Information on the role of the confidential adviser at the Levisson Institute
What is a confidential adviser?
A confidential adviser is a specially designated individual in whom anyone connected to the Levisson Institute can confide. The appointment of such an adviser is a measure designed to promote the organisation’s integrity. The job of confidential adviser is unpaid.
What sort of matters can you raise with a confidential adviser?
A confidential adviser’s main job is to provide a listening ear. Approach her with any issues that have to do with integrity in the broadest sense. It needn’t be to report a breach of integrity. You can also go to the confidential adviser for advice or simply to discuss something. It may emerge from the discussion that there isn’t a role to play for the confidential adviser in which case she will refer you to someone else.
What do confidential advisers do?
- The main job of a confidential adviser is to provide a listening ear, advice and a chance to discuss matters. The confidential adviser is also the place to report a suspected breach of integrity.
- The confidential advisers can advise on how to deal with a situation or refer you to the appropriate body or person.
- You can contact the confidential adviser on any matter relating to integrity.
- The confidential adviser will treat any information you provide as strictly confidential.
- The confidential adviser will act only with your permission or approval.
- You can report something in confidence to the confidential adviser. If you so wish the confidential adviser will pass on the information you provide to the appropriate body (usually the Chairman of the Board of the Levisson Institute) without revealing your identity.
- In the event of a crime it may not be possible to protect your identity. A crime must be reported to the authorities.
What don’t confidential advisers do?
- Confidential advisers don’t carry out investigations and aren’t involved in the follow-up to investigations.
- Confidential advisers don’t handle anonymous reports, i.e. reports where the identity of the person making the report is unknown to the adviser, e.g. an unsigned letter.
- Confidential advisers don’t intervene in labour conflicts.
Who can turn to the confidential adviser?
Anyone employed by or connected to the Levisson Institute can talk to the confidential adviser.
FAQs
1. What kind of issues can I go to the confidential adviser about?
You can go to the confidential adviser with any question relating to integrity. ‘Integrity’ means acting ethically. It is about the way in which we interact with each other and with third parties, observe rules, take decisions, etc.
You can go to the confidential adviser to:
- raise integrity issues;
- report breaches or suspected breaches;
- report that you are the victim of inappropriate behaviour such as inappropriate treatment, bullying, discrimination, sexual harassment, etc.
2. What will the confidential adviser do?
The confidential adviser won’t take any action without your approval. You yourself decide what happens next. You might just want to tell someone about what happened, without any further action being taken.
3. What can the confidential adviser do for you?
- The confidential adviser listens to what you have to say, advises you on how to deal with a particular situation or refers you to the appropriate body.
- If you report a possible breach, the confidential adviser – if you approve – can forward the report to a person or body for investigation.
What can’t the confidential adviser do?
- The confidential adviser doesn’t mediate, though she can refer you to a mediator.
- The confidential adviser does not investigate complaints.
4. I suspect a breach of integrity; what should I do?
Contact the confidential adviser.
5. To whom is the confidential adviser accountable?
The confidential adviser is effectively accountable to no one. She does have to submit an anonymous annual report to the board of the Levisson Institute about the nature and extent of breaches of integrity brought to her attention.
Contact details:
The confidential adviser is Marion Alhadeff
Email: vertrouwenspersoon@verbond.eu