OOSH Family Code of Conduct

All children, parents and carers, educators, support staff and other BFS Children's Services participants have the right to be safe and feel safe in our community. With this right also comes the responsibility to comply with our policies and procedures, and to be accountable for actions that put at risk the safety and wellbeing of others.

This Code provides parents and carers with guidelines to promote interactions and relationships based on respect, honesty, courtesy, sensitivity and consideration. The Code also assists in
promoting BFS’s core values that underpin our vision and ethos: Safety * Leadership *Integrity * Inclusion * Child-centric * Collaboration.

This Code of Conduct applies to all parents/carers of children enrolled in a BFS Children's Services centre, as well as step-parents, extended family, other relatives and friends who are not part of the enrolment contract. The Code must be observed in all conduct and interactions with BFS including attending  a service, centre or community program, and interacting with children, their families, staff members and volunteers.

In all matters associated with BFS, parents/carers must at all times act in accordance with the BFS Children's Services Values.

• Treat all BFS employees, and other children and families, with respect and courtesy;
• Work with educators to deal promptly with areas of concern;
• Comply with BFS’s policies and procedures;
• Observe confidentiality of all information gained through participation in BFS services;
• Use appropriate complaint and feedback channels to raise concerns;
• Not engage with educators on social media and private platforms, to help ensure professional boundaries/relationships are maintained;
• Not engage in behaviour that a reasonable person would consider to be offensive, intimidating, humiliating, aggressive, threatening or abusive;
• Not attend the service if under the influence of alcohol or other drugs which may impact on your ability to respond to your child’s needs. Please arrange alternate transport and care for your child in this instance.

The following behaviour will not be tolerated:

• Aggressive, intimidating, harassing or discriminatory behaviours and actions towards staff, children and families. This may include profanity, name calling, and aggressive tone and language. Individuals displaying such behaviour will be asked to leave the premises immediately.
• Theft of personal or service property.
• The breach of any confidentiality and/or privacy policies.
• Public electronic media are not to be used to discuss sensitive service policies and/or staff/staffing matters and/or other families’ children
• Taking photos of any children other than your own.
• Bringing tobacco, alcohol or illicit drugs onto service premises or to events.
• Gossip and public criticism which are malicious in nature.

Breaches of this Code may have serious consequences. BFS will endeavour to resolve any matter related to a breach of this Code by facilitating discussions between the parties. If the Code breach is of a serious nature, or if, in the opinion of BFS, there is a risk of future breaches, BFS may take any action it considers appropriate in the circumstances. This may include cancelling a child’s enrolment at a BFS service.

I/we declare that
➢ I/we have read and understood this BFS Family Code of Conduct (and/or have had it read and explained to me/us);
➢ I/we agree to abide by this Code;
➢ I/we agree to share this code with other authorised nominees;
➢ I/we understand the consequences if I/we breach this Code.