Code of Conduct for Trustees 

Ownership:	Chair of Trustees
Date Issued:	This policy was approved by the Board on 27th July 2022
Governance Forum responsible:	Board of Trustees
Version	2022.07
Review date of policy:	Next review date is Q2 2023
Review frequency:	1 year
Review history	Updated and approved by Trustee Board July 2022.  [Last intranet model update 2019.07]

(last updated July 2022) 

This Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of local Citizens Advice trustees. The Code incorporates the Nolan principles of standards in public life. It aims to ensure that all board members observe the highest standards of propriety and act in the best interests of Citizens Advice and the Citizens Advice service at all times. It is based on the Code used by the national Citizens Advice Trustee Board (updated May 2019). 

Organisational purpose 

Trustees must ensure that they are able to clearly explain the public benefit of the Citizens Advice service and recognise the board’s wider responsibilities to Citizens Advice’s clients, communities and stakeholders, as well as to society at large. Trustees should act in a way which is consistent with Citizens Advice’s purposes, values and resources. 

Leadership 

Individual trustees take collective responsibility for the board’s decisions. Trustees recognise, respect and welcome diverse, different and, at times, conflicting trustee views. 

Together, trustees create an environment in which Citizens Advice’s workforce, including its Chief Officer and management team, are able to provide the board with all the information, advice and feedback it requires. 

Trustees must give enough time to Citizens Advice staff to discharge their responsibilities effectively, including adequate preparation for board and committee meetings, and participating in other governance bodies, should the need arise. 

Integrity 

Trustees must behave with integrity and avoid reputational risks to both Citizens Advice and the wider Citizens Advice service in the view of stakeholders and the general public. 

Trustees must always make decisions and act in the best interests of the charity and never for their own financial or other benefit, or for that of their family, friends or acquaintances. 

Trustees should promote and support the principles of good governance by leadership and example and should act in an individual and independent capacity and not as a representative of any group, organisation or individual. 

Trustees must comply with any rules agreed by the board including those relating to the acceptance of gifts and hospitality and the avoidance of activities which might compromise Citizens Advice’s political neutrality. 

Trustees must respect the status of confidential issues they read and discuss. They are bound to maintain the status of this material and any discussions which take place. 

Trustees must disclose to the rest of the board and to Citizens Advice any and all actual or potential conflicts of interest or compromising influences. They must absent themselves from any discussion of any such conflict. Any conflicts of interest will be dealt with in line with the charity’s governing document and its conflicts of interest policy. 

Trustees must disclose anything in their past which could bring the Citizens Advice service into disrepute, e.g. removal from any previous governance role or membership of organisations which may conflict with the aims, principles and values of the Citizens Advice service. 

Board effectiveness 

Trustees must take time to build trust within the board. Where significant differences of opinion arise, trustees take time to consider the range of perspectives and explore other outcomes, respecting alternative views and the value of compromise in discussion. 

Equality and diversity 

Trustees’ behaviour, language and attitudes should be consistent with the values of the Citizens Advice service, should periodically take part in training and/or reflection about equality, diversity and inclusion and understand their responsibilities in this area.