Whistleblower channel absence
Lack of independent or unconnected channels for staff to report concerns, especially when management or ownership involves close relationships.
21 items
1 source
12 inquiries
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Whistleblower channel absence has been flagged across 1 independent accountability source:
21 inquiry recs
This theme has been identified in one data source. As more data is added, cross-references may emerge.
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Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry Recommendations (21)
37 — Westminster whistleblowing policies for CSA
Recommendation: Government, political parties and other Westminster institutions must have whistleblowing policies and procedures which cover child sexual abuse and exploitation. Every employee must be aware that they can raise any concerns using these policies and that the policies are not …
Gov response: On 18 September 2020, the UK government confirmed that all government departments have whistleblowing policies in place. It confirmed that Civil Service HR has a model policy to support departments in ensuring their policies are …
Accepted
R80 — NED for confidential staff reporting
Recommendation: Consideration should be given to the creation of a role for a NED in each HSCT with the specific remit to receive confidential reports from members of staff. The individual should receive training via a programme focused on safeguarding and …
Response Pending
L46 — Whistleblowing Hotline
Recommendation: A regulatory body should establish a whistleblowing hotline for those who feel that they are being asked to do things which are contrary to the code.
Gov response: The Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012 that he accepted "the principles that Lord Justice Leveson has laid out" for independent self-regulation, including "an independent board, a standards code, an arbitration service and the …
Accepted in Part
26 — Clear national whistleblowing policy
Recommendation: We commend the introduction of a clear national policy on whistleblowing. As well as protecting the interests of whistleblowers, we recommend that this is implemented in a way that ensures that a systematic and proportionate response is made by Trusts …
Gov response: 50. We accept this recommendation. The Department has accepted in principle the recommendations made by Sir Robert Francis QC in his Freedom to Speak Up report; and has consulted on a package of measures to …
Accepted
BAHA-18 — Whistleblower Protection
Recommendation: JDP 1-10 should address the protection that will be afforded to service personnel who make complaints or allegations in good faith of the mistreatment of CPErS. It should give guidance as to those who can be approached when service personnel …
Gov response: Accepted. Guidance on protection for those reporting mistreatment and appropriate contacts has been included.
Accepted
WATE-(8) — Establish clear whistleblowing procedures for staff reporting child welfare concerns.
Recommendation: Every local authority should establish and implement conscientiously clear whistleblowing procedures enabling members of staff to make complaints and raise matters of concern affecting the treatment or welfare of looked after children without threats or fear of reprisals in any …
Unknown
BRIS-114 — Grant immunity for NHS staff reporting sentinel events within 48 hours
Recommendation: Members of staff in the NHS should receive immunity from disciplinary action by the employer or by a professional body if they report a sentinel event to the trust or to the national database within 48 hours, except where they …
Unknown
IHRD-30 — Confidential Reporting of Clinical Concerns
Recommendation: Confidential on-line opportunities for reporting clinical concerns should be developed, implemented and reviewed.
Gov response: Confidential reporting mechanisms established.
Accepted
F179 — Restrictive contractual clauses
Recommendation: "Gagging clauses" or non disparagement clauses should be prohibited in the policies and contracts of all healthcare organisations, regulators and commissioners; insofar as they seek, or appear, to limit bona fide disclosure in relation to public interest issues of patient …
Gov response: The government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" …
Accepted
L81 — Enhanced Whistleblower Protection
Recommendation: An enhanced system for protection of whistleblowers and for providing assistance for the Police Service on general ethical issues should at least comprise the following: (a) greater prominence should be given to the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA) telephone line …
Gov response: The Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012: "Lord Justice Leveson makes a number of recommendations that are designed to break the perception of an excessively cosy relationship between the press and the police and …
Accepted
27 — Professional duty to report concerns
Recommendation: Professional regulatory bodies should clarify and reinforce the duty of professional staff to report concerns about clinical services, particularly where these relate to patient safety, and the mechanism to do so. Failure to report concerns should be regarded as a …
Gov response: 53. We accept this recommendation. A review of professional codes is under way. 54. Dr Kirkup found that many staff did not raise any concerns about standards of care in the maternity units across Morecambe …
Accepted
RHI-32b — Civil Servants Raising Concerns
Recommendation: Civil servants should be encouraged not to feel in any way inhibited about disclosing possible or emerging problems, raising concerns, negative aspects or adverse criticisms of a project as necessary to ensure that decisions are properly informed.
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can …
Accepted
DM-13 — HMICFRS review of whistleblower protections
Recommendation: It is recommended that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services conduct a thematic investigation of the operation of the practices and procedures introduced following the adoption of the Code of Ethics in 2014 to determine whether …
Gov response: The College of Policing's Code of Ethics is a hugely significant document in policing and applies to everyone working in the policing profession. The Code of Ethics, first published in 2014, aims to deliver a …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
BRIS-116 — Provide opportunity to report sentinel events in confidence
Recommendation: The opportunity should exist to report a sentinel event in confidence.
Unknown
F160 — Training and training establishments as a source of safety information
Recommendation: Proactive steps need to be taken to encourage openness on the part of trainees and to protect them from any adverse consequences in relation to raising concerns.
Gov response: The government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" …
Accepted
L47 — Journalist Contract Protection
Recommendation: The industry generally and a regulatory body in particular should consider requiring its members to include in the employment or service contracts with journalists a clause to the effect that no disciplinary action would be taken against a journalist as …
Gov response: The Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012 that he accepted "the principles that Lord Justice Leveson has laid out" for independent self-regulation, including "an independent board, a standards code, an arbitration service and the …
Accepted in Part
RHI-35 — Early Warning Systems
Recommendation: Better systems are needed for spotting early warnings and concerns from the public and businesses that something unexpected could be happening or going wrong with an initiative. Simply updating existing complaints and whistle-blowing policies, although helpful, will not be sufficient, …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can …
Accepted
SP67 — Law Commission review of duty to warn/report
Recommendation: The Law Commission should be asked to review the merits of legal reform concerning whether specified categories of persons ought to be under a legal duty to warn about, or a duty to report, the criminality of another.
Gov response: Ministry of Justice is the sponsoring department for the Law Commission and will work with the Law Commission, the Home Office and other relevant departments on this recommendation. Progress and next steps: - The Law …
Accepted
In progress
BRIS-117 — Require contractual stipulation for confidential, non-disciplinary reporting of sentinel events.
Recommendation: There should be a stipulation in every healthcare professional’s contract that sentinel events must be reported, that reporting can be confidential, and that reporting within a specified time period will not attract disciplinary action.
Unknown
IHRD-6 — Support for Candour Compliance
Recommendation: Support and protection should be given to those who properly fulfil their duty of candour.
Gov response: Guidance updated and incorporated into health and social care training and policies.
Accepted
BAHA-17 — CPErS Complaints Procedure
Recommendation: JDP 1-10 should incorporate the requirement that on entry to and exit from a theatre level detention facility, CPErS are proactively asked whether or not they have any complaints concerning their treatment. This should not be done in the presence …
Gov response: Accepted. Procedures for proactively seeking CPErS complaints have been incorporated into doctrine.
Accepted