Whistleblowing Policy.

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Whistleblowing
  1. What is Whistleblowing?
    1. Public Concern at Work notes that: "Sometimes whistleblowing is called speaking up or raising a concern. It is all about ensuring that if someone sees something wrong in the workplace, they are able to raise this within their organization, to a regulator, or wider. Whistleblowing ultimately protects customers, staff, beneficiaries, and the organization itself by identifying harm before it’s too late."
  2. Policy
    1. It is important that any fraud, misconduct or wrongdoing by staff or others working on behalf of Kintsugi Hope is reported and properly dealt with. We therefore require all individuals to raise any concerns that they may have about the conduct of others in Kintsugi Hope or the way in which Kintsugi Hope is run. This policy sets out the way in which individuals may raise any concerns that they have and how those concerns will be dealt with.
  3. Background
    1. The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 amended the Employment Rights Act 1996 to provide protection for workers who raise legitimate concerns about specified matters in the public interest. These are called "qualifying disclosures". A qualifying disclosure is one made by an employee 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 you to have proof that such an act is being, has been, or is likely to be, committed - a reasonable belief is sufficient. You have no responsibility for investigating the matter - it is Kintsugi Hope’s responsibility to ensure that an investigation takes place.
    2. If you make a protected disclosure, you have the right not to be dismissed, subjected to any other detriment, or victimized because you have made a disclosure. We encourage you to raise your concerns under this procedure in the first instance.
  4. Principles
      • Everyone should be aware of the importance of preventing and eliminating wrongdoing at work. Staff and others working on behalf of Kintsugi Hope should be watchful for illegal or unethical conduct and report anything of that nature that they become aware of.
      • Any matter raised under this procedure will be investigated thoroughly, promptly, and confidentially, and the outcome of the investigation reported back to the person who raised the issue.
      • No employee or other person working on behalf of Kintsugi Hope will be victimized for raising a matter under this procedure. This means that the continued employment and opportunities for future promotion or training of the worker will not be prejudiced because they have raised a legitimate concern.
      • Victimization of an individual for raising a qualified disclosure will be a disciplinary offence.
      • If misconduct is discovered as a result of any investigation under this procedure, our disciplinary procedure will be used, in addition to any appropriate external measures.
      • Maliciously making a false allegation is a disciplinary offence.
      • An instruction to cover up wrongdoing is itself a disciplinary offence. If told not to raise or pursue any concern, even by a person in authority such as a manager, you should not agree to remain silent. You should report the matter to the Chief Executive or the Chair of the Board of Trustees.
  5. Procedure
    1. This procedure is for disclosures about matters other than a breach of your own contract of employment, which should be raised via the Grievance Procedure.
    2. Stage 1
      1. In the first instance, any concerns should be raised with the CEO, who will arrange an investigation of the matter. The investigation may involve you and other individuals involved giving a written statement. Any investigation will be carried out in accordance with the principles set out above. Your statement will be taken into account, and you will be asked to comment on any additional evidence obtained.
      2. The CEO will take any necessary action, including reporting the matter to the Chair of the Board of Trustees and any appropriate government department or regulatory agency.
      3. The CEO will also invoke any disciplinary action required. On conclusion of any investigation, you will be told the outcome and what Kintsugi Hope has done, or proposes to do, about it. If no action is to be taken, the reason for this will be explained.
    3. Stage 2
      1. If you are concerned that the CEO is involved in the wrongdoing, has a clear conflict of interest, has failed to make a proper investigation, or has failed to report the outcome of the investigations to the relevant person, you should escalate the matter to the Chair of the Board of Trustees.
      2. The Chair will arrange for a review of the investigation to be carried out, make any necessary enquiries, and make their own report to the Board.
    4. Stage 3
      1. If on conclusion of stages 1 and 2 you reasonably believe that the appropriate action has not been taken, you should report the matter to the relevant body. This includes:
        • HM Revenue & Customs
        • The Health and Safety Executive
        • The Environment Agency
        • The Serious Fraud Office
        • The Charity Commission
        • The Pensions Regulator
        • The Information Commissioner
        • The Financial Conduct Authority
        • The Competition and Markets Authority
        • The Independent Office for Police Conduct
      2. You can find the full list in The Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/496899/BIS-16-79-blowing-the-whistle-to-a-prescribed-person.pdf
  6. Data Protection
    1. When an individual makes a disclosure, we will process any personal data collected in accordance with the data protection policy. Data collected from the point at which the individual makes the report is held securely and accessed by, and disclosed to, individuals only for the purposes of dealing with the disclosure.
  7. Approval
    1. This policy has been formally approved by Kintsugi Hope Trustees
  8. Changelog
    1. Date of Change Changed By Comments
      07/04/2022 AN Uploaded policy to website
      23/07/2021 DR Policy drafted