Whistleblowing and safeguarding

[Witchtower]

Has anyone had experience of whistleblowing?
I ‘blew the whistle’ last March (2020) since this date my SLT has made my life hell. This was not anonymous so they were aware it was me. Unfortunately this process has completely disheartened me.
A visit to the school was organised and the safeguarding concern was hidden/removed during the visit.
When completing a whistleblowing form it is very limited as to what you can write. I also assumed someone would contact me to discuss my concerns in more depth. This did not happen.
I have to make it very clear these were quite serious concerns.
Then lockdown was called and I returned to work in sep. When returning I began being accused of really outrageous things. To the point my colleagues found it hilarious, and I actually had to laugh as well as the only other option was to crumble. The previous concerns were still active.
A discussion occurred on a new safeguarding concern that arose and due to having this discussion I was suspended. Suspended without informing me why. I waited to 2.5 weeks to find out why I was suspended. The investigation never went ahead, even though I requested it to be fully investigated. I was then made redundant.
I complained to the CEO and highlighted my concerns. Explained these were all ignored. During the appeal the directors flat out refused to discuss these safeguarding concerns. In fact that is how they introduced the meeting. The CEO admitted that some of my concerns had been rectified but when I asked to clarify she completely shut down. My rep requested the whistleblowing policy, which upon reading I had discovered that it had not been followed at all.
After reading the policy I contacted the LADO, and our local council safeguarding officer 4 days ago and neither has responded.
I think this process has really opened my eyes to the fact that we are all encouraged to whistleblow but at what cost? If I lost everything and these children were safe then I’d be ok but I seem to have lost everything and these children are still being subjected to the concerns.
Has anyone had experience of this?

Sort of. I used the whistleblowing process against a staff member and inappropriate relationships, which were having an impact on the children. I ended up moving local authority completely. I was still right though, and the people concerned know it.

But we’re any improvements made? Did you feel listened to or shut down?
I’m starting to feel that the only was is to conform or move on but no one seems to have the interest of the children at heart. They are more scared of their reputation?

It was tricky. The governors managed it really badly because there was a stand-in chair. The person involved went to their union. At that point they weren't sure who was whistleblowing, so I was getting confided in, even though it was me!

Improvements weren't made, and in fact I left (as had been planned for a year) the school before it all came to its conclusion. The LA got management counsellors in, and SLT were helped through issues, but again - I missed out because I'd left. I think things are better now, but lots of staff moves happened to make things better.

I don't know if they would have happened had I still been there. When I'm having a bad day I wonder whether or not I was the issue (I wasn't).

Gaslighting is a huge issue.

Yes, it is. The people involved were especially good at that - one of them anyway. Since I've left that one person has apparently 'turned themselves around' and is all nicey. I don't believe it -true colours were shown. That makes me think that I was part of the issue. Again, I wasn't. I was just doing my job.

That sounds hellish, sorry you went through that.
It does raise a valuable question though. In theory we are told to whistle blow but ime those in power at the school tend to employ attack to defend tactics the minute their practices are even hinted at being brought into question.
There needs to be far more protection for whistle blowers in many public sector jobs.

I now compare SLT to sleazy politicians due to this.
It’s not even the protection for me as my redundancy allowed to me to escape a toxic place so I was always grateful for that.
The biggest issue is that it is ignored.
I still have not received a response or acknowledgment off the LADO or council safeguarding officer and it has been 5 days.
I am in utter shock

I have used the whistleblowing policy when I had serious concerns about an agency staff member and their interactions with children. I had followed the internal processes but was not taken seriously and I strongly believed this person was acting in a way that put the children at risk of harm.

My experience of whistleblowing was actually OK. It was resolved very quickly and I have had no negative consequences. It turned out in the end that this was a person who had no business being anywhere near children.

Unfortunately what I’ve realised in my situation is that if they admit or investigate these concerns it will open up a very big can of worms.
There hasn’t even been an investigation. It has literally been totally ignored and have been told that they are not willing to discuss it. Personally I’m still trying to absorb this and have to admit that I’m struggling to understand.