Whistleblowing policy (confidential reporting) - 2.0 Our assurances to you

Walsall Council is committed to this policy and to supporting those raising concerns as much as possible. If you believe you are raising a genuine concern, it does not matter if, upon investigation you are mistaken. However, these assurances do not extend to someone who maliciously raises a matter they know is untrue. 

There is no risk of losing your job or suffering any form of reprisal for anyone raising a genuine concern under this policy. The Council does not tolerate the harassment or victimisation of anyone raising a genuine concern under this policy and consider the victimisation of anyone who has raised a concern as a disciplinary matter. 

These assurances aim to encourage all to raise concerns openly. It is recognised there may be circumstances where some prefer to come forward confidentially at first. If this is the case, please ensure this is very clear from the outset. If you ask us not to disclose your identity, we will not do so without your consent unless required by law. It is important to recognise that there may be occasions when we are unable to resolve a concern without revealing your identity (e.g. where your personal evidence is essential). Where this is the case, we will discuss it with you and decide how the matter can best proceed. 

Please remember if you do raise a concern anonymously it will be more difficult for the matter to be fully investigated, and we may not be in a position to protect your position or give you feedback.

If you are unsure about raising a concern, independent advice is available from Protect. Alternatively, you can also seek advice from your Union representative.