Carmarthenshire whistleblower welcomes review of act meant to protect
A WOMAN who lifted the lid on incidents of abuse at a Johnstown day centre has said plans to review protection for whistleblowers are well overdue.
Delyth Jenkins, 51, reported incidents of abuse of a woman in her mid-40s at Johnstown Day Centre in 2005 and 2006, which prompted an investigation by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.
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Delyth Jenkins
Mrs Jenkins, who resigned from her post with Carmarthenshire Council in October 2010 after a year of stress-related illness, said she welcomed proposals to change the Public Interest Disclosure Act, which she claimed does not go far enough to protect people in her position.
Last week, Employment Relations Minister Jo Swinson sent a private letter to MPs and peers campaigning for the act to be changed, promising a series of amendments to the legislation.
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A call to evidence to examine whether the act is fit for purpose will also be carried out.
Mrs Jenkins, who lives in Llangain, said: "I feel it's long overdue, especially as far as the whistleblowing policy, which is not worth the paper it's written on.
"I couldn't go to my line manager, so, as the policy says, I went to the complaints officer in Carmarthenshire Council, then a business manager and in the end wrote to Mark James the council's chief executive.
"I did everything to the tee, but a year later, had no feedback, so went to the Public Services Ombudsman."
She said the act was in great need of a review, and called on any evidence about its effectiveness to be heard from herself, and others like her.
"Basically, I think there should really be feedback from people like myself, who have been through the process, which has completely let us down," said Mrs Jenkins.
"It (the act) has not protected me at all and ultimately it has caused me to resign from my job.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's long overdue, there needs to be changes, hopefully they are now listening."
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