How to raise a concern
We encourage you initially to raise your concern internally. This allows us the opportunity to right the wrong and explain the behaviour or activity. We also advise staff to report any allegation to their line manager.
We recognise that your first actions will depend upon the seriousness and sensitivity of the issues and who you believe to be involved. We advise that you make it clear that you are raising your concerns under our whistleblowing arrangements. This will help managers respond in line with this policy.
It is better to submit concerns in writing. We need the background and history of your concern, giving names, copies of any documents, dates, and places (where possible). We would like you to explain why you are concerned about the situation. We do not expect you to prove the truth of an allegation, but you will need to show that there are sufficient grounds for your concern.
You can use the confidential PO box or email address (which is monitored by a nominated officer within the investigations team):
Lincolnshire County Council
PO Box 640
Lincoln
LN1 1WF
Email address: whistleblowing@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
Alternatively, you can use our confidential whistleblowing line: freephone 0800 0853716
We operate this dedicated reporting line during normal working hours (9am to 5pm). If you call this number out of hours, you can leave a message on the answer phone which is in a secure area and your call will be returned.
Staff can seek independent advice from their trade union representative or professional association. They can also invite a work colleague to raise a concern on their behalf.
Further advice may be sought from the whistleblowing charity Protect on their whistleblowing advice line: 020 3117 2520
Remember, the earlier you raise the concern, the easier it is for the council to act.
The council as a ‘prescribed body’
Under whistleblowing legislation, workers in other organisations may choose to make a disclosure to the council, rather than their employer, regarding the following issues:
- consumer protection; (Trading Standards, Mark Keal)
- food standards; (Trading Standards, Mark Keal)
- health and safety; (Trading Standards, Mark Keal)
If such a disclosure is received, it should be forwarded to the relevant council department for investigation.
However, we recognise that there may be certain circumstances in which you do not feel this is possible; we would rather you raise a concern with the appropriate regulatory body than not at all. Details of relevant external organisations can be found at Whistleblowing: list of prescribed people and bodies.
Anonymous or untrue allegations
We do not encourage anonymous reporting as the concerns are more difficult to investigate and are less powerful. We would like you to put your name to the allegations whenever possible and remind you of the protection we can provide if we know who you are.
Anonymous whistleblowing referrals will be considered at the discretion of the officers handling your concern, in consultation with the service area, where appropriate. This discretion will be based on the:
- seriousness of the issues raised
- credibility of the concern
- likelihood of confirming the allegation from an attributable source
- evidence base
It may be that our investigations do not confirm your allegation. We take all concerns seriously and can assure you that no action will be taken against you if you have raised a concern in the genuine belief that it is, or may be, true.
If we find that you have maliciously made a false allegation, we will act, and you will not be eligible for protection under PIDA.