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A new legal protection for whistleblowers applying for jobs in the children’s social care sector has been announced.

• whistleblowers applying for jobs in the children’s social care sector will be covered by new legal protections
• government to review whistleblowing code of practice for employers by the end of 2017

A new legal protection for whistleblowers applying for jobs in the children’s social care sector has been announced.

The government has worked with Lord Wills to agree an amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill which will mean people applying for roles relating to children’s social care functions in local authorities will have legal protection to ensure they are not treated unfairly because they have previously made protected disclosures about their organisation.

The existing code of practice for employers about their responsibilities in regard to whistleblowing will also be reviewed by the end of 2017.

Business Minister Margot James said:

Those working with the most vulnerable children in society need to be able to blow the whistle about concerns they have within their organisation and when they make a protected disclosure they should have no fear of being blacklisted and unable to find a new role.

That is why I am pleased to have been able to work with Lord Wills and take action to extend employment protections for these workers. This will put more emphasis on employers to follow best practice and provides greater protection for their workers