Standards of Integrity and Conduct

1. Standards of Integrity and Conduct A code of conduct issued by the State Services Commissioner

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. What are the standards? The standards are grouped under four headings. We must be • Fair • Impartial • Responsible • Trustworthy

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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?

17. For further information about the code of conduct visit: www.ssc.govt.nz/code