Raising a concern (whistleblowing)

This guidance is based on advice the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) gives its registrants.

What is whistleblowing?

Whistleblowing is when a worker, which includes employees, former employees, trainees, agency workers and members of an organisation, reports wrongdoing in the public interest.

Public interest means the wrongdoing affects other people, such as the general public.

The concern may be about something that has happened, is happening or could happen.

What protection is in place for whistleblowers?

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 protects you if you report wrongdoing to a prescribed person and the concern is that:

a criminal offence, such as fraud, has been committed
someone’s health and safety is in danger
the environment is at risk or has been damaged
a miscarriage of justice has occurred
the organisation is breaking the law
someone is covering up wrongdoing

Raising a concern as an RCT registrant

Follow your employer’s procedure for raising concerns first, and complete every step in it.

For further help, guidance and support, the RCT recommends Protect (formerly Public Concern at Work). Its website explains how to raise a concern and the support and advice available to you.

If you work in the NHS in England, your Trust should have a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian who can give you local support, advice and training. Find your Guardian through the National Guardian’s Office.

This guidance is also available as a PDF.

Download the guidance (PDF)