All employees are required to report any issue of concern regarding the provision of services or management of those services. In the majority of cases, this will be done through the usual line management arrangements.

Employees are expected to report concerns as soon they arise and to avoid any unnecessary delay in doing so.

To gain protection under this procedure, the employee must reasonably believe that the disclosure is made in the public interest. Employees are not otherwise required to ‘prove’ the truth of any allegation. Complainants will, however, need to demonstrate that there are reasonable grounds for the concern, and will be expected to co-operate with any investigation that takes place.

When any meeting or interview is arranged, employees may, if they so wish, be accompanied by a trade union official or a workplace colleague.