Code of conduct

Biliki works with young people, partners, schools, professionals, volunteers and organisations.

Everyone representing Biliki is expected to behave in a way that protects participants, supports colleagues and partners, and reflects Biliki's values.

This Code of Conduct sets out the standards expected of people working for, with or on behalf of Biliki.

It should be read alongside Biliki's Safeguarding Policy and other relevant policies and procedures.

This Code applies to:

• employees;
• contractors;
• facilitators;
• mentors;
• volunteers;
• programme staff;
• members of the Advisory Board when representing Biliki;
• consultants and professional advisers;
• partner representatives when acting on behalf of Biliki; and
• anyone else representing Biliki or working with Biliki participants.

Where a partner organisation has its own professional or safeguarding standards, those standards may also apply.

Everyone working with Biliki must:

• act honestly and with integrity;
• treat people with dignity and respect;
• listen to others and take their views seriously;
• act fairly and without discrimination;
• use appropriate and respectful language;
• maintain appropriate professional boundaries;
• follow Biliki's policies and procedures;
• complete required training;
• raise concerns promptly;
• protect confidential and personal information;
• use Biliki's resources and equipment responsibly;
• act within the authority given to them; and
• take reasonable steps to protect the safety and wellbeing of participants and colleagues.

When working with children, young people or other participants, everyone must:

• put their welfare and safety first;
• maintain clear professional boundaries;
• communicate appropriately for their age and circumstances;
• treat participants with respect;
• avoid favouritism;
• avoid behaviour that could reasonably be interpreted as exploitative, intimidating or inappropriate;
• report safeguarding concerns promptly;
• follow the relevant programme safeguarding arrangements; and
• follow the instructions of the Programme DSL or other designated safeguarding contact.

People working with Biliki must not:

• develop inappropriate personal or sexual relationships with participants;
• seek inappropriate emotional dependence from participants;
• use their position to obtain personal, financial or other advantage;
• meet participants privately outside agreed Biliki activities without appropriate authorisation;
• invite participants to their home unless this is specifically authorised and risk assessed;
• provide inappropriate gifts, money or other benefits;
• make inappropriate promises;
• ask participants to keep secrets;
• use a participant to meet their own personal or professional needs; or
• engage in behaviour that could undermine trust or create a safeguarding risk.

Particular care must be taken where there is a significant difference in age, power, status or experience.

Biliki representatives must use communication channels appropriately.

Unless specifically authorised, people working with Biliki must not:

• use personal social media accounts to communicate privately with participants;
• share personal contact details with participants where an official communication route is available;
• communicate with participants outside agreed programme arrangements;
• send inappropriate, offensive, sexual or discriminatory content;
• request or exchange inappropriate images;
• delete or conceal communications that should properly be retained; or
• use private messaging to circumvent Biliki's safeguarding arrangements.

Where direct communication with a participant is necessary, it should use an approved channel and follow the relevant programme arrangements.

Biliki expects everyone to contribute to an inclusive environment.

You must not:

• bully, harass or intimidate others;
• use racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist or otherwise discriminatory language;
• make degrading or humiliating comments;
• make sexually suggestive comments or gestures;
• deliberately exclude or isolate others;
• use a person's personal characteristics to belittle them; or
• behave aggressively or threateningly.

Biliki expects people to challenge inappropriate behaviour appropriately and to report serious or repeated concerns.

Everyone working with Biliki must respect people's privacy.

You must:

• keep personal information secure;
• only access information you need for your role;
• only share information through appropriate channels;
• follow Biliki's Data Protection Policy;
• avoid discussing confidential participant or organisational information in public settings; and
• report suspected data breaches promptly.

Confidentiality must never be used as a reason to conceal a safeguarding concern.

Everyone working with Biliki has a responsibility to contribute to safeguarding.

You must:

• understand the safeguarding requirements relevant to your role;
• complete required safeguarding training;
• know who the Programme DSL is;
• report safeguarding concerns promptly;
• report allegations or suspicions of abuse;
• cooperate with appropriate safeguarding processes; and
• never attempt to investigate a safeguarding concern yourself unless this is part of your authorised role.

You must not:

• ignore a safeguarding concern;
• discourage someone from reporting a concern;
• promise absolute confidentiality about a safeguarding matter;
• investigate allegations informally;
• conceal information that may be relevant to someone's safety; or
• retaliate against someone for raising a genuine safeguarding concern.

Biliki's technology and digital services must be used responsibly.

People working with Biliki must:

• protect passwords and account access;
• use appropriate security measures;
• follow Biliki's data protection requirements;
• use approved systems where required;
• take care when communicating with participants online; and
• follow Biliki's Online Safety and Digital Communications Policy.

Personal devices must not be used to create, store or share participant information or images unless this has been expressly authorised and appropriate safeguards are in place.

People working with Biliki must follow Biliki's Photography, Filming and Image Use Policy.

You must not photograph, film or record participants for personal use.

You must not share participant images or recordings through personal social media or messaging accounts unless expressly authorised under Biliki's relevant procedures.

Particular care must be taken when working with children and young people.

Everyone representing Biliki must act in Biliki's interests when carrying out their role.

You must disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest that could affect your judgement.

You must not:

• use your Biliki role for improper personal gain;
• use confidential information for personal benefit;
• accept inappropriate gifts or benefits; or
• use your position to favour friends, relatives or associates without declaring the relevant interest.

People working with Biliki must act responsibly when handling money or organisational resources.

Unless specifically authorised, you must not:

• commit Biliki to a contract;
• enter into an agreement on Biliki's behalf;
• approve expenditure outside your delegated authority;
• make payments from Biliki funds;
• use Biliki funds for personal purposes; or
• represent that you have authority that you do not have.

Expenses must be claimed and approved in accordance with Biliki's financial procedures.

People representing Biliki must make clear when they are speaking personally and when they are speaking on behalf of Biliki.

You must not make public statements on behalf of Biliki unless authorised to do so.

When representing Biliki publicly, online or at an event, you must:

• behave professionally;
• protect confidential information;
• avoid discriminatory or offensive content;
• avoid statements that could reasonably undermine participant safety or trust; and
• follow Biliki's communications and social media arrangements.

Biliki's property, equipment, documents, accounts and systems must be used responsibly.

You must:

• keep equipment secure;
• use systems only for authorised purposes;
• protect passwords and access credentials;
• report loss, theft or suspected unauthorised access;
• return Biliki property when your role ends; and
• ensure that relevant records and information are handed over appropriately.

Everyone working with Biliki is encouraged to speak up when something does not feel right.

Concerns may include:

• safeguarding;
• inappropriate behaviour;
• bullying or harassment;
• discrimination;
• fraud or financial wrongdoing;
• unsafe working practices;
• serious breaches of policy;
• misuse of Biliki resources; or
• other serious wrongdoing.

Safeguarding concerns should be raised through the safeguarding reporting arrangements.

Other serious wrongdoing may be raised under Biliki's Whistleblowing Policy.

People will not be penalised simply because they raise a genuine concern in good faith.

Biliki will take breaches of this Code seriously.

Depending on the circumstances, a breach may result in:

• additional guidance or training;
• removal from a programme;
• withdrawal of responsibilities or access;
• ending a volunteer, contractor or other arrangement;
• disciplinary action where applicable; or
• referral to an appropriate external body where necessary.

A safeguarding concern or allegation will be handled under the relevant safeguarding process rather than being treated simply as a conduct issue.

Everyone covered by this Code is responsible for their own conduct.

If you are unsure whether something is appropriate, you should seek advice before acting.

If you see behaviour that may breach this Code, you should not assume that someone else will deal with it.

Raise the concern through the appropriate route.

Biliki's Advisory Board provides strategic advice to the organisation. It is not a formal operational Board of Directors.

When Advisory Board members represent or participate in Biliki activities, they are expected to comply with this Code in the same way as other people working with Biliki.

They should:

• act with integrity;
• respect different perspectives;
• challenge constructively;
• listen to others;
• avoid dominating discussions;
• distinguish strategic advice from operational management;
• respect confidentiality;
• declare conflicts of interest; and
• contribute to a culture in which people feel safe to speak up.

This Code should be read alongside, where relevant:

• Safeguarding Policy;
• Data Protection Policy.