Whistleblower channel absence

Lack of independent or unconnected channels for staff to report concerns, especially when management or ownership involves close relationships.

66 items 9 sources 10 inquiries
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Where this theme appears

Whistleblower channel absence has been flagged across 9 independent accountability sources:

19 inquiry recs 1 PFD report 27 committee recs 2 CQC actions 1 HMICFRS rec 1 IOPC rec 3 IMB recs 3 detention investigation recs 9 LGO/SPSO decisions

When the same issue appears across inquiries, coroner reports, and regulators independently, it indicates a recurring issue across the public record.

Browse by source

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.

L46 — Whistleblowing Hotline
Leveson Inquiry
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
Morecambe Bay Investigation
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
Baha Mousa Inquiry
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.
Waterhouse Inquiry
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
Bristol Heart Inquiry
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
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
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
Mid Staffs Inquiry
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
Leveson Inquiry
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
Morecambe Bay Investigation
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
RHI Inquiry
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
Daniel Morgan Panel
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
Bristol Heart Inquiry
Recommendation: The opportunity should exist to report a sentinel event in confidence.
Unknown
F160 — Training and training establishments as a source of safety information
Mid Staffs Inquiry
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
Leveson Inquiry
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
RHI Inquiry
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
Southport Inquiry
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.
Response Pending
BRIS-117 — Require contractual stipulation for confidential, non-disciplinary reporting of sentinel events.
Bristol Heart Inquiry
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
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Recommendation: Support and protection should be given to those who properly fulfil their duty of candour.
Gov response: Support mechanisms established for staff raising concerns. Being Open Framework includes protections.
Accepted
BAHA-17 — CPErS Complaints Procedure
Baha Mousa Inquiry
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
#8 —
International Development Committee
Recommendation: An audit will also help the FCDO along with other donors to hold aid organisations accountable for their treatment of whistle-blowers. The results of an audit could help donors to develop incentives for managers to encourage effective reporting on standards …
Gov response: Safeguarding Unit and Consular Assistance Department began conversations in 2020 about this join-up and we will factor in this recommendation as the work continues. Seventh Special Report of Session 2019–21 5
Under Consideration
#7 —
International Development Committee
Recommendation: A full and transparent audit of whistleblowing in the aid sector has still not taken place. The FCDO should undertake an audit to provide a full understanding of how whistleblowing practices are being implemented and used, to give confidence that …
Gov response: perpetrator is a staff member or part of the delivery chain. Survivor support is complex and the existence of response services are often dependent on government provision or humanitarian emergency response. In fragile and conflict …
Under Consideration
#31 —
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: We asked about the lack of tolerance of those involved in projects to voice their concerns without facing serious repercussions. The Permanent Secretary told us that “there are some particular challenges within the uniform chain of command about how you …
Gov response: 6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Autumn 2022 6.2 The department monitors progress of National Audit Office’s (NAO’s) Value for Money recommendations including Equipment Plan report recommendations. The status of …
Not Addressed
#9 —
Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation: Journalists, however, are not the only truth-tellers who need protection. They often rely on whistle-blowers inside companies and organisations. These whistle-blowers need protection. The FCDO should therefore push for a Whistleblowing Bill to offer protection to those who speak out …
Gov response: The Government agrees with the Committee that an effective whistleblowing framework is an important part of the UK’s ability to tackle corruption and all forms of economic crime and illicit finance. These acts are by …
Accepted
#18 — Systematic interviews capturing whistleblower experience are not routinely conducted by departments.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: We asked the Cabinet Office if any interviews are undertaken with whistleblowers to capture their perspective of the experience. It told us it is not aware of interviews taking place currently. There was a hesitancy from the Cabinet Office on …
Gov response: 4.2 The Cabinet Office will work with departmental leads to develop ways on how it can better capture whistleblowers' experiences, including whether they have experienced victimisation or harassment. The Cabinet Office will encourage the sharing …
Accepted
#16 — Whistleblower experience feedback not systematically collected across government departments.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: The annual RAC data collection does not cover the treatment of whistleblowers; for example whether a whistleblower in a specific case has experienced any mistreatment, such as victimisation or bullying.39 The ‘whistleblowing heath check’ guidance issued by the Cabinet Office …
Gov response: 4.2 The Cabinet Office will work with departmental leads to develop ways on how it can better capture whistleblowers' experiences, including whether they have experienced victimisation or harassment. The Cabinet Office will encourage the sharing …
Accepted
#29 — Government must improve valuing whistleblowers, addressing Sellafield mistreatment allegations.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: The previous Committee took evidence on how the civil service responds to whistleblowing, and found that the government needs to do more to signal the value of whistleblowers.85 It is particularly important that everyone working on a site as hazardous …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2026 The NDA is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and high-performing workplace where people can thrive. It has taken decisive steps to foster …
Accepted
#9 —
International Development Committee
Recommendation: We are concerned that the use of non-disclosure agreements in the aid sector could be used to cover-up misconduct and will exacerbate power imbalances. As part of its due diligence processes the FCDO should require organisations it funds to report …
Gov response: The Domestic Abuse Bill extends the jurisdiction of the UK courts so that, where appropriate, UK nationals and residents who commit certain sexual offences against adults outside the UK may be brought to trial in …
Under Consideration
#19 — Collecting systematic feedback from anonymous whistleblowers presents significant challenges for departments.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: The Cabinet Office told us that it is considering ways of capturing feedback from people who have come forward anonymously. DWP acknowledged it finds it hard to collect information from whistleblowers who are anonymous and HMRC told us it has …
Gov response: 4.2 The Cabinet Office will work with departmental leads to develop ways on how it can better capture whistleblowers' experiences, including whether they have experienced victimisation or harassment. The Cabinet Office will encourage the sharing …
Accepted
#17 — Whistleblower support predominantly relies on nominated officers and case-by-case handling.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: We asked both HMRC and DWP how they currently support whistleblowers. HMRC told us the majority of support comes from nominated officers within the department but it also points people to other sources of advice and support, such as the …
Not Addressed
#26 —
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: We asked the Department about the feedback given to whistleblowers from the Confidential Hotline. The Department told us that feedback is provided to whistleblowers in every case, noting that details provided would be case-specific. However, the separate case management systems …
Response Pending
#6 — Cabinet Office introduced whistleblowing data collection and health check tools in 2017
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: In 2017, the Cabinet Office introduced data collection from departments following this Committee’s recommendations in 2016.7 The data collection process is known as the annual Raising a Concern (RAC) collection exercise, which includes a qualitative survey and a quantitative return. …
Gov response: 1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2025 1.2 The Cabinet Office will work with departmental leads to review the annual data collection for the year 2024-25, including the widening …
Accepted
#3 — Ensure departments build a positive environment encouraging civil service whistleblowing concerns to be raised.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: A ‘speak up’ environment is not yet embedded throughout departments to encourage people to comfortably raise concerns. There are still negative perceptions 6 Investigation into whistleblowing in the civil service of whistleblowing which can create barriers to achieving the right …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented. The Cabinet Office recognises that changes in organisational culture can take time to evolve and become embedded and at a different pace across departments. The Cabinet …
Accepted
#2 — Set out specific actions to analyse civil service whistleblowing data for improved knowledge.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: There is a lack of data analysis and sharing of insights regarding whistleblowing across of the civil service. The Cabinet Office does not utilise its central position to analyse the cross-government data it collects. This could help identify trends and …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented The Cabinet Office has robustly analysed the data submitted to: • categorise key themes / cases to support understanding of the data / what it is …
Accepted
#14 — High anonymity rates among whistleblowers reflect ongoing trust issues in civil service
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: The Cabinet Office told us that just under half of whistleblowers come forward anonymously, acknowledging that this fact shows it has more work to do to convince people it is safe to speak up.31 We asked HMRC and DWP how …
Gov response: 3.2 The Cabinet Office recognises that changes in organisational culture can take time to evolve and become embedded and at a different pace across departments. The Cabinet Office will continue to foster the sharing of …
Accepted
#13 — Only half of civil servants feel safe to challenge current practices
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: The National Audit Office found that just 52% of people ‘think it is safe to challenge the way things are done’, from their review of responses to the 2022 Civil Service People Survey. The equivalent figure for the NHS was …
Gov response: 3.2 The Cabinet Office recognises that changes in organisational culture can take time to evolve and become embedded and at a different pace across departments. The Cabinet Office will continue to foster the sharing of …
Accepted
#8 —
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: Whistleblowing concerns, particularly about BBC Arabic’s phase-one restructuring, led the BBC Whistleblowing team to find insufficient documentation and analysis for key decisions; the Service addressed these recommendations inconsistently and with delays.14 More broadly, governance and responsiveness were weak, including governance …
Response Pending
#24 — Larger departments should provide more support and expertise to smaller agencies on whistleblowing.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: We were interested to hear from departments on any improvements that they think can be made in terms of how they can help maintain a high standard of whistleblowing across the civil service. DWP suggested that large departments have a …
Gov response: 5.2. The Cabinet Office will build on the existing work to share insight and best practice. The Raising a Concern self-assessment tool (formerly the health check) provides a solid framework for departments to embed a …
Partially Accepted
#23 — Departments inconsistently apply whistleblowing guidance to their associated arm’s-length bodies.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: The Cabinet Office guidance specifies that departments should cover their agencies as well as themselves when responding to health checks, but this is not followed by all 48 Qq 80, 82 49 Q 2 50 NAO insight - good practice …
Gov response: 5.2. The Cabinet Office will build on the existing work to share insight and best practice. The Raising a Concern self-assessment tool (formerly the health check) provides a solid framework for departments to embed a …
Not Addressed
#22 — Cabinet Office has scope to do more to actively surface and share whistleblowing best practices.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: The Cabinet Office said it could play a role in collating information across the civil service and share back what works well and what departments can do more of.56 For example, the NAO reported that some departments do not have …
Gov response: 5.2. The Cabinet Office will build on the existing work to share insight and best practice. The Raising a Concern self-assessment tool (formerly the health check) provides a solid framework for departments to embed a …
Partially Accepted
#20 — Good whistleblowing practices exist but are not consistently shared across civil service departments.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: There are some examples of good practice across the civil service when it comes to whistleblowing processes, but they are not always shared between departments and agencies. For example, HMRC has ‘help cards’ to improve the quality of information on …
Gov response: 5.2. The Cabinet Office will build on the existing work to share insight and best practice. The Raising a Concern self-assessment tool (formerly the health check) provides a solid framework for departments to embed a …
Partially Accepted
#8 — Cabinet Office does not centrally track whistleblowing investigation lengths from departments
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: HMRC told us it understands that it is important to whistleblowers that it investigates as quickly as possible, and both HMRC and DWP monitor the length of time cases take.13 But the Cabinet Office is not collating this metric from …
Gov response: 1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2025 1.2 The Cabinet Office will work with departmental leads to review the annual data collection for the year 2024-25, including the widening …
Accepted
#1 — Committee received evidence on civil service whistleblowing from Cabinet Office and other departments.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Cabinet Office, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) on whistleblowing in the civil service.1
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. collection for the year 2024-25, including the widening of the data set to focus on: • providing clarity and consensus on the categorisation of cases and outcomes; • …
Accepted
#5 — Develop a system to disseminate whistleblowing good practice across civil service and smaller bodies.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: There is a lack of joined up thinking when it comes to sharing good practice across the civil service. There are some examples of good practice across the civil service but the Cabinet Office needs to do more to promote …
Gov response: The government agrees with the recommendations. Target implementation: end 2024 5.2. The Cabinet Office will build on the existing work to share insight and best practice. The Raising a Concern self-assessment tool (formerly the health …
Accepted
#4 — Require all departments to collate feedback from whistleblowers at the end of the process.
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: The Cabinet Office and other departments do not seek feedback from whistleblowers and so are missing vital insights into the effectiveness of the process. The ‘whistleblowing heath check’ guidance from the Cabinet Office suggests departments should gather feedback from individuals …
Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation: end 2024 The Cabinet Office will work with departmental leads to develop ways on how it can better capture whistleblowers' experiences, including whether they have experienced …
Accepted
#13 —
Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation: The Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, alongside the Behaviour Code, Valuing Everyone training and the establishment of the Cultural Transformation Team, is a significant step towards effectively tackling the House of Commons’ damaging culture of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. …
No Published Response
#7 — Cabinet Office whistleblowing data has improved but lacks outcome and whistleblower perspective
Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation: Cabinet Office’s information on concerns and arrangements across the civil service has improved but it still has several quality limitations. For example, there is no method for capturing outcomes for concerns that are ‘ongoing’ at the point of an annual …
Gov response: 1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2025 1.2 The Cabinet Office will work with departmental leads to review the annual data collection for the year 2024-25, including the widening …
Accepted
24-020-464 — Brighton & Hove City Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about whistleblowing. It is appropriate for the complainant to escalate any concerns to the relevant prescribed body.
LGO (Local Government & … Housing Apr 2025
25-010-866 — Gloucestershire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this whistle-blowing complaint about matters principally involving staff safety at temporary accommodation contracted by the Council. We are not a responsible body for whistle-blowing complaints and other bodies are better placed than us to deal with this matter.
LGO (Local Government & … Adult Care Services Dec 2025
24-011-952 — South Gloucestershire Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about public health support services. The complaint has not suffered a personal injustice and their concerns are best raised through the Council’s Whistleblowing policy.
LGO (Local Government & … Environment And Regulation Nov 2024
24-004-364 — London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s prevention of councillors raising concerns where there is already an open complaint. There is not enough evidence of fault in the Council’s action to justify an investigation.
LGO (Local Government & … Other Categories Aug 2024
24-005-570 — Herefordshire Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint alleging Council officers breached the Employee Code of Conduct, and the Council covered up wrongdoing. We cannot consider the actions of a third- party Forum as this is not an administrative function of the Council. We have seen no evidence of fault in …
LGO (Local Government & … Other Categories Aug 2024
24-007-887 — London Borough of Waltham Forest
Summary: We will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about the Council’s advertisement for a volunteer position at a local charity Ms X said was unsafe. There is insufficient evidence of fault, and an investigation by the Ombudsman is unlikely to achieve any other outcome.
LGO (Local Government & … Other Categories Sep 2024
22-004-382 — Staffordshire County Council
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about an alleged breach of confidence by a council officer. This is because the complaint does not meet the tests in our Assessment Code on how we decide which complaints to investigate. There is no evidence the complainant has been caused a significant …
LGO (Local Government & … Other Categories Jul 2022
23-021-410 — London Borough of Islington
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision not to investigate a complaint that a Councillor breached the code of conduct. There is not enough evidence of fault in the way the Council considered the complaint to justify an investigation. Also, we will not investigate concerns about …
LGO (Local Government & … Other Categories May 2024
201405151 — Audit Scotland
Mr C complained that Audit Scotland failed to respond to an email asking whether they were able to investigate a complaint about a third party organisation. As no response was received to this email Mr C sought a response from Audit Scotland and, following investigation, they responded to him almost …
SPSO (Scottish Public Se… Scottish Government and Devolved Administration Upheld May 2015
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