Code of Conduct

Introduction

The Trustee Board has agreed that a code of conduct should apply to members of The Trustee Board, College Council and all College committees, and persons acting in any official capacity on behalf of the College, along the lines of the 7 'Nolan principles' of public life, which are reproduced for information as follows.

The Nolan Principles

Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest. They should not do so in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends

Integrity

Holders of public office should not place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that might seek to influence them in the performance of their official duties.

Objectivity

In carrying out public business, including making public appointments, awarding contracts, or recommending individuals for rewards and benefits, holders of public office should make choices on merit.

Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable for their decisions and actions to the public and must submit themselves to whatever scrutiny is appropriate to their office.

Openness

Holders of public office should be as open as possible about all the decisions and actions that they take. They should give reasons for their decisions and restrict information only when the wider public interest clearly demands.

Honesty

Holders of public office have a duty to declare any private interests relating to their public duties and to take steps to resolve any conflicts arising in a way that protects the public interest.

Leadership

Holders of public office should promote and support those principles by leadership and example.

The College's code of conduct

In order that both the public and the membership of the College may have confidence in the effectiveness and impartiality of those working on behalf of the College, individuals should:

• be cognisant of the Royal Charter, Ordinances and Bye-Laws, to act in accordance with them, and not to act in a manner that is at variance with them
• respect any privacy and confidentiality of information including documents received or obtained while performing any duties for the College and not to divulge any such information to any other person or organisation now and in the future unless authorised to do so, by the Chief Executive of the College, in writing. Not to use such information for personal advantage
• when documents are stored or disposed of, this must be done in a safe and secure manner in line with Data Protection Act requirements
• assign the copyright in any document, report, article or publication produced for, or on behalf of the College, to the College
• not act in any way prejudicial to the interests of the College unless so doing is considered to be in the public interest
• avoid placing themselves under obligation to any individual or organisation which might affect their ability to act impartially and objectively on behalf of the College
• serve the College without seeking personal gain or preferment
• avoid bias on grounds of ethnicity, disability, lifestyle, culture, beliefs, gender, sexual orientation or age
• actively serve on the Trustee Board, Council or those of its committees and working parties to which they may be elected or appointed
• declare relevant interests or prior knowledge in the course of College business, in accordance with the Trustee Board’s policy on the declarations of interests, and/or to take steps to avoid such interests or knowledge giving rise to a conflict of interest
• distinguish clearly, when speaking or writing, between personal views and those of the College
• to be mindful that even when a distinction is made between personal views and the views of the College, this may still become blurred by the recipient and that care should be taken, for example, when commenting on social media platforms
• support the above principles by leadership and example.