Code of Conduct
The Common People (TCP) has developed this Code of Conduct to safeguard and protect children, young people, other vulnerable beneficiaries, all TCP representatives and the organization, by providing clear behavioural guidelines and expectations when interacting with children under the age of 18. The following principles must be followed by all TCP representatives in the course of carrying out their work, services and/or during their relationship with TCP. We always aim to build a safe and empowering environment for children.
Every representative of TCP is expected to:
• Act in accordance with TCP’s child safeguarding and protection policies and procedures at all times.
• Agree to all screening checks and/or pre-employment checks according to the legislation of the relevant country and state, and will take responsibility for maintaining renewal checks if applicable (eg: Working With Children’s Check in Australia).
• Disclose to TCP if I have been charged, arrested, convicted of an offence, had an offence proved, had findings of guilt with no conviction.
• Treat all children with respect and dignity, behave courteously and ethically towards children and their families and towards other staff.
• Provide a welcoming environment, listen and respond to the views and concerns of children, particularly if they communicate (verbally or non-verbally) that they do not feel safe or well.
• Promote the human rights, safety and wellbeing of all children in TCP whilst acting professionally.
• Consider and respect the diverse backgrounds, cultures, religious beliefs and needs of children.
• Create an environment that promotes and enables children’s participation, culturally safe and inclusive for all children and their families.
• Contribute, where appropriate, to TCP’s policies, discussions, learning and training about child safety and wellbeing.
• Immediately report and respond to any concerns, suspicions, incidents or allegations of actual or potential exploitation or abuse to a child or young person and any policy non-compliance or breaches of this code of conduct in accordance with applicable procedures, compliance, standards and law
• Comply with TCP protocols on communicating with children.
• refrain from any unlawful activity with or in relation to a child.
• refrain from any activity that is likely to physically, sexually or emotionally harm a child, or place them at risk of exploitation or abuse.
• refrain from unlawfully discriminate against any child or their family members.
• avoid being alone with a child unnecessarily, unless extenuating unavoidable circumstances arise.
• refrain from arranging a personal contact, including online contact, with children I am working with for a purpose unrelated to TCP activities.
• refrain from disclosing personal or sensitive information about a child, including images of a child, unless the child and their parent or legal guardian consent or unless I am required to do so by TCP policy and procedure.
• refrain from using inappropriate language in the presence of children, or show or provide children with access to inappropriate images or material.
• refrain from working with children while under the influence of alcohol or prohibited drugs.
A breach of this Code of Conduct: Child Safeguarding or TCP Child Safeguarding and Protection Policy constitutes grounds for disciplinary action, and may lead to dismissal from employment, service or TCP as a whole, and may result in legal proceedings. A breach of any of the ‘Core Principles’ in the Code of Conduct is regarded as gross misconduct and will result in dismissal from TCP.
