Declarations of Interest - explanatory information

Declarations of Interest – explanatory information

Every year the taxpayer entrusts NHS organisations with over £110 billion to care for millions of people. This money must be spent well, free from undue influence.

To deliver high quality and innovative care organisations need to work collaboratively with each other, local authorities, the NHS, industry and other public, private and voluntary bodies. Partnership working brings many benefits, but also creates the risk of conflicts of interest.

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust aims to manage these risks in the right way. Guidance and training is made available to staff to help them understand the best action that they will need to take to protect themselves from any allegation that they may have acted inappropriately and when and how they should make a declaration of interest.

Staff are aware and are encouraged to make any declaration(s) at the earliest opportunity (and in any event within 28 days).

These should be done: 

• on joining the Trust
• if their responsibilities change significantly or on taking up a new role
• as soon as circumstances change and new interests arise

Some people are more likely than others to have a decision making influence on the use of taxpayers’ money, because of the requirements of their role, and they are referred to as ‘decision making staff’. Decision making staff are required to make a declaration annually and will soon be required to complete annual mandatory conflicts of interest training.

The Trust manages interests sensibly and proportionately. If an interest presents an actual or potential conflict of interest then management action will be taken. There are a number of common situations which can give rise to risk of conflicts of interest.

These include: 

• financial interests
• non-financial professional interests
• non-financial personal interests
• indirect interest
• loyalty interests
• gifts, hospitality and sponsorship
• outside employment and clinical private practice
• donations and patients’ wills The Trust publishes on its website the following registers: Page 2
• register of Directors’ Interests
• register of Gifts, Hospitality and Sponsorship
• register of Decision Makers’ Interests
• register of Governors’ Interest