Code of Conduct

This document outlines the conduct Careers Collective expects from all of our consultants and anyone who is undertaking duties for the organisation, whether paid or unpaid. The Code of Conduct aims primarily to help us protect all clients, with a particular focus on children and young people, from abuse and ensure that all of our clients experience a consistently high standard of engagement with any Careers Collective Collaborator. It has been informed by the views of children and young people. Careers Collective is responsible for ensuring everyone taking part in our services has seen, understood and agreed to follow this Code of Conduct, and understands the consequences of inappropriate behaviour. 

The scope of this Code of Conduct includes all clients, whether adults, young people under the age of 18 and young people under the age of 25 who have additional needs. 

The role of staff and volunteers 

In your role at Careers Collective you are acting in a position of authority and have a duty of care towards the adults, children and young people we work with. You are likely to be seen as a role model and are expected to act appropriately. 

Responsibility 

You are responsible for: 

● Prioritising the welfare of clients 

● Providing a safe environment for clients 

● Ensuring equipment is used safely and for its intended purpose 

● Having good awareness of issues to do with safeguarding and child protection and taking action when appropriate

● Following our principles, policies and procedures including our policies and procedures for child protection/safeguarding and health and safety

● Staying within the law at all times 

● Modelling good behaviour for children and young people to follow ● Challenging all unacceptable behaviour and reporting any breaches of the Code of Conduct to Sally Everist using this email address: careerscollectiveconfidential@gmail.com 

● Reporting all concerns about abusive behaviour, following our safeguarding and 1 child protection procedures - this includes behaviour being displayed by an adult or child and directed at anybody of any age 

Rights 

You should: 

● Treat clients fairly and without prejudice or discrimination 

● Understand that clients are individuals with individual needs 

● Respect differences in gender, sexual orientation, culture, race, ethnicity, disability, and religious belief systems, and appreciate that all participants bring something valuable and different to the group/session 

● Challenge discrimination and prejudice 

● Encourage clients to speak out about attitudes or behaviour that makes them uncomfortable 

Relationships 

You should: 

● Promote relationships that are based on openness, honesty, trust and respect 

● Avoid favouritism 

● Be patient with others and exercise caution when you are discussing sensitive issues with clients 

● Ensure your contact with clients is appropriate and relevant to the work of the project you are involved in 

● Ensure that whenever possible, there is a responsible adult present during virtual activities with children and young people 

● If a situation arises where you working virtually one-to-one with a child or young person, ensure that you are within sight or hearing of other adults 

Respect 

You should: 

● Listen to and respect children at all times 

● Value and take children’s contributions seriously, actively involving them in planning activities wherever possible 

● Respect a young person’s right to personal privacy as far as possible. If you need to break confidentiality in order to follow child protection procedures, it is important to explain this to the child or young person at the earliest opportunity

Unacceptable behaviour 

When working with children and young people, you must not: 

● Allow concerns or allegations to go unreported 

● Take unnecessary risks 

● Smoke, consume alcohol or use illegal substances

● Develop inappropriate relationships with children and young people 2 

● Make inappropriate promises to children and young people 

● Engage in behaviour that is in any way abusive - including having any form of sexual contact with a child or young person 

● Let children and young people have your personal contact details (mobile number, email or postal address) or have contact with them via a 

personal social media account 

● Act in a way that can be perceived as threatening or intrusive 

● Patronise or belittle children and young people 

● Make sarcastic, insensitive, derogatory or sexually suggestive comments or gestures to or in front of children and young people 

Upholding this Code of Conduct 

You should always follow this Code of Conduct and never rely on your reputation or that of our organisation to protect you. If you have behaved inappropriately you will not be asked to work for Careers Collective again. Depending on the seriousness of the situation, we may also make a report to statutory agencies such as the police and/or the local authority child protection services. If you become aware of any breaches of this Code, you must report them to Sally Everist, Co-founder of Careers Collective. (details above) 

Name__________________________________________________________________ Signed__________________________________________Date___________________ 

Careers Collective Code of Conduct written by Tina Harrigan James, Feb 2021

Reviewed June 2026