Global Care’s Code of Conduct sets out the standards of behaviour expected from everyone representing the organisation — including staff, volunteers, trustees, contractors, and visitors to overseas projects. It ensures that all individuals act with integrity and uphold the rights and dignity of children and vulnerable adults, both professionally and personally.

Key Principles

  • Respect and Protection
    Everyone must safeguard the wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults, even if they don’t work directly with them.
  • Professional Boundaries
    Personal relationships with beneficiaries or their families are strictly prohibited. All interactions must remain appropriate, respectful, and non-exploitative.
  • Legal and Ethical Standards
    Representatives must follow UK laws, international standards, and local laws when working abroad.
  • Zero Tolerance for Abuse
    Any form of abuse, favouritism, bribery, or inappropriate behaviour is strictly forbidden.
  • Accountability and Transparency
    Individuals must report concerns, conflicts of interest, and any behaviour that could harm Global Care’s reputation or the people it serves.

Commitment to Safeguarding

By agreeing to this Code of Conduct, individuals commit to creating a safe, respectful, and ethical environment in all areas of Global Care’s work. This policy supports the organisation’s wider safeguarding efforts and reflects its dedication to protecting the most vulnerable.

Read the full policy below.

1. Introduction and scope

Global Care is committed to upholding and promoting the rights, dignity and safety of the children and vulnerable adults connected to the services it delivers or funds.

Our Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy sets out the approach we will take to proactively identify, prevent, respond to and report any incidences or suspected incidences of exploitation or abuse. This Code of Conduct is designed to support those working for or with Global Care, to put the principles and requirements of our Safeguarding Policy into practice by describing the standards of behaviour they are required to meet.

Global Care recognises that local laws and cultural practices differ significantly between countries and communities, however as an international development agency and registered charity, we have a duty to work within and uphold UK laws and regulations and agreed international and United Nations (UN)
standards.

Employees, contractors, volunteers, Trustee Directors and representatives of Global Care, including anyone visiting the projects and activities we fund overseas, must agree to, and abide by, the standards set out in this Code of Conduct at all times, both in their professional and private lives.

2. Principles of conduct

  1.  I agree to comply with the following standards of behaviour whilst employed or contracted by, volunteering for, or representing Global Care in any way and/or whilst visiting any of the services or activities they support or fund. I agree to uphold the integrity and reputation of Global Care in both in my personal and private conduct.
  2. I will uphold the rights of the children and vulnerable adults connected to Global Care and its Overseas Partners, whether or not I have direct contact with them, including their right to: be healthy and safe; equality, dignity and respect without fear of discrimination; education; be protected from exploitation, abuse and harm; speak out and be listened to.
  3. I will abide by UK law and the laws of any country or province I am visiting on behalf of, or as a guest of, Global Care and
  4. I will never work or volunteer for Global Care, or attend any meetings or events on its behalf, whilst under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating substances and will not have in my possession or use illegal substances or controlled drugs, unless they have been specifically prescribed to me by a medical professional.
  5. I recognise that I have a duty of care to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children and vulnerable adults supported by or connected to the work of Global Care and its Overseas Partners, whether directly or indirectly, individually or as a group, including children I may never meet and am only told about.
  6. I will plan and organise my work and my workplace in order to minimise the risks to children and will monitor, assess and seek to manage these risks on an ongoing basis.
  7. I will proactively raise awareness of the rights of children and vulnerable adults and the standards set out in this Code of Conduct and I will promote the channels available to children, beneficiaries, their families and wider communities and other partners, to report instances or concerns of abuse or exploitation.
  8. I will challenge inappropriate behaviour that does not meet the standards set out in Global Care’s Safeguarding Policy or in this Code of Conduct, in a way that respects the local community context. I will seek advice from a manager or team leader where I am unsure how to do this.

3. Standards of appropriate conduct

  1. I will never spend time alone with a child or vulnerable adult away from others and never out of the sight or hearing of other adults, including driving them alone in a vehicle.
  2. I will never meet a child or vulnerable adult or socialise with them or their families outside of planned activities or develop a personal or one-to-one relationship with them, whether in person, on the telephone, on messaging apps or on-line.
  3. I will never take children or vulnerable adults to my home, hotel room or the place where I am staying or allow them stay with me.
  4. I will never have sex with a person under 18 years of age or engage in any sexual activity with a child or vulnerable adult, no matter what the local legal or cultural age of consent is.
  5. I will keep all interactions and contact with children and vulnerable adults professional, including:
    1. Never hitting or otherwise physically assaulting them, including the use of corporal punishment, even where this is permitted by local law or normal cultural practises.
    2. Using appropriate touch, such as greeting them with a handshake or high-five or placing a hand on their shoulder to comfort them when distressed.
    3. Never touching their torsos or legs or prolonging any contact longer than is absolutely necessary, except where I need to move them out of the way of harm or to administer first aid in an emergency.
    4. Not doing things for them of a personal nature that they can do for themselves.
    5. Using positive and encouraging language with or about them and never using lewd, suggestive or sexually provocative language.
    6. Never making suggestions or offering advice which is inappropriate, offensive, abusive, or discriminatory.
    7. Never acting in ways intended to shame, humiliate, belittle, degrade or otherwise emotionally abuse them.
  6. I will consider the imbalance of power between myself and others when interacting with or making decisions that impact the beneficiaries of Global Care and their family members.
  7. I will never develop physical or sexual relationships with any beneficiary of Global Care or their family members.
  8. I will never exchange money, employment or offers of employment, goods, services or assistance for sex, sexual favours or any other forms of degrading, humiliating or exploitative behaviour.
  9. I will not show any preferment or favouritism to any child, vulnerable adult, beneficiary or their family members and will never develop relationships with children or vulnerable adults which could in any way be deemed exploitative or abusive, including:
    1. Personally employing or offering to employ them.
    2. Asking them to do small jobs (such as wash vehicles) or run errands for me, whether for payment or other forms of reward or because just of my position of authority.
  10. I will not participate in any actions to solicit or give bribes or incentives and will report any corrupt behaviour I become aware of.
  11. I will not accept any money, gift, or hospitality from government officials, community leaders, beneficiaries or their families, donors, funders or suppliers, other than those deemed nominal and culturally appropriate.
  12. I will report to Global Care any conflict between my personal and professional interests and/or those of anyone closely connected to me, as soon as I become aware of them, including any commercial interests, public offices held or relevant memberships of political and/or campaigning organisations.
  13. I will use my best endeavours to report any concerns regarding inappropriate, exploitative or abusive behaviour through the relevant procedures, in line with Global Care’s Safeguarding Policy.
  14. I will use Global Care’s electronic equipment, computers, smart phones and information technology for the purpose for which it was provided and will never use it to access inappropriate, explicit or extremist material.
  15. I will inform Global Care immediately if:
    1. I am disqualified or barred from working with children or vulnerable adults
    2. I am charged with or convicted of any crime which may breach the terms of my employment or contract with Global Care or impede my ability to perform my role in any way
    3. I believe my financial, personal or family situation is likely to bring Global Care into disrepute in any way
  16. I will use my best endeavours to protect the natural environment and work in a sustainable way.
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