Whistleblowing

Ofsted policy and guidance for whistleblowers

This policy outlines what Ofsted will do when it receives certain concerns about children’s social care services from a whistleblower. The policy covers all children’s social care establishments, agencies, services and providers that Ofsted inspect and/or regulate.

If you believe that a child is or children are at immediate risk of harm, you should refer your concern to the children’s social care department of the local authority area where the child lives or report this to the police. This includes children living in or supported by agencies that are run independently of the local authority. 

NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line.

This has been developed to provide support to employees wishing to raise concerns over how child protection issues are being handled in their own or other organisations.

The NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line can be reached on 0800 028 0285. 

Whistleblowing Procedure for Maintained Schools

Every maintained school should have a whistleblowing procedure that protects staff members who report colleagues they believe are doing something wrong or illegal, or who are neglecting their duties. Information for employees on ‘blowing the whistle’, including a definition of whistleblowing has been published by the Department for Education and is available here.

Governing bodies of maintained schools are responsible for agreeing and establishing the school’s whistleblowing procedure. All schools should base their whistleblowing procedures on the procedure of the local authority.