PT ENGLAND SCHOOL POLICY 2005
PROTECTED DISCLOSURES
INTRODUCTION:
The Pt England School Board of Trustees ensures procedures are in place to meet the requirements of the Protected Disclosures Act 2000. Protected Disclosure protects the identity of a person with a serious complaint.”
PROCEDURES:
1. In keeping with other policies and procedures under the general heading of Equity, the BOT identifies the Principal as the person to whom disclosures are made. The protocols for normal complaint in this worksite are that wherever possible:-
i) complaint is first made direct to the person whom an individual may have an issue against.
ii) if the above produces an unsatisfactory result, the complaint should be dealt with at a Team leader level.
iii) Where that is unsuccessful, the Associate Principals’ should try to resolve the issue.
iv) If the issue remains unresolved it is taken to the Principal and thence, if necessary to the Board of Trustees or whatever Agency is found to be necessary or appropriate.
2. In keeping with the Protected Disclosures Act the Principal will be the Protected Disclosures Recipient, (P.D.R.)
3. If it is considered that the Principal has a conflict of interest in the matter, the responsibility of the P.D.R. will become that of the B.O.T. Chairperson.
4. If both the Principal and the Chairperson have a conflict of interest the complainant can contact the appropriate external agency. This could include agencies such as the Educational Council or the Ministry of Education.
5. The P.D.R. must decide whether the disclosure constitutes serious wrong doing and whether the allegations need investigating.
They can-
i) Investigate themselves.
ii) forward the disclosure to the BOT personnel committee
iii) forward the disclosure to an appropriate authority.
6. The P.D.R. will advise the complainant of the course of action that is being taken. The course of action or recommendation needs to be acted on within twenty working days.
7. The person complaining may only go direct to external agencies if no action is taken within twenty working days or if both the worksite P.D.R.s have an obvious conflict of interest i.e. the Principal and the B.O.T. Chairperson.
8. If the person complaining remains dissatisfied after all of the above, they may contact the Ombudsman or a Minister of the Crown. They will no longer be protected if they make disclosures to the media, the public, or do not follow the procedures laid down above.
9. A serious complaint/serious wrongdoing could include:-
- corrupt use of public funds
- an act or omission constituting serious risk to the Public Health or Safety
- an act or omission constituting serious risk to the maintenance of law.
- an act or omission that is grossly negligent or constitutes gross mismanagement.
All other complaints or concerns should be dealt with through existing school systems as described under no. 1 above.
Formulated: 2001
Reviewed: 2002
2005
2009
2013
2015
2019
2023
2025