Doug Chalmers, Chair of the independent Committee on Standards in Public Life, has today called for public sector bodies to get better at recognising and responding to early warning signs.

Launching the Committee’s new report, Doug Chalmers said:

“Recent public inquiries – Grenfell; Windrush; Infected Blood; Post Office Horizon IT – have laid bare the catastrophic impact of major public sector failure on human lives. There are common themes among these scandals – a failure to listen to and act on concerns raised; a failure to learn lessons from similar incidents, and a failure to identify and share emerging risks.

“The public sector has never been more complex, with a multitude of public bodies involved in the delivery of public services, as well as contracted private providers. There is value in taking a step back to consider what more public sector bodies can do to spot problems at the earliest possible stage – while there is still time to act and, potentially, avert a disaster.

“Our evidence shows there are things organisations can do to increase the likelihood of risks and issues being uncovered.  When leaders are committed to advocating the benefits of an open culture and listen with curiosity when staff raise concerns, or offer suggestions for better ways of doing things, organisations can spot risks and make improvements. 

“It is not always easy to speak up – it requires moral courage to be the person who says, ‘I’m not sure this is going to plan’. But in doing so, we honour the basic contract that holders of public office have with the public we serve.

“We want this report to bring change, stimulating leaders across the public sector to reflect on how they can better equip their organisations and people to identify and respond to the early signs of a problem and achieve better outcomes for the public.”

The Committee, established by then PM John Major in 1995, is also marking the 30th anniversary of the Nolan Principles of Public Life this year.  The Principles – Accountability, Honesty, Objectivity, Openness, Selflessness, Integrity and Leadership – apply to all holders of public office and those delivering services to the public on behalf of the taxpayer.

[Read Doug Chalmers’ letter to public sector leaders]

[Download Early Warning Signs Report]

Seven principles of public life

Watch a short film about the work of the Committee

Notes to Editors

1. Interview requests and media enquiries should go to Maggie O’Boyle on 07880 740627.
2. The independent Committee on Standards in Public Life advises the Prime Minister on arrangements for upholding ethical standards of conduct across public life in England.
3. The current members of the Committee are Doug Chalmers CB DSO OBE (Chair), The Rt Hon Lady Mary Arden of Heswall DBE, The Rt Hon Dame Margaret Beckett GBE MP (Labour), The Rt Hon Ian Blackford (Scottish National Party), Cllr Ruth Dombey OBE (Liberal Democrat) Ewen Fergusson, Baroness (Simone) Finn (Conservative), John Henderson, and Professor Gillian Peele.
4. Read the Committee on Standards in Public life blog  

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