Whistleblowing
NHS Golden Jubilee is proud to support and encourage an environment where employees can raise concerns about patient safety, malpractice and other forms of harm.
From April 1 2021, there is a new process for raising these concerns, with a new focus on:
- Helping staff raise concerns as early as possible, and
- Supporting and protecting staff when they raise concerns.
A three-stage process has been developed by the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO), with the procedures detailed in the National Whistleblowing Standards. The first two stages are for NHS Golden Jubilee to deliver, with INWO acting as a final independent review stage. If the individual remains dissatisfied, they are able to escalate this for external review to the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer.
This process gives staff the support and protection needed to feel confident raising concerns if they see something wrong. Full details can be found at this link.
Below, you will find videos and useful links to support materials and information around Whistleblowing, including details of your Confidential Contacts and Whistleblowing Champion within the organisation.
Introduction to Whistleblowing
National Policy and Whistleblowing Standards
Additional training and resources are also available here
| Title | Extension | Size | Date published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whistleblowing poster | 1,009.31 KB | ||
| Whistleblowing on Datix Process | 519.19 KB | ||
| Whistleblowing Leaflet | 175.82 KB | ||
| Whistleblowing Leaflet for Managers.pdf | 124.30 KB |
Training
Ahead of the new Whistleblowing Standards coming into effect on 1 April, training is available for all staff in NHSScotland, including students, contractors and volunteers. These modules will teach you about the National Whistleblowing Standards and the role of the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO).
The modules have been provided by the INWO and are set out in two different learning programmes:
- one for staff who need an overview of the Standards
- the other for managers and people who receive concerns from other staff in their day-to-day work
You can find these modules here.
Support Available
NHS board has a dedicated Whistleblowing Champion who monitors and supports the effective delivery of their whistleblowing policy. This role has been developed by the Scottish Government and complements the work of the INWO.
Your Whistleblowing Champion is to help provide you with the assurance that our Board is complying with our Whistleblowing responsibilities. This involves providing critical oversight and ensuring managers are responding to Whistleblowing concerns appropriately.
This individual will also have responsibility for ensuring that we have appropriate systems in place to ensure our services delivered indirectly, including primary care, contracted services and those offered by HSCPs are meeting the requirements and standards.
More information, can be found here.
Confidential Contacts
As part of our team at NHS Golden Jubilee, you will also have access to support from our Confidential Contacts. These are individuals who are independent of normal management structures and have the capacity and capability to be an initial point of contact for staff from all across the organisation who want to raise concerns.
The confidential contact must support staff by providing a safe space to discuss the concern, and assist the staff member in raising their concern with an appropriate manager.
In particular, Confidential Contacts are required to:
- work with the whistleblowing champion to ensure that all staff are aware of the arrangements for raising concerns within their organisation
- promote a culture of trust, which values the raising of concerns as a route to learning and improvement
- through direct contact with frontline staff, ensure they are aware of and have access to the support services available to them when they raise concerns
- assist managers in using concerns as opportunities for learning and improvement
- work with the chief executive and those they have identified to oversee application of the Standards, to ensure the Standards are functioning at all levels of the organisation.
More information is available on our Confidential Contacts Page.
Alternatively, full information about the responsibilities of staff across the organisation is available here
along with FAQs.
Grievances and Concerns
As part of our team at NHS Golden Jubilee, you will also have access to support from our Confidential Contacts. These are individuals who are independent of normal management structures and have the capacity and capability to be an initial point of contact for staff from all across the organisation who want to raise concerns.
The confidential contact must support staff by providing a safe space to discuss the concern, and assist the staff member in raising their concern with an appropriate manager.
In particular, Confidential Contacts are required to:
- work with the whistleblowing champion to ensure that all staff are aware of the arrangements for raising concerns within their organisation
- promote a culture of trust, which values the raising of concerns as a route to learning and improvement
- through direct contact with frontline staff, ensure they are aware of and have access to the support services available to them when they raise concerns
- assist managers in using concerns as opportunities for learning and improvement
- work with the chief executive and those they have identified to oversee application of the Standards, to ensure the Standards are functioning at all levels of the organisation.
More information is available on our Confidential Contacts Page.
Alternatively, full information about the responsibilities of staff across the organisation is available here
along with FAQs.
Get in touch
NHS Golden Jubilee, Beardmore Street, Clydebank, G81 4HX
commsenquiries@gjnh.scot.nhs.uk
0141 951 5000
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