Introduction
Woodcraft Folk is committed to the highest standards of openness, honesty and accountability.
An important aspect of accountability and transparency is a mechanism to enable members and staff of Woodcraft Folk to voice concerns in a responsible and effective manner.
The Public Interest Disclosure Act (1999) gives legal protection to employees against being dismissed or penalised by their employers as a result of publicly disclosing certain serious concerns. Woodcraft Folk has endorsed the provisions set out below so as to ensure that no volunteer, beneficiary or staff member should feel at a disadvantage in raising legitimate concerns.
It should be emphasised that this policy is intended to assist individuals who believe they have discovered malpractice or misconduct. It is not designed to question financial or business decisions taken by the Woodcraft Folk, nor should it be used to reconsider any matters which have already been addressed under harassment, complaint, disciplinary or other procedures.
Once the whistle-blowing procedures are in place, it is reasonable to expect volunteers and staff to use them rather than air their complaints outside Woodcraft Folk.
Scope of Policy
This policy is designed to enable volunteers, beneficiaries and staff of Woodcraft Folk to raise concerns internally and at a high level, and to disclose information which the individual believes shows malpractice or misconduct. This policy is intended to cover concerns which are in the public interest and may at least initially be investigated separately but might then lead to other procedures e.g. disciplinary. These concerns could include:
- Financial malpractice or misconduct or fraud
- Failure to comply with a legal obligation or Statutes
- Dangers to Health & Safety or the environment
- Risks to the safety of children and young people
- Criminal activity
- Improper conduct or unethical behaviour
- Attempts to conceal any of these
Safeguards
Protection
This policy is designed to offer protection to those volunteers, beneficiaries and employees of Woodcraft Folk who disclose such concerns provided the disclosure is made:
- In good faith
- In the reasonable belief of the individual making the disclosure that it tends to show malpractice or misconduct
- To an appropriate person (see below).
It is important to note that no protection from internal disciplinary procedures is offered to those who choose not to use the procedure. In an extreme case malicious or wild allegations could give rise to legal action by the person(s) complained about.
Confidentiality
Woodcraft Folk will treat all such disclosures in a confidential and sensitive manner. The identity of the individual making the allegation may be kept confidential so long as it does not hinder or frustrate any investigation. However, the investigation process may reveal the source of the information and the individual making the disclosure may need to provide a statement as part of the evidence required.
Anonymous Allegations
This policy encourages individuals to put their name to any disclosures they make. Concerns expressed anonymously are more challenging to investigate and could be seen as less credible. However, in the case of anonymous allegations being received, Woodcraft Folk will:
- Record the concern, investigate and take any action necessary on the basis of the information shared
- Encourage all individuals with concerns to work closely with investigating panels to share as much information as possible
- Do our utmost to identify any individuals about whose conduct we have received a complaint
Untrue Allegations
If an individual makes an allegation in good faith, which is not confirmed by subsequent investigation, no action will be taken against that individual. In making a disclosure the individual should exercise due care to ensure the accuracy of the information. If, however, an individual makes malicious or allegations with no sufficient grounds, and particularly if they persist with making them, disciplinary action may be taken against that individual.
Procedures for Making a Disclosure
On receipt of a complaint of malpractice, the member of staff who receives and takes note of the complaint must pass this information, as soon as is reasonably possible, to the appropriate designated investigating officer as follows:
- Complaints of malpractice will be investigated by the Chief Executive unless the complaint is against the Chief Executive or is in any way related to the actions of the Chief Executive. In such cases, the complaint should be passed to the Chair of the Board of Trustees for referral.
- In the case of a complaint which is any way connected with but not against the Chief Executive, the Chair will nominate a senior person to act as the alternative investigating officer.
- Complaints against the Chair should be passed to the Chief Executive, who will nominate an appropriate investigating officer.
- The complainant has the right to bypass the line management structure and take their complaint directly to the Chair. The Chair has the right to refer the complaint back to management if they feel that the management without any conflict of interest can more appropriately investigate the complaint.
Should none of the above routes be suitable or acceptable to the complainant, then the complainant may approach one of the following individuals who have been designated and trained as independent points of contact under this procedure. They can advise the complainant on the implications of the legislation and the possible internal and external avenues of complaint open to them:
- Chair of Staffing Committee
- Trade Union representative(s)
- Vice-Chairs of the Board of Trustees
Woodcraft Folk will ensure that any internal investigation does not hinder any formal police investigation.
Timescales
Due to the varied nature of these sorts of complaints, which may involve internal investigators and/or the police, it is not possible to lay down precise timescales for such investigations, however every effort should made to proceed promptly and in line with the timescales outlined in Woodcraft Folk’s Dispute Resolution and Complaints Procedures.
The investigating officer should ensure that the investigations are undertaken as quickly as possible without affecting the quality and depth of those investigations.
The investigating officer, should as soon as practically possible, send a written acknowledgement of the concern to the complainant and thereafter report back to them in writing the outcome of the investigation and on the action that is proposed. If the investigation is a prolonged one, the investigating officer should keep the complainant informed, in writing, as to the progress of the investigation and as to when it is likely to be concluded.
All responses to the complainant should be in writing and sent to their home address.
Investigating Procedure
The investigating officer should follow these steps:
- Full details and clarifications of the complaint should be obtained.
- The investigating officer should inform the individual against whom the complaint is made as soon as is practically possible. The individual will be informed of their right to be accompanied by a trade union or other representative at any future interview or hearing held under the provision of these procedures.
- The investigating officer should consider the involvement of the Police at this stage and should consult with the Chair
- The allegations should be fully investigated by the investigating officer with the assistance, where appropriate, of other individuals/bodies
- A judgement concerning the complaint and validity of the complaint will be made by the investigating officer. This judgement will be detailed in a written report containing the findings of the investigations and reasons for the judgement. The report will be passed to the Chair as appropriate.
- The Chair will decide what action to take. If the complaint is shown to be justified, then they will invoke the disciplinary or other appropriate Woodcraft Folk procedures.
- The complainant should be kept informed of the progress of the investigations and, if appropriate, of the final outcome.
- If appropriate, a copy of the outcomes will be passed to the Board to enable a review of the procedures.
If the complainant is not satisfied that their concern is being properly dealt with by the investigating officer, they have the right to raise it in confidence with the Chair, or one of the designated persons described above.
If the investigation finds the allegations unsubstantiated and all internal procedures have been exhausted, but the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome, Woodcraft Folk recognises the lawful rights of beneficiaries, volunteers, employees and ex-employees to make disclosures to prescribed persons (such as the Health and Safety Executive or the Charity Commission), or, where justified, elsewhere.
November 2020