Whistleblowing Process Safe Places UK

Safe Places for Children UK understands that staff members have a legal obligation to blow the whistle regarding situations that relates to passing on information concerning serious wrongdoing within the organisation and that falls outside of the grievance and complaints processes.

The serious wrongdoing will typically (although not necessarily) be something they have witnessed at work. To be covered by whistleblowing law, the disclosure must be a ‘qualifying disclosure’. This is any disclosure of information which, in the reasonable belief of the worker making the disclosure, is made in the public interest and tends to show that one or more of the following has occurred, is occurring or is likely to occur:

  • A criminal offence (this may include, for example, types of financial impropriety such as fraud);

  • a breach of a legal obligation;

  • a miscarriage of justice;

  • danger to the health or safety of any individual;

  • damage to the environment; or

  • the deliberate covering up of wrongdoing in the above categories.

For a qualifying disclosure to be protected, it must be made by one of the following permitted methods of disclosure:

  • disclosure to the employer or other people responsible for the matter;  

  • disclosure to a Prescribed Person designated for the purpose by the order and for the purpose of seeking legal advice; 

Raising Concerns Internally

Safe Places understands its legal responsibility for protecting whistleblowers as defined above within the remit for making disclosures. Safe Places would like current or previous staff members to feel confident and safe in terms of reporting all serious wrongdoings or concerns through to previous line managers or supervisors. We understand that this can’t always address the serious wrongdoings and concerns and have identified a Confidential Whistleblowing Link that protects staff members. Through the use of this link there will be an internal investigation and reviews to assess the concerns raised.

Staff members can complete the link without using there name, as they have used the right to exercise their confidentiality being applied. Therefore, it will not be possible for the investigator to provide you with the outcome and the processes implemented to address the concerned raised. Staff members that blow the whistle through the right processes and framework are protected from their disclosure and the organisation will not treat staff members any differently as other workers.

Staff members can also contact responsible people within the organisation for raising concerns internally. This can be accessed by completing the below link and if you have disclosed your name one of the responsible people will be in contact within 3 working days of receiving your serious wrongdoing concern

Raising a concern externally

While we hope that you will feel able to raise a concern internally through our processes, we recognise that there may be circumstances where you will feel that you would rather raise a matter with an appropriate prescribed person or regulator, this still ensures that your disclosure is protect:

  • Children’s Commissioner for England

  • Children’s Commissioner for Northern Ireland

  • Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills

  • Regulation Quality Improvement Authority

  • The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

  • The Information Commissioner (Data Protection Concerns)

  • Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs

  • The Health and Safety Executive

  • The Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland