Issue - meetings

Confidential Reporting Policy

Meeting: 26/07/2019 - Standards Committee (Item 7)

7 Confidential Reporting Policy pdf icon PDF 51 KB

Report by the Director of Law and Assurance.

 

The Committee is asked to note the report on recent referrals and to endorse proposed changes to the Policy to enhance its effectiveness.

 

Minutes:

7.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes), which provided an update on referrals made through the Confidential Reporting (Whistleblowing) Policy.

 

7.2     The report was introduced by the Director of Law and Assurance, who invited the Committee to note the four referrals made and the outcomes from them. He advised that recommendations were to change the name of the Policy to the ‘Whistleblowing Policy’ and to publicise it to staff and through staff groups.

 

7.3     The Committee supported the proposal to rename the Policy as the ‘Whistleblowing Policy’ as it was plainer English. The proposals to publicise the Policy were also supported and it was emphasised that efforts should be made to publicise it to all staff. The Committee also asked for future reports to include a table of the number of cases from the previous year, to give some comparison information.

 

7.4     Resolved –

 

(1)        That the report be noted.

 

(2)        That the Confidential Reporting Policy be renamed the Whistleblowing Policy.

 

(3)        That the policy be promoted to all staff, including school staff, through appropriate methods of communication.

 

(4)        That staff groups be invited to provide feedback on staff perceptions of the policy and its effectiveness as a route for raising concerns and in meeting the primary obligations of confidentiality and no adverse consequences.