Organisational Duty of Candour: non-statutory guidance - revised March 2025

3. Leadership and Management

Leaders and managers should ensure that the implementation of the organisational duty of candour procedure forms a key part of the learning systems within their organisations. Leaders and managers must ensure that staff are trained on the organisational duty of candour procedure, ensuring it is integrated and aligned with related organisational processes and procedures.

Organisations should consider how to incorporate effectively the actions required by the organisational duty of candour legislation into other corporate governance frameworks, processes and procedures. It is critical that learning, change and improvement arising from these procedures are fed back into the organisation’s practices and overall approach to quality management. Organisations should also consider how to share best practice nationally across health and care to support learning across Scotland.

The emphasis on communication, support, learning focused reviews, and transparency in publishing an organisational duty of candour annual report should be reflected throughout the organisation.