Conflict of interest and confidentiality declaration

Declare every relevant connection

Include actual, potential and reasonably perceived conflicts, whether paid or unpaid, current, recent or otherwise still relevant. Outside jobs and board positions are not automatically prohibited; they require assessment before allocation.

• Ownership, shares, directorships, trusteeships, employment, consultancy, advisory work or commercial ties involving the provider, referrer, competitors or connected organisations.
• Financial interests, commissions, referral income, funding, gifts, hospitality or benefits that could affect judgement.
• Close personal or family relationships, previous disputes, complaints, litigation, public campaigning, or other loyalties relevant to the case.
• Earlier involvement in the referral, assessment, evidence, investigation or original decision. An appeal cannot be allocated to its original decision maker.
• Confidentiality or other duties to another organisation that could prevent an impartial and properly evidenced decision.

Independence

I will disclose changes promptly and complete a fresh check before each allocation. I will not approve my own conflict, investigate my own conduct, review my own decision on appeal or take part where a conflict cannot be managed. I will stop access or work when instructed and allow reassignment. A signed form does not override a conflict.

I will use the published assessment method, distinguish evidence from allegation, record reasons and give a fair opportunity to respond. Membership payments, plaque purchases, referrals, personal relationships and commercial pressure will not influence marks, publication, restrictions or appeals. I will not accept benefits linked to an outcome or use information for a competing business.

I will work within my competence and authority, identify limits and seek an appropriate specialist. I will not claim a qualification, registration, independence or appointment that has not been verified.

Confidential information and permitted use

Confidential information includes private referrals, resident or staff details, health and criminal-offence information, sensitive locations, evidence, complaints, commercial information, security details and unpublished findings. I will access only the information needed for an authorised assignment and use it only for that purpose and the recorded instructions.

I will not share it with another employer, board, provider, family member or unapproved person, or upload it to personal email, messaging, cloud storage or AI tools. I will use approved accounts, secure devices and MFA, keep credentials private, avoid unnecessary copies and follow the agreed download, expiry and deletion rules. I will not try to identify people from limited summaries or combine them with other data for that purpose.

I will report suspected loss, wrong-recipient access, conflicts, misuse or security incidents immediately through the agreed incident route. I will not wait until facts are complete or conceal an error. I will preserve proportionate evidence securely and follow containment instructions.

When access ends, I will return or securely delete information and local copies as instructed and confirm completion. Any necessary lawful retention must be documented, restricted and reviewed; it is not permission to retain whole case packs indefinitely. Confidentiality duties continue after the assignment.

Lawful disclosures and other agreements

Nothing in this declaration prevents a protected whistleblowing disclosure, reporting crime, cooperating with a regulator or court, obtaining confidential legal advice or making another disclosure protected or required by law. Disclose only what is lawful and necessary; seek advice where appropriate without delaying an urgent lawful report. Do not require prior permission where the law protects disclosure.

This declaration supplements the engagement contract and approved data-sharing or processing arrangements. It is not a substitute for Article 6 authority, an Article 9 condition, Article 10 authorisation, an Article 28 contract or other legal requirements. A professional must not use confidential information from another role without lawful authority.

Individual declaration

I confirm that my disclosures are complete to the best of my knowledge, I understand the commitments, and I will update them promptly and before each new case. I understand access may be restricted or the assignment ended for a conflict or breach, subject to the engagement terms and applicable law. I have not been promised a particular outcome.

Record management

Complete at onboarding, review at least annually and update on a relevant change; record a case-specific conflict decision for every assignment. Store the completed form in restricted governance records. Provide the signer with privacy information, an approved retention period and an enquiry route. Do not upload completed declarations to a public resource page.

Have this template checked against the actual employment or consultancy arrangement, governing law and privacy obligations before adoption. It does not impose a noncompete restriction, automatic penalty or blanket waiver of legal rights.