Scottish Whistleblower Standards for Managers & Freedom to Speak Up
Designed for managers and compliance teams in Scottish organisations, this course builds the knowledge and practical skills needed to meet legal obligations under PIDA 1998 and NHS Scotland whistleblowing standards, foster a speak-up culture, and handle disclosures fairly and effectively.
This course forms the second part of a two-course set developed specifically for organisations operating in Scotland. While the companion course introduces all staff to their rights and responsibilities as potential whistleblowers, this programme is aimed squarely at those in leadership and compliance roles — the people who receive, assess, escalate and act upon concerns raised by workers. Getting this right is not optional: managers carry distinct legal duties under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) and, within NHS Scotland, under the mandatory National Health Service (Scotland) Whistleblowing Standards introduced in 2021.
Across six carefully structured modules, participants will explore the legislative framework in depth, learn how to distinguish protected disclosures from ordinary grievances, understand the specific obligations placed on prescribed persons and Independent National Whistleblowing Officers (INWO), and practise trauma-informed, procedurally fair approaches to handling concerns. The course draws on guidance from the Scottish Government, NHS Scotland, the Care Inspectorate, and the UK regulator — the Employment Rights Act 1996 as amended — to ensure every element reflects the current Scottish legal and regulatory landscape.
By the end of this course, managers and compliance professionals will be equipped to build and sustain psychologically safe environments where workers feel genuinely free to speak up, to manage disclosures consistently with policy and law, to protect disclosers from detriment, and to meet reporting and audit requirements with confidence. Practical tools, scenario-based learning, and a summative assessment reinforce learning and support demonstration of competence.
Course content
1. Module 1: The Legislative and Regulatory Framework in Scotland
- Lesson 1.1: PIDA 1998 — The Foundation of Whistleblower Protection
- Lesson 1.2: NHS Scotland Whistleblowing Standards and the INWO
2. Module 2: Recognising and Receiving a Concern
- Lesson 2.1: Protected Disclosure or Grievance? Making the Distinction
- Lesson 2.2: Receiving a Concern — Your First Response
3. Module 3: Investigating and Escalating Concerns
- Lesson 3.1: Principles of a Fair and Proportionate Investigation
- Lesson 3.2: Escalation — When and How to Involve Prescribed Persons and Regulators
4. Module 4: Protecting Disclosers from Detriment
- Lesson 4.1: Recognising and Preventing Detriment
- Lesson 4.2: Supporting Disclosers — Wellbeing and Ongoing Engagement
5. Module 5: Building a Speak-Up Culture
- Lesson 5.1: The Manager's Role in Psychological Safety
- Lesson 5.2: Compliance Governance — Policies, Audit, and Learning
6. Module 6: Scenarios, Practical Application, and Consolidation
- Lesson 6.1: Scenario-Based Learning — Applying the Framework
- Lesson 6.2: Key Obligations Summary and Manager Commitments
7. Final Assessment
- Final Assessment
- 13 lessons
- Pass mark: 80%
- Completion certificate
You'll need a learner account to enrol.
Pay for 2–500 seats in one purchase. You'll receive an access code to share with your team.
Total: $995.00 + GST
Completion requirements
- Lessons and modules must be completed in order — each unlocks when the previous one is finished.
- Quizzes must be passed (pass mark 80%).
- Your certificate is issued automatically when every lesson is complete.
Unlock this course for free with a code from your organisation.