CODE OF CONDUCT

VADC strives to provide a safe, caring learning environment for Educators, children and families. We follow these guiding principles:

BE RESPONSIBLE   We are responsible for our actions and words.  We treat others as we want to be treated.  When we make a mistake, we make amends rather than excuses.

BE RESPECTFUL   We are respectful of ourselves and other people.  We are respectful of the ideas and feelings of others.  We are respectful of the environment, equipment and materials.

BE SAFE   We work and play safely to help keep ourselves and others from getting hurt.

In order to achieve the above, it is imperative that each and every individual who is associated with our facility abides by this Code of Conduct and conducts him/herself in a respectful manner. This includes licensees, owners, directors, managers, all other Educators, children, caregivers, guardians, and family members of children enrolled with our Facility. It also includes members of the Board of Directors and anyone else involved with our Facility. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Therapists, professionals/paraprofessionals

• Volunteers

• Practicum students

• Contractors/maintenance service providers

• School personnel

• Licensing coordinators and inspectors

• Courier drivers

• Community Members

• Other caregivers and members involved with the Centre

We will actively strive to create and maintain an environment that supports the health, safety and well-being of everyone associated with our facility by employing proactive strategies and appropriate policies and procedures. This includes:

·         Developing positive relationships, including making time to talk and listen

·         Establishing clear, consistent, simple limits and stating limits in a positive way

·         Providing explanations for limits, rules, procedures and policies

·         Role-modeling and encouraging appropriate behaviour

·         Working together in partnership to solve problems

·         Having realistic and developmentally appropriate expectations for behaviour

·         Ensuring our environment, our program and all materials used in our program meet the needs and interests of children and others associated with our program, and that they encourage appropriate behaviour and reduce the potential for inappropriate behaviour

·         Establishing consistent, yet flexible schedules and routines that help children gain trust, security and self-control

We recognize the varying developmental capabilities of children and understand that it is normal for children to display inappropriate behaviour at times for a variety of reasons. The developmental capabilities of each child will always be considered when determining both expectations for appropriate behaviour and consequences for inappropriate behaviour.

The following behaviours are unacceptable and will not be tolerated:

·         All forms of bullying (physical, verbal, emotional, social or cyber-bullying including comments, actions or visual displays that are intentional, hurtful and repetitive. (Note: Centres may want to include examples i.e. hitting, pushing, name-calling, mocking, excluding someone, spreading rumours or gossip either in person or by using social networking internet sites, public networking/ file sharing sites or any other type of internet website)

·         Harassment, including behaviour that degrades, demeans, humiliates or embarrasses someone that a reasonable person would know is unwelcome (Note: Facilities may want to include examples i.e. touching, name-calling, offensive jokes, yelling, etc.)

·         All forms of abuse (sexual, physical, or psychological) including verbally, in writing or otherwise

·         Discrimination against any person or group because of their race, colour, ancestry, nationality, place of origin, ethnic background, religion, age, sex, gender-determined characteristics, sexual orientation, marital or family status, source of income, political belief, and physical or mental disability

·         Actions that put another person at risk of harm including violent physical acts (with or without a weapon) and threatening someone

·         The inappropriate use of technology, including e-mail, the internet and other technology, in keeping with the Centre’s policy on the use of technology

Individuals found breaching the Code of Conduct or for displaying any form of inappropriate behaviour as outlined in this Code will be subject to disciplinary action. The disciplinary action and resulting consequences will depend on severity, nature, the circumstances, and the frequency surrounding the inappropriate behaviour. The Facility recognizes the importance of ensuring any consequences are pre-planned, fair, consistent and, in the case of children, based on the level of a child’s development. We also recognize that consequences should be an opportunity to learn, not only one of discipline. In keeping with this, we will ensure, whenever practicable, that any resulting consequences are based on discussion and a cooperative approach and that they provide opportunities for the person to change his/her behaviour. In the case of Educator*, Practicum students, volunteers or other adults associated with our Facility, typical steps will include:

·         Reminding individuals of expectations and limits

·         Giving a verbal or written warning outlining concerns and the consequences if the inappropriate behaviour continues

·         Suspension

·         Dismissal

·         Prohibiting individuals from being on the premises

 In the case of children participating in our program, typical steps will include:

·         Reminding children of expectations and limits

·         Expecting family members to engage in discussions related to their child’s inappropriate behaviour and/or developmental concerns

·         Having a meeting to discuss concerns and to develop an action plan for the future

·         Developing a written contract (in the case of older children) outlining specific expectations and consequences

·         Giving a written warning outlining concerns and the consequences if the inappropriate behaviour continues

·         Suspending or withdrawing childcare services because of a child’s or family member’s behaviour

·         Accessing outside resources (i.e. Child and Family Services, Mediation Services, therapists etc.)

This code of conduct sets out the expectations for respectful behaviours within our facility and is meant to assist in maintaining a safe, caring learning environment for all who participate in our program.

Additional resources: 

Visit the Commit to Kids website at http://www.commit2kids.ca/pdfs/C2K_OverviewGuide_en.pdf to download a copy of the Program Overview Guide to help organizations create safe environments for children.  It provides strategies, policies, and a step-by-step plan for reducing the risk of child sexual abuse.

We understand that it is normal for children to display inappropriate behaviour at times for a variety of reasons.  The developmental and unique capabilities of each child will always be considered when determining both expectations for behaviour and consequences of inappropriate behaviour. 

All children, Educators, caregivers, and others involved in our Centre must use e-mail, electronic devices and the Internet according to our policies.  This protects people’s privacy and the confidentiality of information.

The following behaviours by children, Educators, caregivers and others involved in our Centre are unacceptable:

·         all forms of bullying (physical, verbal, emotional, social or cyber bullying), including comments, actions or visual displays that are intentional, hurtful and repetitive

·         harassment, including behavior that degrades, demeans, humiliates or embarrasses someone

·         all forms of abuse (sexual, physical or psychological), including verbally, in writing or otherwise

·         discrimination against any person or group because of their race, color, ancestry, nationality or place of origin, ethnic background, religion, age, sex, gender-determined characteristics, sexual orientation, marital and family status, source of income, political belief and physical or mental disability

·         actions that put another person at risk of harm, including violent physical acts (with or without a weapon) and threatening someone

We actively strive to create an environment that supports the health, safety and well-being of the children by:

·         having realistic and developmentally appropriate expectations for behaviour

·         set up the environment and materials to encourage appropriate behaviour and reduce potential for inappropriate behaviour

·         plan a program based on children’s interests and developmental needs

·         establish consistent yet flexible schedules and routines that help children gain trust, security and self-control

We create a positive environment for children, Educators, caregivers and others involved in our Centre by:

·         developing positive relationships, including making time to talk and listen

·         establishing clear, consistent, simple limits

·         stating limits in a positive way and periodically reminding people

·         providing explanations for limits

·         working together to solve problems

·         modeling and encouraging appropriate behaviour

We will consistently respond to inappropriate behaviour by children, Educators, caregivers and others involved in our Centre by:

·         reminding people of expectations and limits

·         using a respectful approach to explain why behaviour is inappropriate and what behaviour is expected

·         talking only about the behaviour, not labelling the person

·         responding empathetically and acknowledging feelings

·         establishing natural, logical consequences

Depending on the severity and frequency of the behavior, we will consider further steps such as:

·         using behavioural analysis to learn what may be contributing to a child’s inappropriate behaviour and how to help reduce or eliminate the behaviour

·         having a formal or informal meeting to discuss concerns and to develop an action plan to encourage appropriate behaviour in the future

·         developing a written contract with an adult or older child that outlines specific expectations and consequences

·         giving a written warning that outlines specific concerns and consequences if the behaviour continues

·         accessing outside resources for help, such as:

>          a behavior specialist or other professionals to help caregiver understand and reduce a child’s inappropriate behavior

>          Child and family services to access caregiving supports mediation services to resolve conflicts between adults

>          The Manitoba Human Rights Commission for information and advice to resolve an issue informally or to make a formal complaint if the behavior involves discrimination or harassment

>          The police to assist with threatening behavior

In extreme cases, we will take additional steps such as: 

·         suspending or dismissing an Educator

·         suspending or withdrawing childcare services because of a child’s or family member’s inappropriate behaviour

·         in the case of a visitor not allowing the person to return to the Centre

contacting the police and/or child and family services (CFS), if the behaviour is illegal such as abuse, assault or threatening another person