Code of Conduct for Directors, Employees, Apprentices, Interns and Volunteers

ACCESS

  • We recognize that we all have different needs, and we will do our best to facilitate colleagues, artists and participants to participate equally. We understand that the best way to find out about someone’s access requirements is to ask them directly (or if they cannot communicate, then to ask their support worker/carer). We also understand that it is our responsibility to make others aware of our own access requirements.
  • We will tell our manager or the activity leader about anything that would make our work more accessible to us and to other people, as well as raising any concerns or complaints about access with them.
  • [If employed or self-employed] we will ask Together! 2012 CIC for support to obtain services via JobCentre Plus Access to Work scheme if we need a support worker, specialist equipment or help with traveling to work.

STARTING WORK

  • We will be available to Zoom with Team members 15 minutes before a Zoom is due to open to the public (or earlier if requested). If we are going to be more than 5 minutes late, then we will text the activity leader to inform them.
  • We will always be sober when we start work, and we will not use non-prescribed drugs or alcohol during working hours.
  • We will follow the Together! 2012 CIC dress code of ‘smart casual’ or sportswear unless this is inappropriate for the activity being undertaken. For the Kitchen Carnival and in the school summer holidays, our dress code changes to holiday wear or sportswear.
  • We will turn our phones onto silent when we start work, and we will not use our phones to make personal calls/texts/tweet/access the internet etc during an activity. If we need to take or make an important personal call, then we will inform the activity leader (or nominate a temporary leader) before muting our microphone and switching our camera off to do this.
  • We will do our best to focus on our work throughout our agreed working hours, and we will not use our phones to make personal calls/texts/tweet/access the internet etc.
  • We will do our best to stick to our agreed working hours. We understand that it is not appropriate to work outside Together! 2012 CIC’s core hours of 10am-6pm Monday-Friday unless this is for a programmed event or activity.
  • We will take a 10-minute break in the middle of the morning and afternoon, and a 30-60 minutes break for lunch. We understand that taking regular breaks is important for our health and efficiency.

COLLEAGUES

  • We recognize that everyone’s work is important and deserves respect.
  • We will do everything we can to support the person leading the activity.
  • We will respect each other’s privacy and confidentiality, and will not repeat personal information that is shared during work to other people.

FINANCIAL

  • We understand that we will receive payment for our work only if this has been agreed in advance within a written contract with Together! 2012 CIC.
  • We understand that only Directors can authorize expenditure on behalf of Together! 2012 CIC, and that this must be in line with allocated budget headings and funding agreements.
  • We understand that expenses will only be paid if agreed in advance, and that receipts must be produced in order to receive a refund.
  • We understand that all expenditure must be logged in the appropriate place, and financial reports kept up to date.
  • We understand that all equipment provided for our use by Together! 2012 CIC remains the property of Together! 2012 CIC unless stated otherwise, and should not be used for personal use without prior permission.

POLICIES & VALUES

  • We will carry out our work with due regard for Together! 2012 CIC’s core values of equality and inclusion, and in accordance with Together! 2012 CIC’s Aims and Objectives (these can be found on our website; printed copies and other alternative formats are available on request).
  • We understand that Together! 2012 CIC is a Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) and uses the Social Model of Disability. We recognise that being disabled is an external process involving environmental, attitudinal and social barriers, rather than being intrinsic to the individual.
  • We understand that we are all equally valuable as human beings, and will do everything we can within our work to remove society’s disabling barriers to ensure that everyone can participate on an equal basis.We will carry out our work with due regard to Together! 2012 CIC’s policies (these can be found on our website; printed copies and other alternative formats are available on request).
  • We will ask our manager for training on any aspect of Together! 2012 CIC’s policies that we do not understand, and will take part in training that is provided more generally.
  • We understand that Together! 2012 CIC has no political or religious allegiance and that no activity can be undertaken on behalf of Together! 2012 CIC that breaches this.  We understand that breaches could lead to Together! 2012 CIC losing funding and threaten the organisation’s future.

WORKING WITH PARTICIPANTS

  • We understand that the aim of participatory activities is to improve participants’ self-esteem, self-respect and social networks through participation in the arts as well as to enable creative skills development, and will deliver our work in a manner that facilitates this.
  • We will not leave participants alone on a Zoom or in a Zoom room with anyone who does not hold a DBS check.
  • We will not absent ourselves from an activity without notifying the activity leader directly and obtaining clearance to do this.
  • We will carry out our work with reference to the Ground Rules for participants (these can be found on our website; printed copies and other alternative formats are available on request). We will ensure that participants are made aware of these so far as is possible.
  • We will facilitate participants to take it in turns to speak or Sign, so that everyone has an equal chance to express themselves, and everyone can listen to what they have to say. We welcome everyone’s contribution.
  • We will ensure that participants listen to each other with respect for different viewpoints, beliefs, cultures and backgrounds. We will also ensure that the focus of discussions during arts activities are the activities themselves, and that religious and political beliefs are only discussed if directly relevant. We understand that breaches of this could lead to Together! 2012 CIC losing funding and threaten the organisation’s future.
  • We recognize that we are working with Vulnerable Adults and are in a position of power. We will ensure that we do not share our own beliefs and opinions inappropriately with participants, or do anything to influence colleagues and participants to share our beliefs and opinions. We understand that breaches of this could lead to Together! 2012 CIC losing funding and threaten the organisation’s future.
  • We understand that Together! 2012 CIC is an arts organization, and will not offer advice to participants on unrelated subjects. We understand that breaches of this could lead to Together! 2012 CIC losing funding and threaten the organisation’s future.

MONITORING AND REVIEW

This Policy is monitored on an ongoing basis and reviewed annually by the directors to ensure that it remains fit for purpose, and is updated as necessary.

Reviewed and updated 12/4/2024.