Whistleblowing is where an individual raises
concerns with an organisation or regulatory body of suspected wrongdoing at
work. Officially this is called ‘making a disclosure in the public interest’.
Individuals who make such a disclosure are
protected by law, under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, from
detrimental treatment or victimisation if, in the public interest, they blow
the whistle on wrongdoing.
This policy
sets out the procedure by which any concerns about possible wrongdoing within
St Andrew & St George can be raised to the PCC and how such concerns will
be dealt with.
Whistleblowing
may apply to situations of unacceptable practice, performance or
behaviour.
This policy specifically includes concerns about
safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. However if a child or vulnerable adult may be
at risk of harm the Parish Safeguarding Officer the Rector or the Diocesan
Safeguarding Adviser should be contacted at Diocesan Office, 41 Holywell Hill,
St Albans AL1 1HE. Tel: 01727 818107 Email: safeguarding@stalbans.anglican.org. In an emergency, if a child or vulnerable
adult is considered to be at risk of immediate
harm the police should be called on 999.
Who
is protected?
All members of St Andrew & St
George are protected.
Scope
of protection
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
provides protection for individuals who raise legitimate concerns about
specified matters, called “qualifying disclosures”. A qualifying
disclosure is one made in good faith by an individual who has a reasonable
belief that:
• a
criminal offence;
• a
miscarriage of justice;
• an
act creating risk to health and safety;
• an
act causing damage to the environment;
• a
breach of any other legal obligation; or concealment of any of the above; is
being, has been, or is likely to be, committed.
It is not necessary for the individual to have
proof that such an act is being, has been, or is likely to be, committed – a
reasonable belief is sufficient. The individual has no responsibility for
investigating the matter ‐ it is the PCC’s responsibility to ensure that
an investigation takes place.
Nature
of Protection
An individual who makes such a protected
disclosure has the right not to be victimised, because he/she has made a
disclosure.
Procedure
The PCC encourages members of St Andrew &
St George to raise their concerns under this procedure in the first instance.
If an individual is not sure whether or not to raise a concern, he/she should
discuss the issue with members of the PCC or the Diocesan Secretary, The
Diocesan Office, Holywell Lodge, 41 Holywell Hill, St Albans, Herts. AL1 1HE,
Tel: 01727 818131.
(1)
In the case of Safeguarding issues,
any concerns should be raised with the Parish Safeguarding Officer the Rector or
with Mr Jeremy Hirst, Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, Holywell Lodge, 41,Holywell
Hill, St Albans AL1 1HE. Tel: 01727 818107 Email: safeguarding@stalbans.anglican.org. If
you for any reason do not wish to approach any members of the PCC, then you
should inform the Diocesan Secretary, who will arrange for another officer to
make any necessary enquiries and make his/her own report to the Diocese. Any
approach to the Diocesan Secretary will be treated with the strictest
confidence. Your identity will be kept confidential as far as possible although
if there is a criminal investigation you may be needed as a witness.
(2)
The investigation may involve you and
other individuals involved giving a written statement. Your statement will be
taken into account and you will be asked to comment on any additional evidence
obtained. The person who carried out the investigation will then report to the
Diocesan Secretary who will take any necessary action, including reporting the
matter to any appropriate government department or regulatory agency.
(3)
On
conclusion of any investigation, you will be told the outcome of the
investigation and what the PCC has done, or proposes to do, about it. If no
action is to be taken, the reason for this will be explained.
If on conclusion of stages 1 & 2 you
reasonably believe that the appropriate action has not been taken, you should
report the matter to the proper authority. The legislation sets out a number of
bodies to which qualifying disclosures made be made.
These include:
• HM
Revenue and Customs
• the
Financial Conduct Authority;
• the
Office of Fair Trading;
• the
Health and Safety Executive; and
• the
Environment Agency.
Disclosures relating to charities can be made
to the Charity Commission and a qualified disclosure to the Commission will be
a ‘protected’ disclosure provided the individual makes the disclosure in good
faith and has a reasonable belief that:
• The
relevant failure relates to the proper administration of charities and funds
given or held for charitable purposes; and
• Reasonably
believes that the information disclosed and any allegation contained in it are
substantially true.
Other
matters
Victimisation of a member of St Andrew &
St George for raising a qualified disclosure will be a prosecutable offence.
Approved by the PCC 17th July 2023