Code of Conduct

1. Purpose

Safe Hands is committed to providing high-quality, safe, and person-centred NDIS supports. This Code of Conduct reflects our values and sets clear expectations for every person who works with us - employees, contractors, subcontractors, students, and volunteers.

This Code is grounded in the NDIS Code of Conduct 2018, which applies to all NDIS providers and their workers. Compliance with this Code is a condition of employment or engagement with Safe Hands. Breaches may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

2. The Seven NDIS Code of Conduct Obligations

All Safe Hands workers are legally required to comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct 2018. The seven obligations are:

3. Professional Standards & Conduct

3.1 Treating Participants with Respect

• Address participants by their preferred name and use their preferred communication method
• Never speak about a participant in front of others as if they are not there
• Do not make decisions for participants - support them to make their own decisions
• Respect participants' cultural, religious, and personal values, even if they differ from your own
• Knock and seek permission before entering a participant's home or personal space
• Respect participants' right to privacy during personal care - explain what you are doing before you do it

3.2 Professional Boundaries

• Maintain a professional relationship with participants at all times - do not develop personal or romantic relationships with participants
• Do not accept gifts of significant value from participants or their families (small gifts under $20 may be accepted with manager notification)
• Do not borrow money from, or lend money to, participants
• Do not purchase or sell goods or services to participants outside of your role
• Do not invite participants to your home or visit their home outside of scheduled supports
• Do not share your personal contact details (personal phone, personal email, personal social media) with participants or their families

3.3 Confidentiality

• Keep all participant information strictly confidential - do not discuss participants with family members, friends, or colleagues who do not need to know
• Do not post about participants on social media, including anonymised descriptions that could identify them
• Do not take photographs or recordings of participants without written consent from the participant and manager approval
• Confidentiality obligations continue after your employment or engagement ends
• Confidentiality does not override mandatory reporting obligations - report concerns to the appropriate authority regardless

3.4 Honesty and Transparency

• Be honest with participants, families, and Safe Hands management at all times
• Accurately record time, services, and events in all documentation and timesheets
• Do not claim for time not worked or supports not delivered - this constitutes fraud and will result in immediate termination and referral to police
• Disclose any conflict of interest (actual or perceived) to your manager without delay
• Do not make commitments on behalf of Safe Hands that you are not authorised to make

4. Workplace Behaviour

4.1 Respect in the Workplace

• Treat all colleagues, participants, families, and members of the public with dignity and respect
• Do not engage in discrimination, harassment, bullying, or intimidation - this includes online and out-of-hours conduct that affects colleagues or participants
• Report any workplace bullying, harassment, or discrimination to your manager or the Director immediately
• Co-operate honestly and fully with any workplace investigation

4.2 Fitness for Duty

Workers must be fit for duty at the start of and throughout every shift:

• Do not attend work or deliver supports while under the influence of alcohol or any drug (prescription or otherwise) that may impair your performance
• If you are taking prescribed medication that may affect your ability to perform your role safely, inform your manager before commencing a shift
• If you feel unwell during a shift in a way that could affect participant safety, notify your manager immediately

4.3 Dress and Presentation

• Present in a neat, clean, and professional manner appropriate to the work environment
• Wear any required personal protective equipment (PPE) for your role
• Carry your Safe Hands identification when delivering supports

4.4 Mobile Phones and Technology

• Limit personal phone use during support delivery to urgent matters - participants must receive your full attention
• Do not use Safe Hands systems, equipment, or accounts for personal use
• Only use Safe Hands-approved apps and platforms for communicating with participants or recording supports

5. Social Media Policy

Safe Hands recognises that workers use social media in their personal lives. The following rules apply at all times:

• Never identify participants on any social media platform - not by name, photograph, or any detail that could identify them
• Do not make negative, disparaging, or defamatory comments about Safe Hands, its participants, families, or colleagues on social media
• Do not connect with participants on personal social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.)
• Do not post photographs or videos taken in a participant's home or during supports without explicit written consent
• If you are unsure whether something is appropriate to post, do not post it - ask your manager first
• Safe Hands may monitor publicly visible social media activity where it relates to your employment or participant safety

6. Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest arises when a worker's personal interests could improperly influence - or appear to influence - their professional decisions. Workers must:

• Disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest to the Director / CEO in writing as soon as it arises
• Not participate in decisions where a conflict exists until it has been assessed and managed by the Director
• Common conflicts include: a financial interest in a service provider referred to a participant; a personal relationship with a participant or their family; secondary employment that could affect the quality of your role at Safe Hands

Refer to the Conflicts of Interest Policy (POL-COI-001) for full details.

7. Raising Concerns & Reporting

Every worker has a responsibility and a right to raise concerns about participant safety, misconduct, or quality of services. Safe Hands is committed to protecting workers who raise concerns in good faith.

• Report any incident, near-miss, or concern about participant safety to your manager immediately - refer to the Incident Management Policy (POL-INC-001)
• If you suspect a colleague has abused, exploited, or neglected a participant, report it to the Director / CEO immediately - do not investigate yourself
• If you do not feel safe reporting internally, you may report directly to the NDIS Commission: 1800 035 544
• You will not face reprisal for raising concerns in good faith, even if the concern is later found to be unsubstantiated

8. Conduct Outside of Work

Workers represent Safe Hands beyond the workplace. Conduct outside of work hours can still affect your employment if it:

• Results in criminal charges related to the safety or wellbeing of vulnerable people
• Involves disclosing confidential participant information
• Brings Safe Hands into disrepute
• Involves harassment of a colleague or participant

Workers must notify Safe Hands immediately if they are charged with - or convicted of - any criminal offence. This applies in particular to offences relating to children, violence, dishonesty, or drug-related matters.

9. Consequences of Breach

Breaches of this Code of Conduct will be investigated and responded to proportionately. Consequences may include:

Examples of gross misconduct that may result in immediate dismissal and referral to authorities include: physical, sexual, or psychological abuse of a participant; fraud or theft; misuse of a participant's NDIS funds; deliberate concealment of a reportable incident; attending work intoxicated while responsible for a participant's safety.

10. Worker Acknowledgement

All workers must sign the acknowledgement below before commencing employment or engagement with Safe Hands, and again upon any significant revision of this Code.

11. Related Documents

• Human Rights & Participant Rights Policy (POL-RTS-001)
• Child Safety Policy (POL-CSP-001)
• Privacy Policy (POL-PRV-001)
• Incident Management & Reporting Policy (POL-INC-001)
• Feedback & Complaints Policy (POL-CMP-001)
• Conflicts of Interest Policy (POL-COI-001)
• Worker Screening & Training Policy (POL-WST-001)
• NDIS Code of Conduct 2018 (Commonwealth)