Promoting Values and Ethics at CSC

By Carole Robinson Oliver

Photo: Bill Rankin

Roger Pharand, Senior Values and Ethics Advisor, Values and Ethics Branch

Roger Pharand is passionate about values and ethics, the importance of giving recognition and of walking the talk.“Sometimes a mere thank you
for a job well done goes a long way,” says Mr. Pharand. Formerly with the RCMP, Mr. Pharand is new to the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), but brings with him several years of experience as a values and ethics champion and course facilitator.

As Senior Advisor in the Values and Ethics Branch, Roger Pharand is responsible for the development of ethics strategies and programs for CSC. His job involves training, monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of the program, as well as providing expertise, interpretations analysis and guidance to all managers and employees on ethical issues.

As a sign of progress, he cites the fact that the National Ethics Advisory Committee is now in place. Some regions have already started the legwork to establish regional ethics committees. As well, the Values and Ethics Website is being developed to provide a gateway for information sharing on ethics with CSC employees.

“Communication is key to success in any organization,” says Pharand. “We need to provide employees with knowledge and the tools to deal with ethical issues,” he adds. “We’re serving the general public, all of Canada, so we have to ensure that we operate at a higher standard.” The tools developed by the Values and Ethics Branch will also assist in the CSC Health Services accreditation process as well as the professional certification for the procurement and material management community.

The pilot testing of one-day workshops in values and ethics throughout CSC is also a top priority. These workshops are one of the chief outcomes of the 2006 focus groups, that sought employee input on how to improve the ethical climate at CSC.

A network of competent facilitators has been busy providing the long-awaited one-day workshop at 17 sites. A maximum of 100 participants per site was chosen for the workshops to achieve a cross-section of the various disciplines, institutions, specialized facilities, community operations and regional offices that make up the organization.

Participants will be presented with a number of ethical decision-making tools and will work through case studies, based on real-life ethical dilemmas. “The tools we use in the course will help people identify facts, look at the values that are in conflict, list their options and think through the consequences of each one. They will then be in a better position to take action and live with their decisions,” Pharand explains. He expects the workshop will also help staff recognize when they find themselves in an ethical dilemma, “Because it isn’t always obvious. It could be very simple, such as being offered a gift from an outside party that has business dealings with CSC.”

To gather baseline data on the current ethical environment, participating staff have been asked to complete a survey before attending the workshop.

“We’ll also survey them afterwards, to see whether there has been a noticeable improvement in the overall ethical climate,” says Mr. Pharand. “Based on results, the National Ethics Advisory Committee will decide whether to offer the course more widely.”

Pharand explains: “There’s no doubt in my mind, from past experience with values and ethics, that the workshops will have a positive impact.” ♦