Whistleblowing group demands improvements in care sector

Whistleblowing organisation Public Concern at Work has called on local authorities, regulators and care providers to address “systemic deficiencies” that prevent care workers from speaking up effectively to protect vulnerable adults.

The organisation said that more than 15% of all whistleblowing concerns it receives come from the care sector, accounting for the highest percentage of calls to its helpline.

Half of these calls relate to abuse in care. The most common concerns are: physical abuse, lack of dignity, neglect, conduct of staff, verbal abuse and medication administered incorrectly or not at all.

Public Concern at Work suggested that in 40% of cases the concerns were either ignored or denied by management.

The research found as well that in half of all cases where other staff knew about a risk “they were either too scared or felt unable to speak up”. It also revealed a low awareness of available support, with few care workers knowing of or using their whistleblowing policy.

Cathy James, Acting Director of Public Concern at Work, said “Our research demonstrates there are systemic deficiencies that prevent care workers from speaking up effectively to protect vulnerable adults. This must be addressed. We have to ensure that every worker who is in a position to speak up is encouraged and supported. Whistleblowers should not be lone voices in the workplace. This is all the more important when safeguarding those who cannot speak up for themselves.

“We are calling for the proactive promotion of good whistleblowing arrangements and the support available for whistleblowers.”

Public Concern at Work called on local authorities, regulators and care providers to:

• Increase awareness among all workers of the signs of all variations of abuse
• Proactively promote best practice whistleblowing arrangements that encourage open workplaces, help staff know when to raise a concern, how, with whom and give access to independent advice
• Provide training and guidance for managers on how to handle and elicit concerns, with particular attention on how to handle confidentiality
• Take demonstrable action in responding to a concern, provide feedback to the whistleblower and ensure a zero tolerance attitude if a whistleblower is victimized for raising a concern
• Provide clear, accessible pathways as to how and when to approach the local authority or the Care Quality Commission, particularly in relation to a concern about administering medication.

Philip Hoult