Online Training

Code of ethics

A professional code of ethics is a set of guidelines that outlines the expected behaviour of workers. It exists to ensure that clients’ rights are protected and to ensure that there is consistency and credibility in professional practice.

Ethical guidelines allow us as workers to operate by a professional set of guidelines rather than what we personally think is right or wrong.

In the Community Services Industry, organisations have codes of conduct which steer ethical practice. The code of conduct relevant to your service or profession provides specific guidelines for individual volunteer and staff behaviour in the service. Along with professional codes of ethics, these tools assist workers in having a framework for guiding their behaviour within their profession, to do what is best for clients. It outlines what a worker’s responsibilities are to clients and their families, their colleagues, the community and to the profession.

An acceptance of the code of ethics by workers ensures that the safety, well-being and rights of clients are being actively considered in the workplace at all times.

The code of ethics provides workers with a framework for guiding their behaviour within their profession, to do what is best for clients. It sets out the obligations and responsibilities of those working with clients and their families. It also states the responsibilities workers have to their colleagues, the community and to their profession.

Why work within the code?

An acceptance of the code of ethics by workers ensures that the safety, well-being and rights of clients are being actively and continually considered within the workplace.

A code of ethics is only useful if it is part of everyday work practice. The code is voluntary, but most services require workers to adhere to a professional code or the code of the service, for the benefit of both the client and the service.