Whistleblowing in Safeguarding: Ensuring Staff Know Who to Go To
Whistleblowing is a critical element of safeguarding across all settings working with children, not just in education. While most organisations have Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies in place, a key question remains: Do staff, volunteers and parents truly understand who to go to if they have a concern and what to do if they are not heard?
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Concerns may arise about the behaviour of a colleague or volunteer. In these moments, clarity, confidence, and a strong safeguarding culture are essential. Without this, there is a risk that concerns go unreported or are minimised.
Statutory guidance such as Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025) makes it clear that all staff must know how to identify concerns and report them appropriately. It emphasises that safeguarding systems should be transparent, well understood, and consistently applied, with clear routes for escalation where needed. Under Section 3.7 of the EYFS framework, providers must have clear whistleblowing procedures in place so that all staff including pupils and volunteers can confidently raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice.
A central figure in this process is the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), or equivalent role. All staff should know who this person is, how to contact them, and feel confident that any concerns shared will be taken seriously. If there is any doubt, guidance is clear: staff should always speak to the DSL (or a deputy) and should never delay taking action.
In many schools and settings, the Headteacher or setting leader may also be a key point of contact, particularly where concerns relate to the conduct of a member of staff. It is therefore essential that safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures clearly outline the appropriate reporting routes, ensuring staff understand when to go to the DSL, when to involve the Head, and how to escalate concerns if needed and who to contact if they have a concern about the Head.
In my experience as a DSL, having robust systems in place to record and monitor concerns is equally important. I found CPOMS StaffSafe to be a highly effective tool for logging and tracking low-level concerns. The timeline feature ensured that concerns were acted on swiftly, while follow-up actions were clearly recorded and could be monitored over time. This kind of system not only strengthens accountability but also supports a proactive safeguarding culture where patterns can be identified early.
There may be times when individuals feel unable to raise concerns internally, particularly if the concern involves senior leaders or if previous concerns have not been acted upon or taken seriously. In these situations, it is essential that staff know they are not without options.
Safeguarding guidance, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025), is clear that staff should be able to escalate concerns beyond their organisation where necessary. Individuals can:
contact their local authority’s Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for concerns about adults working with children. To find your local LADO search "[Your Local Council Name] LADO" or "Safeguarding children allegations [Your Local Council Name]" on a search engine to locate their direct contact email and phone number.
seek advice or report concerns via the NSPCC Whistleblowing Advice Line
raise concerns through regulatory bodies such as Ofsted or the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) via their complaints procedures
access broader whistleblowing guidance to support them in taking appropriate action
These external routes provide an essential safeguard, ensuring that concerns can still be raised safely and appropriately, regardless of internal barriers. They also reinforce a key principle: safeguarding children must always take precedence over organisational structures, professional relationships, or fear of repercussions.
Leaders should actively promote awareness of these options, ensuring all staff understand that speaking up is not only supported but expected. When individuals feel confident that there are multiple, accessible pathways to report concerns, it strengthens accountability and helps maintain a culture where children’s safety is paramount.
