Mothers Love Family Day Care - Code of Conduct Policy PDF

**CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY\ ** We believe in forming an inclusive and welcoming environment and workplace by providing experiences that motivate and facilitate personal growth and development of our Family Day Care educators, educator assistants and Coordinators. The values that underpin our work eth...

**CODE OF CONDUCT POLICY\ ** We believe in forming an inclusive and welcoming environment and workplace by providing experiences that motivate and facilitate personal growth and development of our Family Day Care educators, educator assistants and Coordinators. The values that underpin our work ethic includes equality, respect, integrity and responsibility. Our Service is committed to adhere to the ECA Code of Ethics (2016) which is based on the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1991) and provides a framework for the reflection about the ethical responsibilities of early childhood professionals. Our Family Day Care (FDC) Service is committed to creating and maintaining an environment that promotes the safety of all children and embeds the [standards for Child Safe Organisations](https://childsafe.humanrights.gov.au/national-principles). All staff and volunteers are responsible for promoting a culture of safety and wellbeing to minimise the risk of child abuse or harm to children whilst promoting children's sense of security and belonging. PURPOSE Our Family Day Care Service aims to establish a common understanding of workplace standards and ethics expected of all employees of the Service. We aim to ensure positive working relationships are formed between all educators, educator assistants, and management, promoting dignity and respect by avoiding behaviour which is or may be perceived as harassing, bullying or intimidating. Educators, educator assistants and management will at all times conduct themselves in an ethical manner and strive to ensure that all interactions are positive and respectful and are in accordance with the Service's philosophy. Our FDC Service takes every reasonable effort to accommodate the diversity of all children in embedding the child safe standards into our organisation and service operations. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We recognise the importance of and responsibility for, ensuring our Service provides a safe and supportive environment which respects and fosters the rights and wellbeing of children in our care. We are dedicated in promoting cultural safety for Aboriginal children, cultural safety for children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability. SCOPE This policy applies to the approved provider, nominated supervisor, coordinator, educators, educator assistants, students, families, children and visitors of the Family Day Care Service. IMPLEMENTATION The approved provider, nominated supervisor, staff, FDC educators, FDC educator assistants, volunteers and students will adhere to the Early Childhood Australian Code of Ethics, Education and Care National Regulations and the National Quality Standard, Child Safe Standards and FDC Service policies and procedures at all times, promoting positive interactions within the Service and the local community. RESPECT FOR PEOPLE AND THE SERVICE - Our FDC Service, staff and FDC educators are committed to the Service philosophy and values, inclusive of best practice in early childhood education and building positive partnership with children, families and FDC educators - Our FDC Service has developed *a Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing* to demonstrate a strong culture of child safety within the Service - Employees, staff, FDC educators and management adhere to our Child Safe policies including *Child Safe Environment Policy*, *Child Protection Policy,* Reportable Conduct Policy and Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy at all times and take all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse and harm - Employees, staff, FDC educators and management understand that *child safety is everyone's responsibility* - Effective, open, and respectful reciprocal communication and feedback between the FDC Service, educators, children, families, and management is conveyed - It is important to treat colleagues, children, and families with respect. Bullying or insulting behaviour, including verbal and non-verbal aggression, abusive, threatening, or derogatory language or intimidation towards other educators, educator assistants, staff, management, children, visitors, or families is unacceptable and will not be tolerated - Educators, staff and management are committed to valuing and promoting the safety, health, and wellbeing of educator assistants, volunteers, children, and families - FDC educators, staff and management promote the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander children to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights - FDC educators, staff and management promote the safety, participation and empowerment of children with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds to support children to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights - FDC educators, staff and management promote the safety, participation and empowerment of children with a disability - FDC educators, staff and management are committed to an equal opportunity workplace and culture which values the knowledge, experience, and professionalism of all educators and managers, and the diverse heritage of our families and children of the FDC Service. - FDC educators, staff and management respect the privacy of children and their families by keeping all information about child protection concerns confidential and only share information to promote child wellbeing or safety and /or manage risk of family violence with other Information Sharing Entities (IES) as per state/territory legislation. - Our FDC Service will conduct a comprehensive probation and induction orientation program for all new employees, FDC educators, volunteers and students to include awareness of their roles and responsibilities in relation to Child Safe practices and Child Protection reporting obligations - Policies and procedures will be developed to ensure employees, staff, management, engaged educators, students, visitors and families are aware of the standards of behaviour that is expected within the FDC Service - Employees, staff, management and engaged educators are informed that inappropriate behaviour, including bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination and harassment will not be tolerated - It is important FDC educators, staff and management listen and respond to the views and concerns of children particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused or they are worried about their safety or the safety of another. **EXPECTATIONS OF FAMILY DAY CARE EDUCATORS/ EDUCATOR ASSISTANTS** FDC EDUCATORS WILL: - adhere to the *Code of Conduct Policy* - ensure their work is carried out proficiently, harmoniously, and effectively. They will act in a professional and respectful manner at all times whilst at work, giving their full attention to their responsibilities and adhering to all Service policies, procedures, Child Safe Standards, Education and Care Services National Law and National Regulations, and the National Quality Standard - act honestly and exercise attentiveness in all service operations. - carry out all lawful directions, retaining the right to question any direction which they consider to be unethical. If uncertain they can seek advice from the coordinator or approved provider - uphold the rights of children and always prioritise their needs - treat all children and young people with respect - promote the wellbeing and safety of children and take all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse - provide adequate supervision of children at all times - understand their legislative responsibility as mandatory reporters to report any allegation of child abuse, neglect or possible risk of harm to management or Child Protection authority - understand their legislative responsibility to report any inappropriate action of any other employee that involves children or young people to management as part of the *Reportable Conduct Scheme* - participate in all mandatory training, including any updates of Child Protection Law and reporting processes every 12-24 months - report any instances of suspected corrupt conduct, mismanagement of government funds or other serious allegation to the appropriate agency () - follow and comply with the *Dealing with Complaints Policy* when matters are raised regarding child safety and wellbeing - have a solid understanding of the FDC Service's policies and procedures, Child Safe Standards and the ECA Code of Ethics. If uncertain about the content of any policy or procedure with which they must comply, FDC educators should seek clarification from the Coordinator or Approved Provider - be courteous and responsive when dealing with other educators, staff, management, students, visitors, children, and families - work collaboratively with other FDC educators, management, coordinators, families and members of the community with courtesy, respect and recognise and value diversity - be mindful of their duty of care towards themselves and others - be positive role models for children at all times - ensure compliance with a zero tolerance of racism within the FDC Service - report any incidents or bullying, discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment they have experienced or witnessed - adhere to the *Tobacco, Drugs and Alcohol-Free Policy* - respect the confidential nature of information gained about each child enrolled in our Service - engage in critical reflection to inform individual and collective decision making and ensure continual improvement, including a review of Child Safe policies and procedures. EDUCATORS AND EDUCATOR ASSISTANTS WILL NOT: - use abusive, derogatory or offensive language - engage in conduct that is detrimental to the professional standing of our FDC Service, is improper or unethical, is an abuse of power, or harasses, discriminates against, victimises, humiliates, intimidates, or threatens other educators, staff members, volunteers, or visitors at the Service, either directly or indirectly via information technology such as email, text or social media. Additionally, they will not support those who do this - condone or participate in illegal, unsafe or abusive behaviour towards children, including physical, sexual or psychological abuse, ill-treatment, neglect or grooming - exaggerate or trivialise child abuse issues - fail to report information to the approved provider if they know a child has been abused - engage in unwarranted and inappropriate touching involving a child - persistently criticise and/or denigrate a child - verbally assault a child or create a climate of fear - encourage a child to communicate in a private setting - share details of sexual experiences with a child - use sexual language or gestures in the presence of children - discriminate against any child, because of culture, race, ethnicity or disability - put children at risk of abuse- refusing food/play, making threats, exposing children to inappropriate language or material (movies, internet, photos) - show preferential behaviour towards any child - accept an offer of money, regardless of the amount - seek or accept a bribe - acquire personal profit or advantage because of their position (e.g., through the use of FDC Service information) - approach other employees, managers or visitors directly on individual matters that are irrelevant to them - engage in any action in breach of our *Privacy and Confidentiality Policy*, including but not limited to disclosure of confidential Service or customer information, or the improper or illegal use of that confidential information. Authorised persons will only access confidential information for the purpose intended. - engage in or support any action in breach of FDC Service policies and/or procedures. EXPECTATIONS OF FAMILY DAY CARE COORDINATORS, NOMINATED SUPERVISOR AND THE APPROVED PROVIDER In addition to the above responsibilities, the FDC coordinator and approved provider are expected to: - promote a collaborative and interconnected Service by developing positive working environments where educators can contribute to the ongoing continuous improvement of the overall FDC Service - promote leadership by working with educators and providing opportunities for professional development and growth - provide flexible opportunities to ensure educators and educator assistants can participate in meetings and professional development - provide ongoing support and feedback to educators and educator assistants - keep educators informed about essential information and changes and make documents readily accessible to them - ensure copies of the ECA Code of Ethics and Child Safe Standards are available to educators and families - model professional behaviour at all times - implement supportive and effective communication systems, consulting educators in appropriate decision making - take appropriate action if a breach of the code of conduct occurs - share skills and knowledge with educators - give encouragement and constructive feedback to educators, respecting the value of different professional approaches - follow recruitment policies and procedures to ensure all potential candidates undergo appropriate background checks, including Working with Children Checks - model and provide guidance to educators and staff to ensure compliance with a zero tolerance of racism within the FDC Service. REPORTING A **BREACH** IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT Our FDC Service aims to foster a culture of transparency and accountability while supporting employees and engaged FDC educators to report any reasonable suspicion of reportable matters of improper, illegal or misconduct within the service to management including, but not limited to: - breaches of the Service code of conduct or service policies - breaches of Education and Care Services National Law or Regulations - breaches of legislation or law - criminal activity - corruption - conduct that poses a danger or harm to any person/s - harassment or discrimination - improper or misleading financial practices Our FDC Service will implement protective practices to ensure employees identity is not compromised or disclosed, where applicable, following a report of a reportable matter including storage of documents in a secure and confidential manner and ensuring access to confidential documents is restricted to authorised personnel only. Once a report has been made the matter may be investigated through a formal investigation. - all FDC educators and educator assistants are required by law to undergo a Working with Children Check, which is verified by the approved provider to ensure it is valid and current - as mandatory reporters, all educators, students and volunteers and educator assistants must report possible risk of harm to children or young persons to the approved provider and/or Child Protection authority - educators will report any concerns they may have about inappropriate actions of any colleague that involves children or young people to the approved provider as per the Reportable Conduct Scheme - the approved provider/management will report any allegations or child related misconduct to Child Protection. ADHERING TO SERVICE CONFIDENTIALITY - Unless authorised to do so by legislation, educators and educator assistants must not disclose or use any confidential information without appropriate approval. - Lawful sharing of information with other parties must be to promote the wellbeing or safety of children and adhere to guidelines under Child and Family Information Sharing Schemes - FDC educators will respect individual's rights to privacy - All FDC educators and educator assistants are to ensure that confidential information is not accessed by unauthorised people. - FDC educators and educator assistants will adhere to the Service's *Privacy and Confidentiality Policy*. RECORD KEEPING - FDC educators will maintain full, accurate, and honest records as required by the Education and Care Services National Regulations - The approved provider of the FDC Service has a responsibility to ensure that educators comply with their record keeping obligation - Employees and FDC educators must not destroy records without permission from management - Records must be retained and stored securely as per our *Policy.* DUTY OF CARE - The approved provider, coordinator and educators have a responsibility to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others at the workplace to enable compliance with the work health and safety legislation outlined in the *Work Health and Safety Policy.* - Duty of Care relates to both physical and psychological wellbeing of individuals - FDC educators and educator assistants must provide adequate supervision of children at all times to ensure the safety and welfare of children and young people in their care. This includes taking all reasonable action to protect children and young people from risk of harm that can be reasonably predicted. **\ ** APPROPRIATE USE OF COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES SOCIAL MEDIA - As a Child Safe Organisation, our FDC Service has the responsibility to ensure children and educators are protected from harm when they engage in with digital technology including social media - FDC educators and other staff members who have a personal Facebook account are not permitted to post any negative comments relating to the Service, children, colleagues, or families. If they choose to 'like' the Service's page they have a responsibility to ensure that their profile picture is an appropriate representation of an early childhood educator. If it is not, we request that they do not 'like' the page. - FDC educators are to use their own personal discretion when adding a family of the Service as a 'friend' on Facebook. The FDC Service does not recommend educators or other staff members to add families of the Service as they will be seen still as a representative of the Service and held to the Service's Code of Conduct on all posts on their private 'wall' if families have access. - Families are asked in to respect that FDC educators may have a personal policy on adding families due to their professional philosophy and that the FDC Service does not recommend educators to have families as friends on their private account. - Educators are not permitted to request the 'friendship' of families from the FDC Service - Educators may be permitted to establish a separate social media account for their business upon approval by the FDC Service Approved Provider - FDC educators must ensure families have provided written permission for the use of their children's photos in any marketing or social media prior to using them. PERSONAL PHONE CALLS/MOBILE PHONES/SMART WATCHES FDC educators have a duty of care to ensure children are protected from potential risk of harm. It is imperative that all FDC educators and educator assistants provide children with their full attention, ensuring supervision is maintained and remains on the children. As FDC educators primarily work on their own, there are times during the day that they may need to make or receive phone calls. FDC educators must always consider children's safety and ensure adequate supervision is provided whilst engaged in a phone conversation. FDC educators should consider: - the location of a telephone where educators can easily access them without leaving children unsupervised - have emergency phone numbers displayed near the phone at all times - ensuring children do not have access to personal mobile phone USE OF ALCOLHOL, DRUGS, AND TOBACCO - FDC educators must ensure that children being educated and cared for by the educator or educator assistant as part of a FDC Service are provided with an environment that is free from the use of tobacco, illicit drugs and alcohol. - Smoking or vaping is NOT permitted in or on surrounding buffer areas of the FDC residence or venue when education and care is being provided to children - When care is taking place, smoking or vaping is not permitted in the presence of children. This applies to family members and all visitors to the home, parents and visitors. FDC educators should ensure that children remain in a smoke-free environment when in vehicles and on outings and excursions. - FDC educators who smoke need to ensure that their hands, clothing and any items that children may come into contact with are free of smoke residue prior to commencing care with children. - If tobacco is smoked in the FDC residence when the service is not operating, consideration should be given to issues such as ventilation, hygiene and safe storage of items including ashtrays and cigarette lighters. Smoking material, including cigarette butts should not be evident when children are in care. - FDC educators who smoke or vape must document on their risk management plan how they ensure a smoke free environment and ensure children do not come into contact with smoke residue. - Our FDC Service is bound by the Education and Care National Regulations. Alcohol, drugs, or other substance abuse by educators and/or educator assistants can have serious adverse effects on their own health and the safety of others. As such, Coordinators, staff, educators and/or educator assistants must not, while providing education and care for children as part of a family day care service: - consume alcohol nor be under the influence of alcohol - use or possess illegal drugs - drive a vehicle, having consumed alcohol or suffering from the effects of illegal substances - persons residing the home or the educator's residence, must abide by this regulation- i.e., not consume alcohol nor be under the influence of alcohol or use or possess illegal drugs - If a co-worker suspects a colleague or other FDC educator to be affected by drugs or alcohol, they must inform the nominated supervisor immediately. No employee or educator will be allowed to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol. (See: *Tobacco, Drugs and Alcohol-Free Policy*) - any FDC educator, staff or educator assistant undergoing prescribed medical treatment with a controlled substance that may affect the safe performance of their duties are required to report this to the approved provider and/or coordinator. Consideration will be given as to whether the particular medication affects the person's capacity to provide education and care to children - All issues pertaining to these matters shall be kept strictly confidential. A breach of this policy may initiate appropriate action including the termination of employment. DRESS CODE - Enclosed shoes must be worn at all times (strictly no high heels, thongs, or wedges). - Clothes must be suitable for free movement, active play, and messy play. - No offensive logos or political statements are to be displayed on clothing. PERSONAL HYGIENE Family Day Care educators and staff are to adhere to the following standards: - long hair is to be clean and neatly tied back: Ensure hair does not hang in your eyes. - makeup is to be light and natural - fingernails are to be clean and well groomed - nail polish (if worn) cannot be chipped - FDC educators will follow appropriate oral hygiene practices - an appropriate deodorant/antiperspirant will be worn - strong perfumes will not be worn as they may cause allergic reactions in children. BREACH OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT All employees and engaged educators of the FDC Service are made fully aware that the following breaches of the Code of Conduct and role responsibilities may result in disciplinary action which may lead to termination of employment: - reporting to work under the influence of alcohol or drugs - refusal to complete required additional training - possessing or selling drugs at the FDC residence or approved venue - immoral, immature, or indecent conduct while educating and caring for children at the FDC residence - refusing to work as reasonably directed - not ensuring firearms and ammunition (if relevant) are stored separately and locked away - bringing disrepute to the FDC Service - causing disruption or discontent in the relationship between a family and the FDC Service - disclosure of confidential information - falsifying documentation - taking, abusing, defacing, or destroying property owned by the FDC service - falsification of reports, documents, or wages information - failure to report for work without notice - walking off the job - failure to follow policies and procedures - vulgarity or disrespectful conduct to families, management or colleagues - making or publishing false, vicious, or malicious statements about any employee of the FDC Service, or the FDC Service itself unable to maintain or hold a current Working with Children Check DISCIPLINARY ACTION All employees and engaged educators of the FDC Service are made fully aware that continued abuse of the following may result in disciplinary action. These include, but are not limited to the following: - unauthorised absence - having personal visitors whilst educating and caring for children - using a personal mobile phone or device to take photographs of the children - consistent or ongoing poor work standard - carelessness in the performance of duties - consistent or ongoing low level of enthusiasm - lack of personal cleanliness and hygiene - failure to report health, fire, or safety hazards