aware of how to use the whistleblowing process.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
44match
BRIS-114 - Grant immunity for NHS staff reporting sentinel events within 48 hours
Members of staff in the NHS should receive immunity from disciplinary action by the employer or by a professional body if they report a sentinel event to the trust or to the national database within 48 hours, except where they themselves have committed a criminal offence.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
44match
IHRD-30 - Confidential Reporting of Clinical Concerns
Confidential on-line opportunities for reporting clinical concerns should be developed, implemented and reviewed.
Matched on
classifier match
Committee recommendation
44match
#9 - Seventh Report - Progress on tackling the sexual exploitation and abuse of aid beneficiaries
We are concerned that the use of non-disclosure agreements in the aid sector could be used to cover-up misconduct and will exacerbate power imbalances. As part of its due diligence processes the FCDO should require organisations it funds to report to it the number of non-disclosure agreements they have signed, to help the FCDO to ensure that its...
Matched on
classifier match