Expressing Concerns and ‘Whistleblowing’:
Policy and Guidance Introduction
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility: given this, encouraging people to express concerns appropriately and in a timely fashion is an important aspect of a strong safeguarding culture. Additionally, ‘whistleblowing’ has been recognised has having an important place in developing a strong safeguarding culture within organisations. At the most simple level, anyone can spot a genuine concern and it is important that everyone who does so feels safe to raise that concern. At a more fundamental level, organisations – including the church – can become hierarchical and opaque, and a strong whistleblowing policy recognises the importance of empowering those who may not hold positions of structural influence within the organisation to feel confident enough to speak out, should they believe poor practice to be present.
The aim of this policy and associated guidance is to provide a clear and transparent way for anyone involved in the Fletching parish/church/benefice to raise genuine concerns regarding poor practice that impacts upon the safety or wellbeing of children or adults to whom Fletching parish/church/benefice ministers. It also aims to ensure that any concerns are dealt with effectively and in a timely fashion.
This policy and guidance provides a simple set of steps to deal with concerns, ensuring that people are not penalised for raising genuine concerns, even if those concerns appear to be unfounded.
This policy and guidance applies to everyone involved in Fletching parish/church/benefice, including all workers who are involved on either a paid or voluntary basis.
Like all parish safeguarding policies, this policy should be easily available for all – for instance at the back of church and on the church website. It should not be necessary for someone who wants to see this policy to ask a leader within the church to provide it.