Whistleblowers applying for jobs in the children’s social care sector will be covered by new legal protections, the Government has announced.
Whitehall has agreed to legal protection for people who have previously disclosed information about problems in their organisation to ensure they are treated fairly when applying for roles relating to children’s social care.
This has come in the form of an amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill, first proposed by the Labour peer Lord Wills.
The existing code of practice for employers about their responsibilities in regard to whistleblowing will also be reviewed by the end of 2017.
‘Those working with the most vulnerable children in society need to be able to blow the whistle about concerns they have within their organisation and when they make a protected disclosure they should have no fear of being blacklisted and unable to find a new role,’ said business minister Margot James.
‘That is why I am pleased to have been able to work with Lord Wills and take action to extend employment protections for these workers.
‘This will put more emphasis on employers to follow best practice and provides greater protection for their workers.’
