Standards of Integrity and Conduct

Standards of Integrity and Conduct

A code of conduct issued by the State Services Commissioner

Why a code for the State Services?

• The State Services Commissioner has a statutory power to issue a code setting minimum standards of conduct and integrity for the State Services

• Helps promote a unifying sense of values across the State Services

• Provides an opportunity to focus on integrity• Strengthens trust and reinforces the spirit of

service

Who is covered by the code?

• More than 130 agencies and 110,000 people:– All Public Service departments

• e.g. MoH, IRD, SFO, TPK, FSA

– Crown entities, including:• Crown agents – e.g. DHBs, ACC, Housing NZ• Autonomous Crown entities – e.g. Lotteries Commission,

Arts Council, Public Trust• Independent Crown entities – e.g. Human Rights

Commission, Privacy Commissioner• Crown entity subsidiaries e.g. Health Alliance

– The code has not been applied to school boards and their employees

What does it mean to be part of the State Services?

• We are all part of the Executive • We share a responsibility to serve New

Zealanders and act with a spirit of service• We also share the State Services

Development Goals – Employer of Choice– Networked State Services– Value for Money– Coordinated State Agencies– Accessible State Services– Trusted State Services

Achieving the Trust Goal:6 elements

• Research shows we need these elements to support integrity and maintain trustworthy behaviour:– Standards of integrity and conduct in place – Standards are promoted– Standards are integrated into our behaviour– Managers model the standards in their behaviour– Consequences for breaches are known– Decisive action is taken when breaches occur

What does the code of conduct do?

• Sets out the minimum standards of integrity and conduct required by agencies and their staff

• Promotes a unifying sense of values • Provides an opportunity to focus on integrity• Incorporates enduring standards (including Statement

of Government Expectations, and obligations in Crown Entities Act, State Sector Act, previous Public Service Code of Conduct)

• Reflects consultation process, qualitative research on New Zealanders expectations of the State Services values and standards

Why is the code important?

• What you do affects the level of public trust in your organisation and in the State Services as a whole

• The code sets out the standards of behaviour required so that New Zealanders can be confident we are:– fair, impartial, responsible and trustworthy– acting with a spirit of service to the community

How was the code developed?

• Research and consultation with organisations, unions, professional bodies, staff and public– 2005: comprehensive research with Crown entities

and snapshot of Public Service– Qualitative research

• focus groups with staff of organisations• focus groups with members of the public• online questionnaire

– 2006/2007: meetings with organisations, unions, union delegates, professional organisations and feedback via website

What did the research show?

• Staff perceptions:– 65% are proud to work in the State Services because

they have an opportunity to contribute to society/make a difference

– diverse and satisfying range of work – safe, family-friendly, non-corrupt and fair

• Public perceptions:– high level of trust– responsiveness and transparent processes engender

trust– expect State servants to behave to a high standard

What does the code require?

• We must:– comply with the standards– meet our employment, professional and other legal

obligations

• Our organisations:– can develop additional or detailed standards

consistent with the code– must maintain policies and procedures that give

effect to the code

What are the standards?

The standards are grouped under four headings. We must be

• Fair • Impartial • Responsible• Trustworthy

Fair

We must:• treat everyone fairly and with respect• be professional and responsive• work to make government services

accessible and effective• strive to make a difference to the well-being

of New Zealand and all its people

Impartial

We must:• maintain the political neutrality required to

enable us to work with current and future governments

• carry out the functions of our organisation, unaffected by our personal beliefs

• support our agency to provide robust and unbiased advice

• respect the authority of the government of the day

Responsible

We must:• act lawfully and objectively• use our organisation’s resources carefully

and only for intended purposes• treat information with care and use it only for

proper purposes• work to improve the performance and

efficiency of our organisation

Trustworthy

We must:• be honest• work to the best of our abilities• ensure our actions are not affected by our personal

interests or relationships• never misuse our position for personal gain• decline gifts or benefits that place us under any

obligation or perceived influence• avoid any activities, work or non-work, that may

harm the reputation of our organisation or of the State Services

Questions / discussion points

• What standards will you need to be most mindful of in your day-to-day work?

• How do your organisation’s own policies and procedures reinforce these standards? Are there any gaps?

• What can you and your organisation do to promote the standards, raise awareness of the code and ensure an integrity-rich culture?

• What would you expect to be included in a process for reporting and acting on suspected breaches of the code?

For further information about the

code of conduct visit:

www.ssc.govt.nz/code