Conflicts of interest can impact the trust, integrity, and efficiency of our work, especially within the NHS. By understanding and properly managing these situations, we can all play a part in protecting our organisation from fraud. Take a few minutes to watch this video produced by MIAA.
All Conflict of Interest declarations for staff are to be made via ESR.
Watch the video below or view the guidance on how to make your declaration on ESR and update this annually.
Types of interests
The various types of interests can be found in the policy or NHS guidance and are also included below:
Situations include:
- Gifts - please note gifts of alcohol and well as cash or vouchers must always be declined
- Hospitality
- Outside employment
- Shareholdings and other ownership interests
- Patents
- Loyalty interests
- Donations
- Sponsored events
- Sponsored research
- Sponsored posts
- Clinical private practice
Failure to declare interests constitutes a breach of the policy; responsibility for declaring an interest within 28 days is solely that of the staff member concerned.
Please direct any questions or queries to: declarations
Your responsibilities
Click on the drop downs below to find out about your responsibilities depending on your role.
'Line managers' have the ability, via ESR, to view declarations made by their staff and create management actions were required. Each month managers will receive a copy of the monthly Conflict of Interest notification, which will contain the assignments that report to them. The manager notification will only be sent where there is at least one assignment with addiditons or changes to any of their staff for that month.
Important - Managers must review all declarations made by their staff, and where appropriate, include management actions on the record, i.e., any mitigating actions to ensure any potential conflicts are managed appropriately or avoided.
This ensures that any potential conflicts of interest are identified, addressed, and do not compromise the integrity or impartiality of decisions made by the staff or the organisation.
‘Decision Making staff’ – It is a statutory requirement that the Trust holds a register of declarations for staff who are deemed to be ‘Decision Making Staff’, and these are refreshed and updated annually.
As well as all staff 8D and above, there are other staff who may be deemed as decision making, i.e., some staff within procurement, estates, pharmacy and other teams. These staff are required to complete a declaration regarding interests each year, if you do not have any interests to declare, you are still required to make a ‘Nil’ declaration. You will receive a notification via ESR, as well as emails from declarations@merseycare.nhs.uk if you are deemed as a Decision Making Staff member.
All staff – regardless of band, all staff are required to make a declaration if there is one and update it each financial year.