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Original poster

How do I report a staff member anonymously?

38 replies

Lennybenny · 20/10/2021 00:17

Some context.
I work in a school. I work in 1 of a few departments. There are a few people in each....
One of the other people in a different department like mine has some red flags, it's causing issues with their colleagues to the point they are bickering, sabotaging each others work, making life difficult for each other. This person has also admitted a few things to me about a previous job, uses drugs prescribed and medicinal, can barely read properly, dresses inappropriately and uses many words in front of the students that they shouldn't be. This person has also now added a job in the school where they have a lot more interaction with students and discussed things that while are safeguarding, they again are not appropriate to be having with a student in a car. Our dsl is reached via email or mobile and as we're all connected they would have my name. I'm concerned enough that I'd like someone else to decide if it's not an issue per se or if it needs investigating. I'm happy to speak to them in a department setting but not as 🐍.

How do I do it?

OP posts:
KalvinPhillipsManBun · 20/10/2021 00:18

Mind your own business 🙄

ABCeasyasdohrayme · 20/10/2021 00:21

If you report anonymously it will seem malicious.

If its that concerning you'll need to just report directly. I'm not sure if anything would be done about that list of complaints though tbh, a lot is hearsay.

Original poster
Lennybenny · 20/10/2021 00:22

@KalvinPhillipsManBun

Mind your own business 🙄
In a school with safeguarding rules that staff members have to adhere to as well? When I'm genuinely concerned there's going to be an incident involving a staff member and student?

Why didn't I think of that?

OP posts:
Original poster
Lennybenny · 20/10/2021 00:24

It's actually not but if I write too much, it will be easier to figure out who it was. There were others present and some facts have been backed up by other conversations.

OP posts:
Notthissticky · 20/10/2021 00:24

@KalvinPhillipsManBun

Mind your own business 🙄
FFS, OP is in a school!!!
ABCeasyasdohrayme · 20/10/2021 00:25

Could you maybe talk to other staff members who have concerns and put in a joint complaint then?

Palavah · 20/10/2021 00:27

Using prescribed medicinal drugs - this is how drugs are supposed to be used. What's wrong with this?

Dresses inappropriately - this will be obvious to others including their line manager so you don't need to point it out.

Can barely read - really? How did they get their teaching qualification?

Causing bickering/sabotage - that's an issue for the impacted colleagues to address not a safeguarding issue?

So you're left with inappropriate language in front of students - what kind of thing? If you are concerned why wouldn't you report it?

Applesandpears23 · 20/10/2021 00:27

Does your school have a whistleblowing policy? If so follow it. If not speak to the headteacher or the chair of govenors.

GrandmasCat · 20/10/2021 00:29

You don’t, you complain and sign your complaint, any other way is cowardly, underhanded and mostly regarded as malicious.

icklekid · 20/10/2021 00:29

You are duty bound to make a referral if you have a safeguarding concern about a member of staff in your school. You need to speak to your DSL urgently. They will then be able to decide the next course of action. You could do an unsigned letter but I honestly think you need to put the needs of students before anonymity… if there is cause for concern they need enough evidence to do something about it before students are put at risk and you might be important part of that

Haskell · 20/10/2021 00:33

Your school should have a whistleblowing policy. Can you check through all your policies tomorrow? You do need to take action.

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 20/10/2021 00:45

If you really want to do it anonymously then the only way would be to create an email address with google or yahoo with a fake name and email in your allegations to the safeguarding lead.

BUT!!!

That may make it difficult for the school to investigate if they can't ask questions of you to verify your account and if no one else when asks verifies the account you give. They may also assume that an anonymous complaint is malicious and not give it as much attention.

starfishmummy · 20/10/2021 00:57

Can barely read - really? How did they get their teaching qualification?

The OP has not said that the other person is a teacher. There are many different jobs they could be doing.

AuntieGlitterball · 20/10/2021 00:58

@icklekid

You are duty bound to make a referral if you have a safeguarding concern about a member of staff in your school. You need to speak to your DSL urgently. They will then be able to decide the next course of action. You could do an unsigned letter but I honestly think you need to put the needs of students before anonymity… if there is cause for concern they need enough evidence to do something about it before students are put at risk and you might be important part of that
This is correct, you have a duty to report. I am a DSL in a school. You could call NSPCC helpline to talk it through first with someone impartial. 0808 800 5000 so you are clear about what the concerns are.
genericuserneeded · 20/10/2021 01:05

dresses inappropriately

As in? Be careful with this one as it might come across as vexatious unless it’s ott

can barely read properly

You need to rephrase this as needs further training due to X and Y incidents

Haskell · 20/10/2021 07:46

@genericuserneeded Schools have specific dress codes for pupils and for staff- e.g. no spaghetti-strap tops, etc These have been in place for probably last 15+ years. A breach of policy would be fairly obvious. (Could be something like blue dyed hair, nasal piercing)

tintodeverano2 · 20/10/2021 07:52

You want to report someone for taking medication prescribed by a medical professional? Do you realise how batshit crazy you will sound?

Original poster
Lennybenny · 20/10/2021 10:57

@tintodeverano2

You want to report someone for taking medication prescribed by a medical professional? Do you realise how batshit crazy you will sound?
I suspect if they were sticking to prescribed medication it wouldn't be an issue but the combination of a few prescribed medications and some recreational ones is having an effect.
OP posts:
Original poster
Lennybenny · 20/10/2021 10:59

[quote Haskell]@genericuserneeded Schools have specific dress codes for pupils and for staff- e.g. no spaghetti-strap tops, etc These have been in place for probably last 15+ years. A breach of policy would be fairly obvious. (Could be something like blue dyed hair, nasal piercing)[/quote]
We're expected to look smart and professional. See through tops, short dresses showing the gusset of tights, pj style/type trousers silky camisole tops etc are not appropriate dress.

OP posts:
Clammyclam · 20/10/2021 11:05

If you have safeguarding concerns about a member of staff you need to speak to the head teacher or if it's the head then the CoG.
This information (whistleblowing guidelines) should be readily available in your institution.

PackedintheUK · 20/10/2021 11:09

@KalvinPhillipsManBun

Mind your own business 🙄
What? On a safeguarding concern?

I'd remain the DSL and ask for a meeting to discuss you concerns. Don't do it anonymously.

8dpwoah · 20/10/2021 11:12

It's not being snakey to follow your own employer's safeguarding policies if you do have a genuine concern, in fact you're obliged to report and it's quite juvenile to consider your own position/reputation over initiating that if you do have an actual safeguarding concern.

However much of what you list isn't safeguarding (I can see why you wouldn't want to go into much detail about that on a forum though so that's fair enough!) but would be dealt with via their line manager.

I'd speak to your DSL about teh safeguarding concerns as obviously that is the priority and the rest should sort itself out through proper channels as well. It's not as if other people this person works with won't have noticed the inappropriate dress etc if it is actually a problem but that's a different process to a concern about potential harm.

PackedintheUK · 20/10/2021 11:12

Some schools (mine included) have recently introduced an anonymous reporting function on their website in response to the "rape cluture" crisis. I still think concerns are best raised openly in almost all situation though, so the DSL can ask questions needed to understand your concerns fully.

FleasInMyKnees · 20/10/2021 11:12

Surely the way they dress is known to the Head. Why not just speak to the Head and raise any legitimate concerns you have.

Original poster
Lennybenny · 20/10/2021 11:15

We do have a whistleblowing policy. But I still think it needs my work email. We're now off work so I could possibly go into the school and speak to the dsl to see what they think. I have spoken to another line manager who is aware of the situation. They've tried to pass it on to the right line manager but that particular one is letting them get on with it rather than deal with the situation as he's not that type of a boss.
The student part has changed only recently as they've started a 2nd position there with 1-1 contact. The position shouldn't involve discussing personal things or school things but they are assuming a better relationship with the students than they have. It's not therapy/pastoral etc.
I've been a bit concerned for a while but there are many others within the area who should've picked up on things but are probably only seeing one small part of what's actually happening. Unfortunately I see and hear all of it which puts together an alarming picture. I do have a duty to the students and I take that seriously. I'm happy to discuss anything the dsl needs once they start an investigation....I just don't want to be the obvious person who opened the can of worms.

OP posts:
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