Ethics, Rules of Conduct & Professionalism Level 1 Flashcards
What are the RICS Rules of Conduct?
- Members & firms must be honest, act with integrity & comply with their professional obligations, including obligations to RICS
- Members & firms must maintain their professional competence & ensure that services are provided by competent individuals who have the necessary expertise
- Members & firms must provide good-quality & diligent service.
- Members & firms must treat others with respect & encourage diversity & inclusion
- Members & firms must act in public interest, take responsibility for their actions & act to prevent harm & maintain public confidence
What does Appendix A in the RICS Rules of Conduct encompass?
Professional obligations to the RICS for members & firms
-
What are the RICS ethical standards?
Honesty
Integrity
Competence
Service
Respect
Responsibility
What are the types of RICS Professional Standards & what are their status?
- International Standards: An international high level principle based standard developed in collaboration with other relevant bodies - MANDATORY
- Practice Statements: document that provides members with mandatory requirements - MANDATORY
- Code of Practice - document approved by RICS and endorsed by another professional body / stakeholder, providing users with recommendations for accepted good practice as followed by conscientious practitioners - MANDATORY OR RECOMMENDED GOOD PRACTICE (DOC WILL CONFIRM)
- Guidance Note - document provides users with recommendations for accepted good practice as followed by competent & conscientious practitioners - RECOMMENDED GOOD PRACTICE
- Information Paper - practice based information that provides users with the latest information and / or research - INFORMATION AND / OR EXPLANATORY COMMENTARY
What is the RICS ‘Black Book’?
- a suite of guidance notes
- define good technical standards for QSing and construction professionals
What should employers do to create an ethical environment?
- establish confidential procedures for whistle blowing
- include ethical evaluations into formal performance appraisals
- include ethical standards into recruitment, employment contracts & training
- ensure adequate planning, training & ethical performance monitoring when implementing change
- become chartered with RICS
- Promote CPD within the relevant area
What tools are available to help members make ethical decisions?
RICS ethics decision tree
What is the difference between ethics & integrity?
- ethics are moral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity
- integrity is the quality of being honest & having strong moral principles
- in summary, ethics looks at the big moral picture whilst integrity is focused on personal characteristics
What are key areas where ethics are important?
- gifts, bribes, hospitality
- equal opportunity, discrimination & sexual harassment
- conflicts of interest
- money laundering
What does a firm need to meet to be ‘Regulated by the RICS’?
- offer professional services in surveying disciplines
- have at least 25% (senior manager, partner or owner), who are qualified RICS Professionals (AssocRICS, MRICS, FRICS)
- agree to observe & comply with RICS Rules of Conduct and RICS Ethical Standards
What is a locum?
- relates to firms which are sole practitioners or have a sole director
- a locum is another professional who is appointed to stand in for the surveyor if they are unable to work
What are insurance requirements for RICS regulated firms?
All RICS regulated firms must have Professional Indemnity Insurance which meets the following minimum limit based on the firms turnover in the previous year:
Turnover of £100,000 or less - £250,000
Turnover of £100,001 to £200,000 - £500,000
Turnover of £200,001 or more - £1,000,000
Alongside PI, they will also require:
- public liability
- buildings insurance
- employer liability cover
- director & officer’s cover
- contents insurance
- business interruption insurance
What are the CPD requirements for chartered surveyors?
- a minimum of 20 hours of CPD each calendar year
- at least 50% formal CPD
- must maintain a relevant & current understanding of RICS professional & ethical standards during a 3-year rolling period
How do you differentiate between formal & informal CPD?
formal - structured learning that has a clear learning objective & outcome, such as:
- professional training course
- structured online training
- learning that includes an assessment measure
informal - self-managed learning that is relevant or related to your professional role, such as:
- private study
- on the job training
What is a conflict of interest?
anything that impedes an individual’s or firm’s ability to act impartially & in the best interest of a client