Integrity Management Plan
Integrity Management Plan
Managers of public bodies hold the responsibility to ensure that the services provided to public are effective, efficient, reliable, and the delivery is free from corruption and malpractice. This Integrity Management Checklist provides a tool for the management of public bodies to conduct a quick check-up in how far integrity management is done in the organisation so as to identify the areas for follow-up and improvement.
Public bodies are advised to implement comprehensive integrity management plan by (1) setting ethical standard (2) strengthening system control and (3) fostering an ethical culture, so as to maintain public trust and safeguarding public interests.
Public bodies are advised to implement comprehensive integrity management plan by (1) setting ethical standard (2) strengthening system control and (3) fostering an ethical culture, so as to maintain public trust and safeguarding public interests.
Setting Ethical Standard
Formulate a code of conduct to ensure the ethical standards of all members of the governing body and employees are up to public expectations
Areas to be covered in the code
- Members of the governing body and employees are public servants
- Prohibition on any bribery and corrupt practices
- Further restrictions and guidelines governing the solicitation, acceptance and offering of advantages and acceptance of entertainment
- Guidelines on handling advantages offered to staff or members in their official capacity
- Guidelines on acceptance of sponsorship
- Guidelines on avoidance and declaration of conflict of interest and managing declared conflict of interest
- Prohibition on misuse of official position, confidential information, assets and resources of the organisation
- Guidelines on handling members bidding for contracts of the organisation
- Policy on reporting suspected corruption and other criminal offences
- Consequences of breaching the code and guidelines
Follow-up actions
- Establish a mechanism to regularly remind members of the governing body and staff of the content of the code
- Regularly review the code to meet its current and future needs
- Provide guidance and support to staff members on handling ethical challenges
Strengthening System Control
To establish a mechanism which prevents and detects abuse, corruption and fraud at all levels of operation in the organization
Major Items
- Establish a system that can identify and assess the risk of corruption
- Adopt clear operational procedures and guidelines in the following business areas to reduce the opportunity for corruption
- Procurement
- Finance and accounting
- Human resources management and administration
- Sales and marketing
- Contract management
- Inventory and stock control
- Core business (e.g. regulatory affairs, licensing, assessment/approval and management of public funds)
- Regularly review the policies, operational procedures and guidelines to meet the development of the organisation
- Specify duties and responsibilities for all levels of staff
- Incorporate checks and balances in records keeping
- Establish channels of enquiry and complaint to receive and handle complaints on breaches of the code of conduct
- Set up a system to take prompt and appropriate action against corruption and malpractices
Fostering an Ethical Culture
To build up an ethical culture in the public body through well-planned training and education programme and to make it clear to its staff members and the community its determination in fighting against corruption.
Major items
- Incorporate integrity training into induction programme for members of the governing body and newly recruited staff
- Arrange regular training courses for members of the governing body and staff from different departments and ranks on topics such as anti-corruption laws, handling conflicts of interest, managing staff integrity and ethical leadership
- Arrange staff who cannot receive face-to-face integrity training to attend e-learning courses
- Maintain integrity training records properly with a view to setting up an integrity training cycle in the long run
Other channels
- Distribute leaflets on anti-corruption laws and publish feature articles promoting probity messages on the intranet or in staff newsletter
- Organise integrity promotion projects e.g. quizzes, exhibitions and competitions for staff
- Put up posters or notices with "Don't bribe public servants" message to heighten the awareness of service users and work partners