Whistleblowing

Our whistleblowing policy tells you how to raise a whistleblowing case and the process to follow.

What is Whistleblowing?

Whistleblower is someone who discovers something that is wrong and alerts their employer or the relevant authorities to what is going on.

The law protects whistleblowers from their employer subjecting them to detriment or dismissal by reason of their having “blown the whistle” and from detrimental treatment by their colleagues. To be protected by the law, the act of whistleblowing must fall within the legal rules and the whistleblower must reasonably believe that their disclosure of wrongdoing is made in the public interest.

Our Policy

Our business is run in accordance with the law. No employee will suffer a detriment for speaking up if they believe that something is wrong.

If you have information you believe shows any of the following:

  • A criminal offence was committed or is being or is likely to be committed

  • A person has or is or is likely to fail to comply with a legal obligation

  • A miscarriage of justice has occurred or is or is likely to occur

  • The health and safety of any individual has been or is being or is likely to be endangered

  • The environment has been, is being or is likely to be damaged

  • That information tending to show any matter falling within any one of the above categories has been, is being, or is likely to be deliberately concealed

Please raise your concerns immediately with the relevant College Manager, House Manager or any member of the Human Resources Department.

The aim of this policy is to provide an internal mechanism for reporting, investigating and remedying any wrongdoing in the workplace. In most cases you should not find it necessary to alert anyone externally.

However, you will still be protected in law if you disclose the information to the following:

  • A legal adviser in the course of getting legal advice

  • A Minister of the Crown

  • One of the prescribed persons set out in the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 1999 (e.g. disclosure of a danger to health and safety to the Health and Safety Executive; disclosure of fraud to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; disclosure of breach of tax rules to HM Revenue & Customs).

Disclosure to any other person is not generally protected except in very limited circumstances.

After you have raised a concern, we will decide how to respond in a responsible and appropriate manner. Initially this will usually involve making internal enquiries but it may become necessary to carry out a full investigation which may be formal or informal depending on the nature of the concern raised. We will endeavour to complete investigations within a reasonable time.

We will keep you informed of progress and let you know when the investigation is completed. We will not be able to inform you of any matters which would infringe any duty of confidentiality owed to others.

If you use this policy to raise a concern in the public interest, we can assure you that you will not suffer any form of retribution or detrimental treatment.

Any person who criticises or victimises a bona fide whistleblower will be liable to disciplinary action.

Last updated: Aug 2020