The PA Group – Agency designated whistleblowing leads are:
| GLF Safeguarding Officer is: |
| Rahima Kadir: rahima.kadir@greaterlondonfostering.org 07795 632 042 |
| GLF whistleblowing officers are: |
| Melanie Yearwood: Melanie@positiveaspirations.co.uk 07880 315 967 Rahima Kadir: rahima.kadir@greaterlondonfostering.org 07795 632 042 |
| Fostering Hearts Safeguarding Officer is: |
| Emma Rawlinson: Emma@fosteringhearts.co.uk 07782 190 883 |
| Fostering Hearts whistleblowing officers are: |
| Melanie Yearwood: Melanie@positiveaspirations.co.uk 07880 315 967 Emma Rawlinson: Emma@fosteringhearts.co.uk 07782 190 883 |
| South Coast Fostering Safeguarding Officer is: |
| Sally Barnett: Sally@scfostering.co.uk 07462 906 502 |
| South Coast Fostering whistleblowing officers are: |
| Melanie Yearwood: Melanie@positiveaspirations.co.uk 07880 315 967 Sally Barnett: Sally@scfostering.co.uk 07462 906 502 |
Relevant Legislation & Guidance
The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011
National Minimum Standards for Foster Carer Standard 19.6
Introduction
Positive Aspirations Group has a Whistleblowing Policy that is shared with everyone associated with the PA Group and/or the children that we care for. This policy clearly states their duty to inform an appropriate authority of any situation within the fostering service that could seriously affect the safety, rights or wellbeing of a child placed in any agency within the PA Group.
Everyone associated with the agency is jointly responsible for making sure that children receive excellent care and that we conduct our work professionally at all times. Under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, people must share information that, in their reasonable belief, shows that a criminal offence has been committed, legal obligations have been or may be breached, a miscarriage of justice has happened, or an individual’s health or safety has been, is being, or might be put at risk.
The PA Group is committed to the highest standards of openness, honesty and accountability. We therefore encourage everyone to raise any serious concerns about any aspect of the PA Group’s work. This Whistleblowing Policy is designed to support the raising of any such concerns, confidentially or openly, without fear of negative consequences.
Principles
The agency defines whistleblowing to be when anyone, either within or outside the PA Group shares confidential information about suspected danger, fraud or other illegal or unethical behaviour connected to our work. The concern may relate to another individual or to the PA Group itself.
Employees are often the first to notice that something may be seriously wrong within an organisation. However, they may hesitate to speak up because they feel it would be disloyal to colleagues or to the organisation, or they fear harassment or victimisation. In these situations, it can feel easier to ignore the concern rather than report what may be only a suspicion of malpractice.
The PA Group is committed to the highest possible standards of openness, integrity and accountability. Accordingly, we expect who has serious concerns about any aspect of the PA Group’s practice to come forward and voice those concerns. We recognise that most cases will need to proceed in confidence.
This policy confirms that you can make a disclosure without fear of victimisation, discrimination or disadvantage. The Confidential Reporting or Whistleblowing Policy is designed to encourage and enable anyone to raise serious concerns within the PA Group.
This policy applies to everyone associated with, interacting with, and/or working on behalf of the Positive Aspirations Group.
Scope of Whistleblowing Policy and Procedures
The National Minimum Standards for Fostering Services requires that a whistleblowing policy is shared with all staff and carers. These whistleblowing procedures sit alongside, and do not replace, the PA Group’s complaints and other statutory reporting processes.
The whistleblowing policy and procedures are not an alternative route for lodging a grievance.
This policy aims to:
- Encourage you to feel confident in raising serious concerns and to question and act on concerns about practice.
- Provide clear avenues for concerns to be raised and to let you know the actions taken so that you receive a response.
- Ensure anyone raising a concern knows how to pursue the matter if they are not satisfied.
- Reassure you that, if you have a reasonable belief that the malpractice you disclose has happened, is happening or is likely to happen and the disclosure is in the public interest, you will be protected from retaliation or victimisation.
Types of malpractice that might lead to Whistleblowing
- Conduct that is a criminal offence.
- Disclosures related to miscarriages of justice.
- Health and safety risks, including risks to the public, children, foster carers and
otheremployees. - Practice that falls below established standards.
- Damage to the environment.
- Unauthorised use of the PA Group or agency funds or resources.
- Possible fraud or corruption.
- Sexual, physical or emotional abuse of children or employees, or neglect.
- Other unethical conduct.
- A breach of a legal duty owed by the agency.
- Attempts to conceal any of the above.
Safeguards against harassment or victimisation
The PA Group is committed to good practice and high standards and will support employees, children and young people, and foster carers.
The PA Group recognises that deciding to report a concern can be difficult. There is nothing to fear in doing so; raising a concern is part of your duty to the PA Group and to those we serve.
The PA Group will not tolerate any harassment or victimisation (including informal pressures) and will take immediate and appropriate action to protect anyone who raises a concern.
Scope of Whistleblowing Policy and Procedures
It is important for anyone connected with the PA Group to raise concerns if they meet the criteria set out above. When doing so, an individual need only be satisfied that:
- They are acting in good faith.
- They have reasonable grounds for believing that the information disclosed indicates the existence of at least one of the criteria.
- The usual channels for notification are inappropriate or have been tried and have not resolved the issue.
- The information is not being disclosed for personal gain.
- The concern is sincerely believed to be valid and its disclosure is in the public interest.
How to raise a concern
Foster Carers – As a first step, you would usually raise concerns with your supervising social worker or their manager. However, depending on the seriousness and sensitivity of the issues and who may be involved, you may decide that is not appropriate. In that case, you may raise concerns with the relevant agency’s designated whistleblowing lead—the Registered Manager—or the second lead—the Responsible Individual.
Staff – As a first step, you would usually raise concerns with your line manager. However, depending on the seriousness and sensitivity of the issues and who may be involved, you may decide that is not appropriate. In that case, you may raise concerns with the relevant agency’s designated whistleblowing lead—the Registered Manager—or the second lead—the Responsible Individual.
Ofsted – Whistleblowing Hotline (WBHL) Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester, M1 2WD. Telephone: 0300 123 3155. Email: whistleblowing@ofsted.gov.uk.
If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome, you have the right to express your concerns to the relevant Prescribed Person designated by the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 1999 or any later statute or statutory instrument that replaces this legislation.
If you reasonably believe that any of the failures listed above relate wholly or mainly to the conduct of someone outside the PA Group, or to a matter for which someone outside the PA Group has legal responsibility, then you should make the disclosure to that other person or body.
You may also make a disclosure to https://protect-advice.org.uk, the leading authority on public-interest whistleblowing, if you believe it has an interest in the matter and, despite the PA Group’s best efforts, disclosure within the PA Group is inappropriate or has been unsuccessful. Disclosures made to legal advisers in the course of obtaining legal advice are protected.
Concerns may be raised orally or in writing. You are encouraged to set out the background and history of the concern, giving names, dates and places where possible, and explaining why you are particularly worried about the situation. If you give a verbal account, the person receiving the concern will read or show you the written record so you can confirm that your concern has been fully and accurately recorded.
The earlier you raise the concern, the easier it is to act.
Although you are not expected to prove the truth of the allegation, you will need to show the person contacted that there are reasonable grounds for your concern.
To protect individuals and the PA Group, initial enquiries will be made to decide whether an investigation is appropriate. Concerns or allegations that fall within specific procedures (for example, child protection) will usually be considered under those procedures.
Some concerns may be resolved through agreed action without the need for investigation.
Within 14 working days of receiving a concern, the PA Group or relevant agency will write to you:
- Acknowledging receipt of the concern.
- Explaining how it proposes to deal with the matter.
- Giving an estimate of how long it will take to provide a final response.
- Informing you whether any initial enquiries have been made.
- Indicating whether further investigations will take place, and if not, why not.
The amount of contact between the person considering the issues and you will depend on the nature of the concerns, any potential difficulties, and the clarity of the information you provide. If necessary, further information will be sought from you.
The PA Group will do its best to minimise any difficulties you may experience as a result of raising a concern. For example, if you are required to give evidence in criminal or disciplinary proceedings, the agency will advise you about the procedure.
The PA Group understands that you need to be confident that the matter has been properly addressed. Therefore, subject to legal constraints, you will receive information about the outcomes of any investigations.
If you take the matter outside the PA Group, you must ensure you do not disclose confidential information. Please check with the relevant Whistleblowing Officer before speaking to anyone outside the agency about what information you cannot share because it is confidential.
This Whistleblowing Policy should be read alongside the following policies:
- Safeguarding Policy
- Allegations and Complaints Policy and Procedures
- Household Safer Caring Policy, Child Safer Caring Policy and Parent and Child Policy if applicable.
