The Council is committed to good practice and high standards and wants to be supportive of all its employees.

The Council recognises that the decision to report a concern can be a difficult one to make, not least because of the fear of reprisal from those responsible for the matter that gives rise to the concern. If concerns are raised in the public interest, there will be nothing to fear because employees will be doing their duty to the employer and to those for whom they are providing a service.

Whistleblowers raising matters of concern internally are protected from harassment, victimisation, disciplinary action or dismissal or any other disadvantage at work as a result of raising the concern (even if their disclosure of any wrongdoing or malpractice is not substantiated after investigation), provided they raise/disclose issues in the reasonable belief that they are doing so in the public interest. A person would not be protected from disciplinary action if, for example, they raised a concern they knew to be false or malicious.

The Council will not tolerate harassment or victimisation and will take such action as is necessary to protect employees when they raise concerns in the public interest under this Procedure.

Confidentiality

The Council will use its best endeavours to protect an employee’s identity when he/she raises a concern and does not want his/her identity disclosed. A strictly confidential record of the names of complainants will be kept for monitoring purposes.

If whistleblowers are required to give evidence in criminal or disciplinary proceedings, the Council will arrange for them to receive advice and support.

Anonymous allegations

Allegations made anonymously cannot be subject to the protections afforded by this procedure as the protections are specifically designed to protect those persons, who fall within the scope of the Policy, making allegations. Anonymous allegations will, however, be considered by the Council if it decides to exercise its discretion. In exercising the discretion, the Council will take account of all relevant factors which will include:

• the seriousness of the issues raised
• the credibility of the concern
• the likelihood of confirming the allegation from other attributable sources