Cambridgeshire County Council is committed to the highest possible standard of operation, integrity, and accountability. It is important that any wrongdoing within the council is reported and properly dealt with. Raising concerns about wrongdoing is known as whistleblowing.
The Whistleblowing Policy is for raising serious concerns of wrongdoing. If you have a complaint about the council’s services and activity, you should instead use the council’s Feedback Policy for compliments, complaints and suggestions.
Whistleblowing is an important part of organisational governance. Cambridgeshire County Council’s Whistleblowing Policy aims to:
- Encourage and enable any person to feel confident in raising serious concerns
- Provide avenues for raising concerns
- Embed confidence that concerns are taken seriously by the county council
Concerns will be channelled through the most appropriate service within the authority and treated with sensitivity.
This policy can be used by anyone with a concern about wrongdoing to bring that issue to the council’s attention, with confidence that their concern will be listened to.
Cambridgeshire County Council will not tolerate harassment or victimisation and will take reasonable appropriate action to protect whistleblowers. Employees are protected under law by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA).
The Whistleblowing Policy is reviewed annually to ensure it continually complies with legislation and is effective in practice. Any significant amendments are made in consultation with the council’s senior officers and recognised Trade Unions and presented to the Audit and Accounts committee. The Whistleblowing Policy is reviewed by Cambridgeshire’s Audit and Accounts Committee on an annual basis.
