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01 Dec 2008, Time:21:59
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Code of Professional Ethics
Professional Intervention
Youth workers have a personal responsibility concerning themselves and the nature of their intervention.
They should at all times:
- organise their work to enable planning and reflection on all aspects of their intervention
- be aware of the likely dilemmas, limitations and power of their role in different contexts
- be clear about the purpose of their intervention and the latest relevant ideas concerning good practice
- be aware of the policies, procedures, and guidance available to support their work with young people in a safe, legal and educational environment
- keep updated on curricular approaches and activities, so as to be able to offer a wide range of educational experiences to the young people they work with
There are particular responsibilities to:
- develop and utilise skills, knowledge and experience as fully as possible
- undertake professional development
- to remain up-to-date on professional issues and relevant curricular and legal issues
- regularly reflect upon attitudes and methods of intervention in order to renew motivation and manage dilemmas at work
- foster good interpersonal relationships with all those involved with the service
- behave and act reliably and consistently
- acknowledge personal limitations in knowledge and competence and decline duties or responsibilities if unable to perform them in a safe and skilled manner
- seek advice as necessary
- evaluate outcomes and dilemmas of youth work delivery and reflect on them in an organised manner with colleagues
- be aware of, and take responsibility for, professional, personal, physical and mental competencies required to meet service users' needs
- present oneself in a manner that is safe and suitable for the tasks being undertaken and which presents a professional image in the relevant work environment
- ensure the safety of service users at all times; use appropriate equipment, clothing, insurance and procedures, etc.
- avoid the personalisation of issues with young people and colleagues at work
- act in a way that encourages equal opportunities, opposes discriminatory action or policy and harassing, intimidating or bullying behaviour
- maintain high personal standards of professional conduct, avoid acts which may diminish the trust and confidence of the public, bring the profession or Wiltshire County Council into disrepute
- manage conflict and boundaries objectively and in the interests of the delivery of the youth work curriculum
- ensure that they are fit to make responsible judgements and behave professionally; staff must not work under the influence of any substances that impairs the quality of judgements and professional conduct
- ensure that professional practice is not influenced by personal gain or commercial considerations
Those working with young people have a responsibility to maintain and enhance the physical, emotional and educational well-being of the young people they work with, and to provide them with the honest descriptions of roles, responsibilities and opportunities.
It is therefore important to have contemporary knowledge of:
- Health and Safety legislation and good practice
- the law as it affects young people and citizen’s rights
- anti-discriminatory practice and legislation
- employment law, practice and policies
- the employers’ expectations
- good practice in advice and counselling
- effective communication skills
- the needs and aspirations of young people
- support opportunities available to young people
Responsibility for Young People
All staff working with young people need to ensure clear boundaries at all times between professional and personal relationships
Those working with young people have a responsibility to:
- promote the policies and practices that enhance the self-determination, self-esteem, collective responsibility and active citizenship of young people
- promote the rights of young people
- advise, befriend and counsel young people, to extend and develop the experiences, interests, awareness and responsibility of the young people themselves
- assist young people in the transition to adulthood by respecting and understanding their needs, and the opportunities available to them
- respect confidences shared by young people and their privacy while upholding those professionally established protection and employment guidelines developed to support and protect young people and ensuring that the welfare and personal safety of the young person are at all times primary
- involve young people in the development of the service
- protect young people from abuse and neglect
- report abuse and neglect so that action can be taken
- avoid commissioning or assisting an infringement of the law
- ensure that the welfare and personal safety of young people are paramount by creating and ensuring the maintenance of safe and healthy settings that foster young people’s physical, intellectual, social, emotional, moral and spiritual development
Youth workers will need to assure parents, carers, guardians and other agencies that their planned intervention and processes are transparent and comprehensible, and that all staff working with young people are appropriately trained and supported
In particular they must:
- work to ensure that young people themselves understand the boundaries between professional and personal relationships and that the primary focus is the needs of young people
- avoid emotional dependency relationships with young people or any sexual intimacy with young people (inside and outside of work)
- challenge the use of inappropriate words and language
- respect the physical and emotional privacy of young people
- develop professional relationships with young people
- not drink alcohol or smoke whilst working with young people when ‘on duty’ or ‘off duty’ in the company of young people in a leadership capacity, e.g. on a residential experience.
Responsibility to Colleagues
Those who work with young people have responsibilities to their colleagues and to paid staff and volunteers in other agencies who seek to collaborate with the service in order to benefit young people
There are therefore professional responsibilities to:
- foster professional relationships of trust and co operation with the continual aim of excellence in practice
- treat colleagues with respect, courtesy, fairness, good faith and recognise their achievements
- ensure that those who work with young people are appropriately managed and supported with clear expectations and boundaries and follow supervision and appraisal processes
- act as a member of a team, sharing information, concerns and opportunities and ensuring effective communications, prompt responses and mutual support
- support, train, supervise and manage colleagues according to professionally agreed, properly negotiated and understood policies and procedures
- observe confidentiality in respect of discussions with colleagues about their professional problems and difficulties
- challenge bad practice, and if necessary use the recognised professional channels, to draw this to the attention of colleagues within the organisation in order to improve performance
- participate in the design and implementation of agreed monitoring mechanisms
- seek to resolve differences and difficulties openly, swiftly and within the recognised professional channels of communication
- uphold Health and Safety legislation ensuring that all potential risks and dangers are appropriately notified
- promote equality of access to in-service training opportunities.
Staff Responsibility to Employers
There are responsibilities to:
- uphold high Health and Safety standards
- maintain agreed employment rules and contractual obligations
- work according to the agreements of the JNC, Soulbury Committees and other agreed Conditions of Service
- participate in the professional associations recognised by the employer for the purpose of bargaining and agreeing employment policies and practices
- record transactions honestly on behalf of the employer, upholding the interests of the Wiltshire County Council Youth Development Service
- ensure the employer rather than the employee is signatory to key legal documents - insurances, leases, hiring agreements, etc.
- remain accountable to the employer for all work undertaken on their behalf and to report regularly to the employer on this work
Contact Details
By Post
Development Service for Young People
Operational Office
Estcourt Crescent
Devizes
SN10 1LR
By Email
youthdevelopmentservice@wiltshire.gov.uk
By Telephone
01380 735780
