2017-08-08 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   8 AUGUST 2017




                                                    Page 18 of 146

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                          8 AUGUST 2017

          e   Who to contact if they want further information or are concerned about reprisals.
      Regular follow ups with the discloser will also be arranged to keep them informed of the process.

      COMMITMENT TO RIGHTS OF THE SUBJECT OFFICER(S)
      The Council officer about whom a PID is made is likely to find the PID experience stressful. Once it is
      appropriate to advise the subject officer of the process, they will be reassured that the PID will be dealt
      with impartially, fairly, and reasonably, and is only an allegation until evidence collected shows
      otherwise.

      Subject officers will be provided with information about their rights, and the progress and outcome of
      any investigation. At an appropriate time, subject officers will be provided natural justice and given the
      opportunity to respond to an adverse allegation made about them before any adverse finding is made.
      Subject officers will also be referred to our Employee Assistance Program to ensure they receive the
      appropriate support.

      COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES
      At the conclusion of the PID process, Council is committed to ensuring that the organisation is
      responsive and incorporates any recommendations or improvements to service delivery, business
      processes and internal controls that were identified during the PID process.

      DISCLOSING PIDS
      It is important to note that unauthorised disclosure of a PID to any person may expose the discloser to
      disciplinary action and/or civil action.
      Accordingly, any person considering disclosing the contents of a PID to a member of the public
      (including a journalist) must check with the CEO and PID Coordinator to ensure that they are not
      breaching the confidentiality provision of the PID Act or any other of Council’s Policies and Procedures.

      COMMITMENT         TO    RECORD-KEEPING          AND    REPORTING,       AND    INFORMING       THE
           OVERSIGHT AGENCY
      Council is committed to strict record keeping and reporting relating to PIDs. The PID Coordinator will
      maintain a register to record the following information, which must be provided (at appropriate times as
      the process is managed), to the Queensland Ombudsman via its electronic portal or as otherwise
      instructed-frequested):
          e   The date a PID was received, and where is was received from;
          e   The status of the discloser (e.g. entity staff, staff from another entity, member of the public,
              anonymous);
          e   The gender and status of the subject officer (staff member, non-staff member);
          e   The relationship between the discloser and the subject officer;
          e   The location of the subject officer (geographical region);
          e   Asummary of the allegation/information received;
          e   The involvement of an external agency/party;
          e   The action taken to minimise any risk of reprisal;
          e   Date inquiry/investigation commenced and completed;
          e   The outcome of the assessment, inquiry/investigation;
          e   The date the PID was resolved or closed;
          e   When the outcome was advised to the discloser;
          e   lIfno action was taken, the reasons for the decision; and
          e   Other legal processes associated with the disclosure.
                                                                                             Page 11 of 16
 |    Public Interest Disclosure ManagementPregram-and-Procedure

                                                                                            Page 18 of 146