New route for Council staff to whistleblow confidentially with confidence
28th September 2020
Proposals that could provide Highland Council employees with a new ‘independent, dedicated and confidential route' to report malpractice and wrongdoing concerns have received support from Highland Councillors.
Following robust discussion, Members of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee have endorsed the movement of the management of the Council’s Whistleblowing Policy and its processes to the Council’s Fraud Team.
Councillors also agreed to recommend the approval of a revised Whistleblowing Policy and its implementation to the next meeting of The Highland Council on 29 October 2020.
‘Whistleblowing’ is legally defined in relation to malpractice and wrongdoing in relation to criminal offences; failure to comply with legal obligations; miscarriage of justice; health and safety danger of an individual; damage to the environment; and deliberate attempt to cover up of any of the latter.
Previously the Council’s pre-existing Whistleblowing Policy and reporting mechanism was managed by the organisation’s Human Resources team. A review of this earlier policy was carried out in January and February 2020 prior to lockdown and a revised draft Whistleblowing Policy was discussed with Trade Unions during its development and then consulted with the Council’s Staff Partnership Forum in August.
The aim of the new Whistleblowing Policy is to encourage employees and workers (such as agency staff and key contractors) to come forward and report internally any serious concerns without being harassed or victimised for doing so.
The Council’s Fraud Team has a long track record of confidentially and sensitively investigating staff concerns; investigating allegations, identifying wrongdoing and taking appropriate action. The Team can provide an established confidential telephone number, email address and updated online form for staff to use (anonymously if required) in this new revised approach to Whistleblowing. A number of other Scottish Councils also operate similar arrangements.
Members were informed in a report to the Audit and Scrutiny Committee that the revised Whistleblowing Policy is in addition to other pre-existing routes through which staff can raise any concerns such as through the Council’s Grievance; and Bullying & Harassment Policies and procedures and existing Fraud reporting mechanisms.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Households across Scotland have received £4.1 billion in relief since the Council Tax Reduction scheme was introduced in 2013. People on low incomes are eligible for the benefit if they live in Scotland - there is no equivalent in England where most councils require each household to contribute a minimum amount of council tax, irrespective of ability to do so.
The Highland Council is preparing to carry out improvement works in Thurso at Ormlie Road and at The Mall riverside path adjacent to Janet Street. The scope of works on Ormlie Road will include junction improvements between Castlegreen Road and Juniper Drive with new drop kerbs and tactile paving and some surface repairs.
A Highland-wide partnership launched earlier in 2024 to support people on their journey towards, into and within employment is looking forward to a New Year in 2025 full of exciting opportunities designed to help hundreds more people across the Highlands unlock their work potential. Work.
The Highland Council is delighted to share that its Energy Efficient Scotland: Area Based Scheme has won the Outstanding Project Award at the Scottish Green Energy Awards. Described by Scottish Renewables as a "pioneering clean power scheme", this £7 million project demonstrates the incredible impact that can be achieved through combined public and private sector investment.
The ambitious yet focused ‘Highland Investment Plan' is committed to addressing our asset challenges over the next twenty years. By using a place based approach, to ensure a more integrated community offering through the creation of new community facilities.
Applications to the Inverness Winter Payments Scheme, which is fully funded by the Inverness Common Fund, have already been awarded to 1,035 eligible households within the 7 specified Inverness Wards. Leader of Inverness Area, Councillor Ian Brown said: "Since the Scheme was opened to applications for this winter, already £114,885 has been awarded to people who live in the eligible Wards of Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness West, Inverness Central, Inverness Ness-side, Inverness Millburn, Culloden and Ardersier and Inverness South Wards.
The first Highland-wide virtual jobs fair held last month has proved to be a hit with participants and businesses. The week-long virtual event, which was delivered by the Local Employability Partnership for the West - The Highland Council, Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Department for Work and Pensions, Developing the Young Workforce and UHI North West and Hebrides was timed to coincide with Scottish Careers Week 2024.
