HEE KSS

TraineeWhistleblowingGuidance

Originator: / HeadofHumanResources
ManagerResponsible: / DeanDirector
PolicyNumber:
VersionNumber: / 1.0
ApprovingBody: / KSSOperationalGroup
DateIssued: / 5November2010
ReviewDate: / Reviewed: 5November2012
Updated: 16 February 2016
StatusofEqualityImpactAssessed: / Assessed–noadverseimpact
LegalAdviceRequired/Obtained: / Notrequired
MasterLocation: / K:\Genshare\Policies,ProceduresGuidance
PublicationScheme: / PubliclyAvailableDocument

WhistleblowingGuidanceforTrainees-Version1.0

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1.Introduction

HEE KSSrecognisesthatmedicalanddentalprofessionalshaveethical responsibilitiestoraiseconcernsaboutmatterswhichmaycauseharmtopatientsor colleagues.Theprocessofraisingsuchconcernsisknownas‘whistleblowing’andthe NHSencouragesstafftofeelabletoraiseconcernsinareasonableandresponsible way,withoutfearofvictimisationorrecrimination,eveniftheconcernislaterprovento beunfounded.

AguidehasalsobeenproducedbytheNHSSocialPartnershipForumSpeakupforaHealthNHS,(2010).TheguideisintendedtohelpNHSOrganisationsempowerand encouragebestpracticewhistleblowingarrangementsandtocreateaculturewhere stafffeelconfidenttospeakupwithoutfearofvictimisation,aswellaspromotingthe supportwhichNHSstaffcanexpect.Inaddition,TheNHSConstitutionfurther supportstheprinciplesoutlinedintheguide.

2.Aims

Thisguidancenoteaimstoprovidetraineeswithsomebasicinformationaboutissues they maywishto considerandwheretheymightobtainsupportintheeventthatthey arefacedwithasituation wheretheyneedtoraiseconcernsabout wrongdoingwhich couldimpactonpatientsorcolleagues.

3.Purpose

AspartoftheNHS,HEE KSS supportstraineesfeelingempoweredtoraise concernswithoutfear ofvictimisationandthe purposeofthisguidance istoensurethat traineesrecognisethatthereareindividualstowhomtheycanreferforsupportor guidanceinsituationswheretheyareconsideringraisingconcerns.

Trainees’employingorganisationsarelikelytohavealocalpolicywhichcoversthis issueinmoredetailbutthisguidanceisaimedatprovidingsomebasicissuesthattraineesmayneedtoconsideraswellassignpostingthemtoindividualswhocansupportthemthroughanysituationswhichmayarise.

4.Scope

Thisguidanceisintendedtoassistpostgraduatemedicalanddentaltraineeswithinthe SouthEastCoasthealtheconomy.

5.DefinitionofWhistleblowing?

Theofficialnameforwhistleblowingis‘makingadisclosureinthepublicinterest’,howeveritismuchmorecommonlycalled‘blowingthewhistle’or‘whistleblowing’.It meansthatifyoubelievethereiswrongdoinginyourworkplace(egyouremployeris committingacriminaloffence)youcanreportthisby followingthecorrectprocesses, andyouremploymentrightsareprotected.Itisanissuewhichisparticularlyrelevant tohealthcareorganisations,giventhenatureoftheworkandthepotentialrisksto patients.Consequently,itisfeltthatitisanissueofwhichtraineesneedtobeaware.

6.Principles

Itisanticipatedthatwhistleblowerswillactresponsibly andoperatein accordancewith thefollowingprinciples:

  • Everyoneshouldbeawareoftheimportanceofpreventingandeliminating wrongdoingatwork.Traineesshouldbewatchfulforillegalorunethicalconduct andreportanythingofthatnaturethattheybecomeawareof.
  • Notraineewillbevictimisedforraisingamatterunderawhistleblowingpolicy.

Thismeansthatthecontinuedemploymentandopportunitiesforfuture promotionortrainingwillnotbeprejudicedbecausehe/shehasraiseda

legitimateconcern.

  • Maliciouslymakingafalseallegationisadisciplinaryoffence.
  • Aninstructiontocoverup wrongdoingisitselfadisciplinaryoffence.Iftoldnotto raiseorpursueanyconcern,evenbyaperson in authoritysuch as a manager,

traineesshouldnotagreetoremainsilent.Theyshouldreportthemattertoan

appropriateperson.

7.GoodMedicalPractice

IntheGMC’sguidance,‘GoodMedicalPractice’,itstatesthat,“Ifyouhavegood reasontothinkthatpatientsafetyisormaybeseriouslycompromisedbyinadequate premises,equipment,orotherresources,policiesorsystems,youshouldputthe matterrightifthatispossible.Inallothercasesyoushoulddrawthemattertothe attentionofyouremployingorcontractingbody.Iftheydonottakeadequateaction, youshouldtakeindependentadviceonhowtotakethe matterfurther.Youmustrecord

yourconcerns and the stepsyouhavetakentotrytoresolvethem.2” Thislink tothe GMCwebsitealsoprovidesfurtherguidanceonraisingclinicalconcerns.

8.HEE KSS’scommitment

HEE KSSfullysupportsatrainee’srighttoraisetheirconcernsaboutthe organisationwithinwhich theywork orotherorganisationsassociatedwith it. All NHS bodiesarerequiredtohavewhistleblowingpoliciesandtraineesareencouragedtouse theseiftheyhaveagenuine concern about theissuesidentifiedabove. Exceptionally, HEE KSSmaydeemitnecessarytoremoveatraineefromanorganisation,either asatemporaryorpermanentmeasurebeforeoraftertheallegedincidenthasbeen investigated.Suchactionwillonlyoccurifitisreasonablyconsideredtobeinthe trainee’sbestinterestsandfollowingnegotiationwiththetrainee.

9.GuidanceandSupport

EachLocalEducationProvider(LEP-NHSTrustorothertrainingprovider)should haveitsownwhistleblowingpolicy toallowfor these concerns tobe addressedlocally. This maybeavailable ontheLEPwebsite orintranetoralternativelydirectlybyrequest fromtheirHumanResources/MedicalStaffingDepartment.

ThePublicInterestDisclosureAct1998amendedtheEmploymentRightsAct1996to provideprotectionforworkerswhoraiselegitimateconcernsaboutspecificmattersof wrongdoing.Theareascoveredbythelegislationincludedisclosuresmadeingood faithbyanemployeewhohasareasonablebelieforconcernaboutthefollowing:

•acriminaloffence;

  • amiscarriageofjustice;
  • anactcreatingrisktohealthandsafety;
  • anactcausingdamagetotheenvironment;
  • abreachofanyotherlegalobligation;or
  • concealmentofanyoftheabove.

Inmost cases,itwillbe incumbentupon trainees toformallyraisetheissueswiththe LEPfirstbeforecontactingexternalagencies(includingHEE KSS).Itis recommendedthatyoutakeadvicebeforereportingyourconcerntoanexternal agency.

Thelegislationprotectingindividualswhomakeaprotecteddisclosureappliesnotonly toemployeesbutalsotoanypersonwhoundertakestodoorperformpersonally(or otherwise)anyworkorservicefortheemployer,regardlessofthenatureofthe contractualrelationshipbetweenthem.

Thewhistleblowingcharity,PublicConcernatWork,alsooffersguidanceon whistleblowingandconstructivelydescribeswhistleblowersaswitnesses,not complainants.Theirwebsiteclarifiestheirleadingroleinraisingtheprofileof whistleblowingandindevelopinglegislationintheUKandabroad.Theorganisationoffersaconfidential helplinefreeadvicetoindividualswithwhistleblowingconcerns,as wellasprofessionalsupporttoarangeoforganisations,includingtheNHSand Schools.Traineesarealsoadvisedtotakeadvicefromarepresentativeordefenceassociationbeforedisclosinginformationtoexternalagencies.

ConcernscanalsoberaisedwiththeDirectorofMedicalEducation,ClinicalTutor, TrainingProgrammeDirector,ClinicalSupervisororEducationalSupervisor.Early resolutionclosesttotheconcernisnormallythepreferredapproach.

AlthoughapproachesmadedirectlytoHEE KSSinthefirstinstancearemostlikely tobedirectedtooneoftheabove,concernedindividualsmaybeabletodiscussthe mostappropriaterouteforsupport,orforformalwhistleblowingissues,withaHeadof SchooloranAssociatePostgraduateDean.

10.EqualityImpactAssessment

ThisguidancehasbeenreviewedinaccordancewithEqualitiesLegislationonrace, disability,age,gender,sexualorientationandgenderidentity,faithandbelief.Some researchindicatesthatstaffdofeelvictimisedintheNHSbywhistleblowing,butnoone particularequalitygroupisadverselyaffected.Thisguidanceistofurtherreassure employeesthattheywillbeprotectedfrompossiblereprisalsorvictimisationifthey haveareasonablebeliefthattheyhavemadeadisclosureingoodfaith.Thereforethis policyhaspositiveimpactforallequalitygroups.Ifyouwishtocommentonthis equalityimpactassessment,pleasecontactthe HEE KSSHeadofHumanResources.

Usefulwebsitelinks: