The standards of business conduct policy explains the rules and standards that everyone working for NHS Essex must follow.
It helps make sure decisions are made fairly, openly and in the best interests of patients and local communities. The policy also explains how NHS Essex manages conflicts of interest, gifts, hospitality and outside work.
For more information, read the full policy by downloading the accessible Word document at the end of this page.
Who the policy applies to
The policy applies to:
- NHS Essex staff
- Board members
- committee members
- temporary and agency workers
- contractors and consultants
- people from partner organisations who work with NHS Essex committees and groups
Why this policy is important
The standards of business conduct policy helps NHS Essex to:
- make fair and honest decisions
- use public money responsibly
- be open and transparent
- manage conflicts of interest
- maintain public trust
- follow NHS rules and legal requirements
What is a conflict of interest?
A conflict of interest happens when a person’s personal, financial or professional interests could affect, or appear to affect, the decisions they make at work.
For example, this could happen if someone is involved in a decision about a company they work for outside of NHS Essex.
Staff must declare any interests that could create a conflict.
Declaring interests
Everyone covered by the policy must:
- declare any relevant interests
- update their declaration if their circumstances change
- declare interests during meetings when needed
- follow any actions agreed to manage a conflict of interest
Declaring interests helps NHS Essex make decisions openly and fairly.
Gifts and hospitality
Staff must not accept gifts or hospitality that could influence their decisions.
Hospitality may include:
- meals
- travel
- accommodation
- event tickets
- entertainment
Any gifts or hospitality that need to be declared are recorded in NHS Essex registers to support transparency.
Outside work and business interests
Some staff may have jobs or responsibilities outside NHS Essex.
These may include:
- another job
- consultancy work
- running a business
- being a charity trustee
- holding a company directorship
These interests must be declared if they could affect a person’s NHS role.
Working with other organisations
NHS Essex works with many organisations, including NHS providers, local councils, charities and suppliers.
The standards of business conduct policy helps make sure these relationships are managed openly and that decisions are always made in the best interests of patients and the public.
Transparency and accountability
NHS Essex keeps public records of:
- declared interests
- gifts and hospitality
- commercial sponsorship
- procurement decisions
These records help people understand how decisions are made and provide assurance that public money is being used properly.
Reporting concerns
Anyone who has concerns about conflicts of interest, fraud, bribery or other breaches of the standards of business conduct policy should report them.
Concerns can be raised through managers, the Governance Team, the Conflicts of Interest Guardian or the Local Counter Fraud Specialist.
Policy review
This policy was approved on 1 April 2026 and is due for review in April 2027.
For more information, read the full Standards of Business Conduct Policy by downloading the accessible Word document below.