Qualification: Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership and Management for Adult Care (RQF)
Unit: Unit 13: Safeguarding and Protection in Adult Care
Learning outcome: 1 Understand the role of the manager in the safeguarding of vulnerable adults
Assessment criteria: 1.6 Explain the Legal provisions in relation to whistle-blowing
- The primary piece of legislation that relates to whistleblowing is the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
- This protects employees that report wrongdoing or unsafe practices in their workplace
- It ensures that employers cannot treat them unfavourably as a result of their disclosure – if they do then the employee will have a case for unlawful dismissal
- Not all disclosures are qualified under the act and so employees must ensure that their concern falls within the scope and is genuine
- In addition, employers should have a whistleblowing policy and procedure and employees should have received training and understand their rights