Catch22 is committed to the highest possible standards of openness, probity and accountability.
This policy is designed to ensure that all who work or volunteer for Catch22 know how to raise major concerns that fall outside the scope of other internal policies and procedures and makes it clear that this can be done without fear of victimisation, subsequent discrimination or disadvantage. This Whistleblowing Policy is intended to encourage and enable employees to raise serious concerns within Catch22 rather than overlooking a problem or “blowing the whistle” outside.
There are procedures in place for you to lodge a grievance relating to your own employment. The Whistleblowing Policy is intended to cover major concerns that fall outside the scope of other procedures. These include:
Thus, any serious concerns that you have about any aspect of service provision or the conduct of Catch22 or others acting on behalf of Catch22 can be reported under the Whistleblowing Policy. This may be about something that:
It is possible that in the course of your work for Catch22, you may identify an act by a third party, not acting on our behalf or part of our service provision arrangements, which raises a serious concern in your mind. Any such issues should be reported using the routes set out in this policy. While Catch22 cannot undertake to directly investigate such matters it will raise these on your behalf with the relevant agency.
This policy applies to all Catch22 employees, workers and volunteers. It has been discussed with union representatives and has their support.
How does the Whistleblowing policy work?
Protected disclosure
In order to make a protected disclosure, you must have a reasonable belief that the issue you wish to “blow the whistle” about is in the public interest. It is important to bear in mind that you do not have to be correct in your belief or have proof of alleged wrongdoing, but you must have a reasonable belief that wrongdoing has been, or is likely to be committed. You have no responsibility for investigating the matter – it is Catch22’s responsibility to ensure that an investigation into your disclosure takes place.
Safeguards: harassment or victimisation
Catch22 is committed to good practice and high standards and will be supportive of its employees, workers and volunteers. Catch22 recognises that the decision to report a concern can be a difficult one to make. If you believe what you are saying is true, you should have nothing to fear because you will be taking the right course of action for your employer and those for whom you are providing a service. Catch22 will not tolerate any harassment or victimisation (including informal pressures) and will take appropriate action to protect you when you raise a concern in good faith. Any investigation into allegations of potential malpractice will not influence or be influenced by disciplinary or redundancy procedures that already affect you.
Confidentiality
If you so wish, all concerns will be treated in confidence and every effort will be made not to reveal your identity. At the appropriate time, however, you may need to come forward as a witness. This policy encourages you to put your name to your concern whenever possible.
Concerns expressed anonymously are much less powerful but will be considered at the discretion of the Operational Directors Leadership Team.
In exercising this discretion the factors to be taken into account will include:
- the seriousness of the issues raised;
- the credibility of the concern; and
- the likelihood of confirming the allegation from attributable sources.
You may be asked to justify the grounds of your original complaint especially if the initial investigation does not support your complaint.
Untrue allegations
If you express a concern that is in the public interest, but it is not confirmed by the investigation, no action will be taken against you.
However, if you make an allegation which is held to be done frivolously, vexatiously, maliciously or for personal gain, disciplinary action may be taken against you.
How to raise a concern
As a first step, you should normally raise concerns with your immediate manager or his/her senior. You may already have a departmental procedure you can use. This depends, however, on the seriousness and sensitivity of the issues involved and who is suspected of the malpractice. If you believe that management is involved, you can contact your People Business Partner, or senior managers in the Governance, People or Health & Safety teams via the email link ihaveaconcern@catch-22.org.uk
Concerns may be raised orally initially but should be confirmed in writing. Employees, workers or volunteers who wish to make a written report are invited to use the following format:
- The background and history of the concern (giving relevant dates); and
- The reason why you are particularly concerned about the situation.
The People Business Partner will provide any help you need in expressing your concern. The earlier you express the concern the easier it is to take action. Although you are not expected to prove beyond all reasonable doubt the truth of an allegation, you will need to demonstrate to the person contacted that on the balance of probabilities there are reasonable grounds for the concern you have raised.
Advice/guidance on how to pursue matters of concern may be obtained from:
- your People Business Partner – contact details are on SharePoint; or
- your own Director
You can also report and get advice about fraud or internet crime by calling “Action Fraud” a section of the police on 0300 123 2040 (text-phone 0300 123 2050) – having first taken note of the provisions of paragraph 5.8 of this policy (“How the matter can be taken further).
You may wish to consider discussing your concern with a colleague first and you might find it easier to raise the matter if there are two (or more) of you who have had the same experience or concerns.
You may invite your trade union, professional association representative or a workplace colleague (including LinkUp) to be present during any meetings or interviews in connection with the concerns you have raised. Anyone who helps you will need to respect the confidentiality of the investigation.
How Catch22 will respond
Catch22 will respond to your concerns as soon as is practical. Do not forget that testing out your concerns is not the same as either accepting or rejecting them.
Where appropriate, the matters raised may:
- be investigated by an external investigator, management, internal audit, or through the disciplinary process;
- be referred to the police;
- be referred to the external auditor;
- be referred to the appropriate LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer for Safeguarding); and/or
- form the subject of an independent inquiry, for example, through the Area Child Protection Committee for child abuse.
In order to protect individuals and those accused of misdeeds or possible malpractice, initial enquiries will be made to decide whether an investigation is appropriate and, if so, what form it should take. The overriding principle that Catch22 will have in mind is the public interest. Concerns or allegations that fall within the scope of specific Catch22 or statutory procedures will normally be referred for consideration under those procedures.
Some concerns may be resolved by agreed action without the need for investigation. If urgent action is required this will be taken before any investigation is conducted.
Within ten working days of a concern being raised, a representative of the People Team or Director will write to you:
- acknowledging that the concern has been raised;
- indicating how Catch22 propose to deal with the matter;
- giving an estimate of how long it will take to provide a final response;
- telling you whether any initial enquiries have been made;
- supplying you with information on staff support mechanisms; and
- telling you whether further investigations will take place and if not, why.
The amount of contact between those considering the issues and you will depend on the nature of the matters raised, the potential difficulties involved and the clarity of the information provided. If necessary, Catch22 will seek further information from you.
Where any meeting is arranged, off-site if you so wish, you can be accompanied by a trade union or professional association representative or a workplace colleague (including LinkUp). Catch22 will take steps to minimise any difficulties that you may experience as a result of raising a concern. For instance, if you are required to give evidence in criminal or disciplinary proceedings Catch22 will arrange for you to receive advice about the procedure and where appropriate financial or other support.
Catch22 recognises that you need to be assured that the matter has been properly addressed. Thus, subject to legal constraints, we will inform you of the outcome of any investigation.
As the investigation progresses, you will be kept informed as to any developments, as far as is possible under the constraints that may apply to Catch22.
The Responsible Officer
The Chief People Officer has overall responsibility for the maintenance and operation of this policy. A record will be maintained of all concerns raised and the outcomes (but in a form which does not endanger your confidentiality) and will report as necessary to the Operational Directors Leadership Team and the Trustee Audit Committee.
How the matter can be taken further
This policy is intended to provide you with an avenue within Catch22 to raise and resolve concerns. Catch22 hopes you will be satisfied with any action taken. If you are not, and on the basis that you have exhausted Catch22’s internal mechanisms for consideration of your concern, you have the option to take the matter outside Catch22. The following are possible contact points:
- the external auditor;
- your trade union;
- your local branch of Citizens’ Advice;
- relevant professional bodies or regulatory organisations;
- a relevant voluntary organisation; or
- the Police.
If you do take the matter outside Catch22, you should be careful to ensure that your claim meets the definition of a “protected disclosure” and that you do not disclose unrelated confidential information (which would be a breach of your contract of employment). You should check with the People Business Partner before such disclosures are made or alternatively with your trade union, professional advisor or Citizen’s Advice.
Lastly, if your concern relates to a third party organisation with whom you have come into contact during the course of your work, but who is not acting on behalf of Catch22, and you are dissatisfied with the response you have received via Catch22 (who will have raised the matter on your behalf), you may also choose to raise this matter externally – although first taking care that your disclosure is “protected” and that you do not include any unrelated confidential information regarding Catch22, its employees, workers or volunteers, stakeholders or service users.
Interplay with Grievance Policy
If you have chosen to include a “protected disclosure” as a part of a formal grievance then this may, at Catch22s discretion, be investigated and you will receive a response, under the terms of that policy. If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the grievance process you will not be able to additionally raise the same, or essentially the same, matters under this policy.
Related policies
- Complaints policy
- Bullying and Harassment policy
- Disciplinary policy
- Grievance Policy
