Code of Professional and Ethical Conduct (Dawn Farm as Employer)

Core Beliefs

• Dawn Farm will employ staff appropriate to its mission.
• Dawn Farm staff will be hired and treated in a non-discriminatory and respectful fashion.
• Client’s needs and well being must guide all decision making.

Principle 1: Dawn Farm will hire and promote staff on the basis of their qualifications.

• Credentials and references will be checked for all potential employees.
• “Qualifications” will be understood to include past job performance, education, commitment to the agency and the maintenance of a staff that reflects the diversity found in out population of clients. This may include gender, race and recovery status.
• Dawn Farm will assume responsibility for ensuring that its staff are qualified to hold their position, that they receive opportunities for professional development and that they adhere to the appropriate Codes of Professional and Ethical Conduct.
• Dawn Farm will not discriminate against potential employees based on their religion, race, gender, age, sexual orientation.
• Dawn Farm will hire former clients only after a thorough exploration of the potential of harm to the client.
• Personal and/or family relationships with current staff will not influence decisions regarding hiring and promotion.

Principle 2: Dawn Farm will deal honestly with potential and current staff.

• Salary, benefits, job duties, the stability of the agency and the potential for advancement will be accurately represented by the agency to all potential/current staff members.
• While information regarding the agency’s status will be shared with staff on a need to know basis, the norm will be to share information whenever possible.

Principle 3: Dawn Farm staff will have an active role in shaping the agency.

• Whenever logistically feasible, staff’s opinions will be solicited prior to policy changes. In addition, regular questionnaires will be utilized to gather opinions regarding the allocation of funds, staffing concerns, etc.
• All Quality Assurance information will be shared with the staff at quarterly meetings. Their feedback will be actively sought, documented and used when appropriate.
• A broad range of staff will participate in the interview process.

Principle 4: Civility and the respect of privacy will guide Dawn Farm’s interactions with staff members.

• Any information regarding a current or former staff member will be shared with clients, other staff or the public on a need to know basis only.
• Job references will be provided only with written permission from the staff member.
• When a former client is hired, information regarding their treatment will be kept confidential and their case file will be placed in care of the Clinical Coordinator.
• Behavior external to the agency will be discussed only when job performance is compromised.
• Staff will be treated with respect by the administration of Dawn Farm.
• When disciplinary action is necessary, the progressive approach detailed in the Employee Code will be utilized.
• Disciplinary actions will be taken in a calm, civil manner, with the staff member given an opportunity to respond verbally or in writing.
• Disciplinary actions will be kept confidential.