Whistleblowing policy

1.1    Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council is committed to ensuring high standards of conduct in all that it does. We are governed by laws and regulations, our own constitution and code of conduct for employees and councillors. The Seven Principles of Public Life (the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office holder.

1.2    It is important our employees know what to do if, in the course of their work, they come across something that they think is fundamentally wrong, illegal or endangers the public or others within the department. This Procedures and Guidance document guides employees through the process for raising a concern regarding any wrongdoing which is commonly known as whistleblowing.

1.3    All concerns will be managed responsibly and professionally with the appropriate level of confidentiality, and employees have protections against unlawfu l dismissal or victimisation when raising a concern (see appendix B – The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA)). If you are yourself the subject of unrelated disciplinary or redundancy procedures, your Whistleblowing does not mean that these separate processes will be halted.

1.4    We have a policy and this Procedures and Guidance document to reassure you that it is safe and acceptable to speak up and to enable you to raise any concern you may have about malpractice at an early stage and in the right way.

1.5    Government Guidance is also available at: https://www.gov.uk/whistleblowing