TASK 5b: Code of Conduct

In task 5a I began to think about my work ethics. This proved quite difficult. It's not everyday one sits and questions their morals on a day to day basis. I turned a work place code of conduct, to compare what I would find there.

Jo Richardson Community School: Underpinning Values.

• A child's welfare is paramount. Each child has the right to be protected from harm.
• Each child is unique. Action taken by child welfare should be child centre, taking into account culture, ethnic background, religion, sexual orientation and special needs.
• Children, carers and parents should be made aware of their responsibilities.
• Each child has the right to be consulted about their actions and consideration given to their understanding and feelings.
• Individual family members must not be involved in decisions affecting them. 
• Open-mindedness and honesty must guide each stage of assessment.
• Personal information is usually confidential. It should only be shared with permission.
• Professionals should be aware of outside interventions on children.
• Explanations to children and parents should be plainly written and jargon-free.
• Sound professional practice is based upon positive inter-agency, evidence-based research and effective supervision and evaluation. 

I found these really interesting. Some I live by everyday and some I break every second. What I notice in comparison to my first look at my ethics. Is that I wrote them down as a list of rules, dos and don'ts. I know realise that ethics is a much more complex matter than I have been thinking. The notion of Ethics is more a feeling over what I do at work. An area of which has room for approach and exploration. It's not a question or do and don't, it's more a suggestion of moral theme within my work.