CuraFlow DC-A11CQCSection A · Governance, Leadership and Business
Whistleblowing and Freedom to Speak Up policy
For CQC-registered domiciliary care services · version 1.0 · last reviewed 1 June 2026
Staff need a route to raise concerns about care or conduct. The policy covers the kinds of concern that can be raised, the legal protection available to workers, and the internal and external routes for raising them. Confidentiality and anonymity, how the service responds, and the support given to those who speak up are also set out.
What this policy covers
- What speaking up means — and what it is not
- What concerns you can raise
- Your legal protection
- How to raise a concern — internal routes
- Raising a concern externally
- Confidentiality and anonymity
- How we respond to a concern
- Protection and support for those who speak up
- Building a speak-up culture
- Registered provider and nominated individual
- Freedom to speak up lead / guardian (where appointed)
- Annex a — how to raise a concern
Regulations and guidance it supports
Supports the fundamental standards at Regulations 17 and 20 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
- Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
- Employment Rights Act 1996
- Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
- Care Act 2014
Common questions
- Is the whistleblowing and freedom to speak up policy CQC-aligned?
- Yes. It is written and reviewed by practising UK compliance consultants against current CQC expectations, and supports the fundamental standards at Regulations 17 and 20. It is a controlled starting-point document that you adapt to your own service — you remain the accountable provider.
- Can I download and edit this policy?
- Yes. It downloads as Word (.docx) or PDF with your company name, registered manager, CQC ID and address already filled in on the cover page and throughout the document. The Word version is fully editable.
- Can I buy this policy on its own?
- Policies are sold as a complete library rather than individually, because CQC expects a coherent set that cross-references properly — a single policy in isolation creates gaps. The domiciliary care library contains 141 policies and can be bought outright as a one-off purchase and kept permanently.
- How often is it reviewed?
- The library is re-reviewed every six months and after any material regulatory change. This policy was last reviewed 1 June 2026, and is at version 1.0. Updates reach you automatically, so downloads always reflect the current version.