Independent review of Scottish Government's use of mobile messaging apps and non-corporate technology

20. Appendix 6. Non-exhaustive list of opportunities for link to, and clear communication of, core purpose and values (Recommendation 1)

• Website

The landing page of www.gov.scot contains no reference to the purpose, mission, vision, or values.

The 'About' page – an opportunity to headline the mission and values.

The 'What the Scottish Government does' page - an opportunity to headline the mission and values and reference the codes and values.

The "Propriety and Ethics Directorate' page – an opportunity to talk about the role of propriety and ethics across government, the commitment by those working across government to abide by the codes and values.

• Intranet

The landing page contains no reference to the purpose, mission, vision, and values.

The 'Who we are' page – an opportunity to highlight the purpose, mission, vision, and values and point to the codes. There is a 'Vision and values' tab which appears last on the list. It does not link to a clear articulation of the purpose, mission, vision, or values. It does not link to the codes.

The 'What we do' page – an opportunity to highlight the purpose, mission, vision and values and link to the codes.

The 'Directorate for Propriety and Ethics' page – an opportunity to be clear about what those things mean and how they link to the purpose, mission, vision, and values as well as link to the codes.

A free text search for 'ethics' results in returns which are noticeably 'sanction' and grievance' focused. There is an opportunity to talk positively about the importance of ethics in the context of public service and the values of the code. (Information about sanctions and grievances is relevant but need not 'front load' the messaging.)

FOI page - the first thing that comes up is '10 steps to responding to Freedom of Information Requests'. 'Roles and Responsibilities of a FOI case handler.' FOI is not just a reactive law; it requires transparency and accountability as a default. Messaging should start with 'why' FOI matters (democracy, accountability etc.) and should make it clear that it is everyone's responsibility (not just case handlers). It is inextricably tied to the values in the Civil Service Code.

• Recruitment.

There is no reference to ethics/values/code in the candidate guide. This is an ideal opportunity to send a strong signal about the type of organisation Scottish Government is (or aspires to be).

• Onboarding and induction

(Ministers and civil servants) The employment contract fallacy means we assume employee conduct is simply about giving them information, it is about engaging them in the purpose and values. This is an ideal opportunity to provide them with information about their employment/position, but also to support them to engage with and deliver on the values in the codes.

• Performance management and review

See Recommendation 8.

• Professional development

Further to Recommendation 8, professional success and development should specifically connect to delivery and advancement of the values in the codes.

• eRDM training

An opportunity to place clear messaging throughout.

• Data Protection e-learning

An opportunity to place clear messaging throughout.

• SharePoint Online – Corporate News

An opportunity to place clear messaging throughout.

• SMT Updates

An opportunity to place clear messaging throughout.

• Directorate Comms updates

An opportunity to place clear messaging throughout.

• All e-learning.

An opportunity to place clear messaging throughout

• Corporate strategic reviews.

An opportunity to link the work being done to the purpose, mission and values, and place clear messaging throughout.

• Scottish Government Records Management Plan.

An opportunity to link the work being done to the purpose, mission and values, and place clear messaging throughout.

• IAO training material.

An opportunity to link the work being done to the purpose, mission and values, and place clear messaging throughout

• National Performance Framework.

An opportunity to link the work being done to the purpose, mission and values, and place clear messaging throughout.

• Scottish Public Finance Manual

An opportunity to link the work being done to the purpose, mission and values, and place clear messaging throughout.