The Care Inspectorate has published its annual report on whistleblowing complaints.
In 2023/24, we received no internal whistleblowing complaints about the Care Inspectorate from staff or ex-staff.
In 2023/24, we received 5,646 complaints about regulated services, of which 24% (1,337) were raised by employees of care services. Of this group, 1,037 were identified as current employees (18%) and 300 were identified as ex-employees (5%). Overall, this is a reduction of 13% on the rate of complaints raised by care service staff from the previous year.
Our complaints process allows people to remain anonymous when raising an issue about a registered care service. This means their identity is unknown to the Care Inspectorate - although they self-identify their relationship to the care service, this cannot be verified by us. The percentage of all complaints by complainant type received anonymously during 2023/24 has decreased from the year before, with 61% of complaints received in 2023/24 compared to 67% in 2022/23.
There was also a decrease in the proportion of individuals who self-identified as an employee or ex-employee of a care service wishing to remain anonymous, with 71% wishing to remain anonymous in 2023/24 compared to 78% in 2022/23.
Jackie Irvine, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate, said: “The Care Inspectorate takes all complaints raised with us seriously. When whistleblowers raise issues with us about registered care services, we confirm their rights and legal protection, and signpost them to further sources of information. As a result of addressing complaints, including those raised by whistleblowers, the Care Inspectorate continues to work to make a positive difference to the lives of people experiencing care, and supports improvement in the provision and delivery of registered care services.
“For next year's annual whistleblowing report, we look at how we timeously inform services of complaints raised anonymously, so appropriate action can be taken more quickly to enhance the outcomes of people experiencing care.”
The full report can be read here.