Close Personal Associations and Relationships Guidance - June 2026
In this section
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Scope
- 3. Principals
- 4. Roles and Responsibilities
- 5. Definition of Close Personal Associations / Relationships
- 6. Defining a Relevant Team or Establishment or Work Area
- 7. Recruitment and Appointment of Employees
- 8. Requirement to Disclose a Close Personal Association
- 9. Where there is a Relationship Between Applicant and Manager or Team Colleagues
- 10. Authority to Appoint
- 11. When Issues Cannot be Managed Effectively
- 12. When a Relationship Breaks Down
- 13. Conduct or Performance Issues
- 14. Close Personal Associations between an Employee and a Child / Young Person or Vulnerable Adult
- 15. Colleagues Affected by a Close Personal Association
- 16. Provision of References
- 17. Financial Regulations
- 18. Associations with Contractors or Potential Contractors
- 19. Failure to Disclose a Close Personal Association
- 20. Ensuring Equality of Opportunity
- APPENDIX 1 - Officers' Declaration of Personal Interests
- APPENDIX 2 - Relationship Protocol
9. Where there is a Relationship Between Applicant and Manager or Team Colleagues
Where the applicant, if appointed, would work in the same team or establishment with an employee with whom they have a close personal association the implications of this should be considered and discussed at the end of the selection process. This is to ensure that, assuming they are otherwise the most suitable candidate for the job, the appointment would also be appropriate considering operational issues and standards.
The type of issues that should be explored could include:
General operational issues relating to shift or working patterns, annual leave requirements etc. The applicant would need to be clear as to the operational requirements of the job which may involve different shift patterns or working times to their partner and no guarantee that leave could always be authorised to coincide.
More specific operational issues e.g. in relation to finance and procurement roles and responsibilities within a job which are governed by Financial Regulations.
Potential conflict of interest and confidentiality issues including the impact on the perceptions and employee relations within the team.
Impact on service users or the general public, including issues relating to trust and confidence and the public image of the authority1.
1 Please refer to safeguarding procedures for children and vulnerable adults and code of professional practice for social care and the Authority’s Code of Conduct.