Who this policy applies to
This policy applies to all employees, workers, contractors, agency staff and volunteers at the Orpheus Centre.
What whistleblowing means
Whistleblowing is the reporting of concerns where someone reasonably believes that wrongdoing has occurred, is happening, or may happen, and that raising the concern is in the public interest.
People who raise qualifying concerns are protected by law under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
What you can raise concerns about
Whistleblowing concerns may relate to:
- Criminal offences
- Failure to comply with legal obligations
- Miscarriages of justice
- Risks to health and safety
- Environmental damage
- Deliberate concealment of any of the above
Concerns may relate to actions in the past, present or future.
What whistleblowing is not
Issues that relate solely to personal employment matters, such as individual grievances, should be raised through Orpheus’s Grievance Policy, not the whistleblowing process.
Our commitment to those who speak up
Orpheus:
- Encourages people to raise concerns early
- Treats all concerns seriously, fairly and confidentially
- Ensures whistleblowers are protected from victimisation, bullying or dismissal
- Provides feedback wherever possible
- Takes appropriate action where wrongdoing is identified
Anyone found to subject a whistleblower to detrimental treatment will face disciplinary action.
How to raise a concern
Concerns should be raised as soon as possible and can be made verbally or in writing. Written disclosures are encouraged where possible.
You should normally raise your concern with:
- Your line manager, or
- The HR Team, if it is not appropriate to speak to your manager
If the concern involves senior leaders:
- Concerns about the CEO, Director of People and Governance or a Trustee should be raised with the Chair of the Board of Trustees
- Concerns about the Chair of Trustees should be reported directly to the Charity Commission
You can request confidentiality, and this will be respected wherever possible.
Anonymous disclosures
Anonymous concerns will be considered, but they can be harder to investigate and provide feedback on. Where possible, Orpheus encourages whistleblowers to identify themselves so they can be supported and protected appropriately.
What happens next
Once a concern is received:
- An initial meeting will usually take place within 10 working days
- An impartial investigation will be carried out
- The outcome will be shared, where possible
Possible outcomes include no action, management action, use of internal procedures, or referral to external bodies such as regulators or the police.
Good faith and malicious disclosures
- No action will be taken against anyone who raises a concern in good faith, even if it is not upheld
- Deliberately false or malicious allegations may lead to disciplinary action
External advice
Independent advice is available from Protect, a specialist whistleblowing charity, for anyone seeking confidential guidance before raising a concern.
