Whistleblowing Policy

1. Policy Statement

Falcon Greencare is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and ethical behaviour. We encourage employees, agency workers, candidates, and other stakeholders to report concerns about malpractice, wrongdoing, or breaches of law, regulations, or company policy. This Whistleblowing Policy aims to provide a clear and safe framework for raising concerns, ensuring they are handled fairly and responsibly.

Falcon Greencare recognises its responsibilities under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and relevant CQC standards, including supporting safe, transparent, and accountable governance.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

All Falcon Greencare employees (permanent, temporary, and agency)
Agency workers and candidates supplied by Falcon Greencare
Contractors, consultants, and others working on behalf of Falcon Greencare

It covers concerns including, but not limited to:

Fraud, financial irregularity, or theft
Health and safety risks
Modern slavery, human trafficking or labour exploitation
Breaches of CQC regulations or standards
Criminal activity or breaches of law
Unethical or unprofessional conduct

3. Principles

Falcon Greencare is committed to:

Encouraging an open and transparent culture
Protecting whistleblowers from retaliation or victimisation
Investigating concerns promptly, thoroughly, and fairly
Maintaining confidentiality wherever possible

4. Raising a Concern

Individuals can raise a concern by:

Reporting it to their line manager or supervisor
Contacting a Director or senior manager directly
Using Falcon Greencare’s dedicated whistleblowing email or hotline (if applicable)

When raising a concern, please provide:

A clear description of the issue
Relevant dates, locations, and persons involved
Any supporting evidence

5. Confidentiality

Falcon Greencare will:

Protect the identity of the whistleblower wherever possible
Limit disclosure of information to those who need to know for investigation purposes
Respect confidentiality and privacy throughout the process

6. Investigation Process

All reports will be acknowledged promptly
An initial assessment will determine whether a full investigation is necessary
Investigations will be conducted impartially and confidentially
Outcomes, actions, and recommendations will be communicated appropriately

7. Protection from Retaliation

Falcon Greencare will not tolerate retaliation, harassment, or victimisation against whistleblowers. Any employee who retaliates against a whistleblower may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

8. External Reporting

Where appropriate and in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, individuals may raise concerns with external regulators, such as:

The Care Quality Commission (CQC)
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Police or other statutory authorities

9. Training and Awareness

Falcon Greencare will ensure that:

All staff and agency workers are aware of this policy
Whistleblowing procedures are communicated during induction and refresher training
Managers are trained to handle reports fairly and confidentially

10. Monitoring and Review