IT’S MORE THAN JUST A PHONE CALL Roger Whiteman Head of Profit Protection [email protected].

IT’S MORE THAN JUST A PHONE CALL

Roger WhitemanHead of Profit Protection

[email protected]

RETAIL467 Stores - £746m sales10,000 colleagues 30,000 SKU’s

AUTOCENTRES<300 Autocentres - £126m sales1700 colleagues

Over 100 years of historyTrading in UK & Republic of IrelandTrading Office in Hong Kong

Previously owned by Burmah Castrol, Ward White, Boots, CVC Capital Partners and now we are a FTSE 250 Company .... And that’s in my time!

WHAT is Whistle-blowing?

No absolute definition – but I like;

“Speaking up about a wrong doing, inappropriate risk taking or malpractice to someone in authority.” (Internal or external)

Legislation

Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998

Key changes from June 2013;• A qualifying disclosure means if in the reasonable

belief of the employee it is in the public interest.• WB no longer has to be in good faith• Own employment contract is a grievance not WB• Employers must protect WB from actions of other

employees (Previously just employer)

PIDA only becomes an issue when things go wrong ...... And 70% of all claims are settled ‘out of court’!

Whistle-blowing is about getting the silent majority to speak up – offering them a safe alternative to staying silent.

Why is effective promoting of your Whistle-blowing Policy key?

My team tell me what frauds they are discovering.

Whistleblowers tell me what ‘colleagues and externals’ are getting away with – and how!

I have a Policy – I’ve launched it

I have a Policy – We get some calls

I have a Policy – We’re doing what we need to

Is keeping the message fresh & alive important?

Is your package & fit for purpose?

Employee confidenceLine Management supportBoard / Regulator Assurance

Ofsted

NHS

Local Government

What else could you do to publicise Whistle-blowing in your organisation?

Many ways to get the message across.

Constantly thinking and talking

Not social media ...... Yet!!

Current categories of wrong doing (PIDA)(for each – has been committed, is being or likely to be.);

1. Criminal offence.2. Failing to comply with a legal obligation.3. Miscarriage of justice has occurred.4. Health & Safety of any individual is being endangered.5. The environment has been damaged.6. Information showing any of the five above has been

deliberately concealed.

What we say;

If the caller wants to talk – we want to listen!

Discrimination

Inappropriate Behaviour

Fraud

Victimisation

Malpractice

A nurse has raised a number of concerns, some involving specific members of the team.

You’ve been given the information

Signing for medicines that haven’t been used.Cover up of prescription application errors.Poor recording of patients notes.Dressings noted changed frequently enough.Deaths not reported to family members

What do you do?

Let’s talk about a couple of other stories that have been in the papers

A few questions – just take a couple of minutes;

Do you think that “the better internal routes are publicised, the less likely the external route will be the preferred option?”

How important is it to ensure WB’s understand what next steps will be, how they can further communicate and when they should hear some more?

And closer to home – for me!!

We all like feedback BUT ....do we ask the Whistleblower for theirs;

What outcome they want?How they feel after the first call?

When all is finished how they feelDo we say Thank You??

Does Whistle-blowing help to formulate your strategy into the future ...... Or is your Policy and approach static?

Successful arrangements provide colleagues with;

- a safe alternative to staying silent

- Deter wrong doing- Identifies issues early- Supports & utilises management

- Caring organisation

I STILL BELIEVE IT’S MORE THAN JUST A PHONE CALL !

Roger [email protected]