Ethics training Enhancing ethical culture through ethical - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Ethics training Enhancing ethical culture through ethical decision-making www.ethics.qld.gov.au

What is Ethics? The basic concepts and fundamental principles of decent human conduct. It includes study of universal values such as the essential equality of all men and women, human or natural rights www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Exploring ethics Objective Public Service Employees demonstrate an understanding of how public service ethics relate to their role www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Exploring ethics • What are my ethics? • What are my ethics based on? www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Ethics in the public service • Why are ethics important? • Why should we act ethically? • How important are ethics in the public service? www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Government focus on ethics 2009 Integrity & Accountability Review • Strong rules • Strong culture • Strong scrutiny • Strong enforcement www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Government focus on ethics Strong Rules Including: • One Code of Conduct for the Public Service • Gifts and Benefits policy • Regulate lobbyist industry www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Government focus on ethics Strong Culture Including: • Ethical leadership • Mandatory ethics training www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Government focus on ethics Strong Scrutiny Including: • Integrity Of Officer. • Requirement to publish departmental gifts registers • Reform State Procurement Policy www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Government focus on ethics Strong Enforcement Including: • Crime and Misconduct Commission • Public Service Commission • Effective public interest disclosure laws www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Ethics in practice www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Mandatory annual ethics training Promoting the highest standards of integrity and accountability from everyone in public office www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Public Service Ethics • Integrity & impartiality • Promoting the public good • Commitment to the system of government • Accountability & transparency www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Public Service Ethics Integrity & Impartiality because: public office involves a public trust, we seek to promote public confidence in the integrity of the public sector www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Integrity & Impartiality public sector entities: a. are committed to the highest ethical standards b. accept and value their duty to provide advice which is objective, independent, apolitical and impartial c. Show respect towards all persons, including employees, clients and the general public d. acknowledge the primacy of the public interest and undertake that any conflict of interest issue will be resolved or appropriately managed in favour of the public interest e. are committed to honest, fair and respectful engagement with the community. www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Integrity & Impartiality  Not prejudiced  Truthfulness  Unbiased  Fairness  Just  Honesty www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Qld Public Service Ethics Promoting the Public Good because: the public sector is the mechanism through which elected representatives of the people deliver programs and services for the benefit of the people of Qld www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Promoting the public good public sector entities: a. accept and value their duty to be responsive to both the requirements of government and to the public interest b. accept and value their duty to engage the community in developing and effecting official public sector priorities, policies and decisions c. accept and value their duty to manage public resources effectively, efficiently and economically d. value and seek to achieve excellence in service delivery, and e. value and seek to achieve enhanced integration of services to better service clients. www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Promoting the public good actions that benefit the people of Queensland as a whole www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Promoting the public good and our system of government www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Qld Public Service Ethics Commitment to the System of Government because: public sector entities have a duty to uphold the system of govt and the laws of the State, Commonwealth and local government www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Commitment to the system of government public sector entities: a. accept and value their duty to uphold the system of government and the laws of the State, the Commonwealth and local government; and b. are committed to effecting official public sector priorities, policies and decisions professionally and impartially; and c. accept and value their duty to operate within the framework of Ministerial responsibility to government, the Parliament and the community. www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Commitment to the system of government the government (elected by the people) and the laws and institutions (public service and courts) www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Qld Public Service Ethics Accountability & Transparency because: public trust in public office requires high standards of public administration www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Accountability & Transparency public sector entities: a. are committed to exercising proper diligence, care and attention b. are committed to using public resources in an effective and accountable manner c. are committed to managing information as openly as practicable within the legal framework d. value and seek to achieve high standards of public administration e. value and seek to innovate and continuously improve performance, and f. value and seek to operate within a framework of mutual obligation and shared responsibility between public sector entities and public officials. www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Accountability & Transparency to act being open responsibly and candid so so our actions our actions and decisions and decisions can be can be easily explained understood www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Exploring ethics How will you demonstrate ethical responsibility at work? www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Applying Ethics Public Service Employees are able to: • identify ethical dilemmas, risks and breaches at work • apply public sector ethics principles to ethical dilemmas • respond appropriately to ethical risks and breaches • access appropriate sources of advice for dealing with ethical issues • identify actions they will commit to in order to uphold public sector ethics in their day to day work www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Applying ethics to dilemmas Recognising • ethical dilemmas • risks and • breaches www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Applying ethics to dilemmas ask yourself • A m I doing the right thing? • T est your decision – Apply the ethics principles – Apply the law • G et advice www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Applying ethics to dilemmas Test your decision: • Is it the right thing to do? • How would the public view this? • How will this impact on those affected? • How would you feel if this was done to you? • Does this demonstrate ethical leadership? www.ethics.qld.gov.au

1. Throughout your decision ask yourself • A m I doing the right thing? • R ecord – information – process – reasons – decision • C ommunicate – confidentially – with those involved www.ethics.qld.gov.au

2. Preparing the decision filling the GAP in your knowledge • G ather and assess information – relevant – Confidentially • A pply laws • P olicy & procedures – service wide – agency specific www.ethics.qld.gov.au

3. Developing the decision GOT it sorted… then… • G et advice – independent – what you need to hear • O ptions & consequences - what are they? • T est your decision – ethics – law www.ethics.qld.gov.au

GO Act on your decision ….. and (refer if you need to) after the decision • C onsider & reflect – on your process & decision – would you change anything if you could do it again? – can agency processes be improved? • T ell – others what you have learnt www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Responding to ethics risks & breaches • Reporting risks and breaches • Questioning unethical behaviour www.ethics.qld.gov.au

What if the law is wrong? • Is the issue how the law has been interpreted, or the law itself? • Raise the need for policy change or legislative amendment through your agency’s processes. • If there is agreement that changes are needed, seek advice about what should be done with your decision. www.ethics.qld.gov.au

What if you don't agree with a direction or decision ? • Discuss your concerns with someone you respect. • You must comply with all reasonable and lawful work instructions, whether or not you personally agree with a given policy direction. • You can refuse directions that are unreasonable or unlawful. • Seek advice before taking this step. www.ethics.qld.gov.au

What if you think a decision or actions is not in the public interest? • Public interest disclosure information provided to an appropriate organisation about certain types of wrongdoing in the public sector • It may be helpful to seek advice before making a public interest disclosure www.ethics.qld.gov.au

Ethics advice Review the issues and your options with someone independent who you respect who will tell you what you NEED to hear rather than what you want to hear www.ethics.qld.gov.au