Code of Conduct and Professional Boundaries Guidance and Practice 

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All members of staff (paid and unpaid) are required to report any suspected abuse and low-level concerns, and be aware of the appropriate reporting and support procedure for safeguarding. All employees and volunteers must read and understand this policy and procedure, be aware of their responsibilities, and undertake their duties with care for quality, efficiency and effectiveness. We also encourage family members and carers to report any concerns about conduct and behaviour that does not adhere to this policy. 

 1.0 Policy statement 

 1.1 JET is committed to ensuring that young people (under the age of eighteen) and adults at risk who participate in its activities have a safe, positive and enjoyable experience. This commitment applies to all JET activities whether in school or at a partner site.   

 1.2 We recognise that all individuals whatever their age, gender, language, disability, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and culture have the right to protection from abuse and to be treated fairly. 

 1.3  We recognise we have a duty to protect and promote the welfare of all children under the age of eighteen. This duty also extends to, those children and young people we engage with through our activities. It is always unacceptable for anyone to experience abuse of any kind, including through social media or other online activity. Everyone has a legal right to protection from all forms of abuse and we will ensure that all safeguarding concerns are taken seriously and we will act in the best interests of the individuals concerned. 

 1.4 Our commitment also extends to those external organisations that our staff and volunteers engage with. Although these organisations are responsible for their own safeguarding arrangements, we will ensure that we are satisfied with the quality of their policies and procedures and that they are aware of the standards that we expect. 

 1.5 This statement of commitment also extends to our stance on Modern Slavery. This takes many forms including forced and compulsory labour, slavery, servitude, and human trafficking. Modern Slavery is the violation of human rights and JET has a zero-tolerance approach to Modern Slavery. 

 1.6 There is an expectation that staff and volunteers adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards of behaviour at all times. This policy should be read in conjunction with the policies detailed at the end of this Policy document. 

2.0 Respecting children and young people 

 2.1 We expect you to: 

•  Listen to and respect children and young people at all times. You must create an environment that encourages children, young people and their family members or carers to speak out about attitudes or behaviour that makes them uncomfortable. 
• Value and take children’s contributions seriously, actively involving them in planning activities wherever possible. 
• Respect a young person’s right to personal privacy as far as possible (if you need to break confidentiality then follow our Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and Procedures.) 
• Immediately challenge and report any inappropriate or discriminatory behaviour. 
• Promote relationships that are based on openness, honesty, trust and respect. 
• Avoid showing favouritism. 
• Ensure equipment is used safely and for its intended purpose 
• Model good behaviour for children and young people to follow 
• Be patient with others 
• Exercise caution when you are discussing sensitive issues with children or young people 

3.0 Guidance on physical contact 

 3.1 Physical contact may sometimes be needed to instruct, encourage or protect individuals involved in JET activities.  

 3.2 It should be recognised that physical contact between an adult staff member or volunteer and a young person, or adult at risk, may occur during legitimate activities. All such contact should be kept to a minimum and be appropriate for the circumstances. Staff and volunteers must avoid any contact that may be misconstrued or misunderstood by a child/adult participant, parent or observer. 

 3.3 Touching young people or adults at risk, including well intentioned informal and formal gestures such as putting a hand on the shoulder or arm, can, if repeated regularly, lead to the possibility of questions being raised. Any such contact should therefore only be minimal and only occur as part any activity in a public place and preferably within sight of other staff or volunteers. 

 3.4 Any form of physical punishment of a young person or an adult at risk is unlawful, as is any form of physical response to  misbehaviour or challenging behaviour, unless it is by way of physical intervention to prevent a child, or an adult at risk, from harming themselves, others or damaging property.  

 3.5 The use of physical intervention to manage challenging behaviour should always be avoided unless it is absolutely necessary. All forms of physical intervention should form part of a broader approach to the management of challenging behaviour and only be used after all other strategies have been exhausted. The following must always be considered: 

•  Is physical intervention the only option available to manage the situation and ensure safety? 
• Staff/ volunteers should consider the circumstances, the risks associated with employing physical intervention compared with the risks of employing non- physical intervention. 
• Any form of physical intervention should achieve an outcome that is in the best interests of the person whose behaviour is of immediate concern. 
• The scale and nature of physical intervention must always be proportionate to the behaviour of the young person or adult at risk and the nature of harm/damage they might cause. 
• All forms of physical intervention should employ only a reasonable amount of force – i.e. the minimum force needed to avert injury to a person or serious damage to property – applied for the shortest period of time. 
• Staff/volunteers should never employ physical interventions which are deemed to present an unreasonable risk to young people and adults at risk or staff/volunteers. 

 Young people and/or adults at risk should; 

•  never be subjected to any form of treatment that is harmful, humiliating or degrading or discriminatory. 

 3.6 If a child, young person or adult who may be vulnerable is accidentally injured as a result of a staff member or volunteers actions, seems distressed in any way, misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done, always report such incidents as soon as possible to another colleague and make a record of the details. Such matters should be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.  

 3.7 Where young people or adults at risk are identified as having additional needs or behaviours that are likely to require physical intervention this should be discussed with their parents /carers and where necessary others, for example: 

•  We will seek advice from or work in partnership with external statutory and support agencies (Local Authority, Social Services, Children’s Services or Adult Services, Police or NSPCC) to ensure that a young person or adult at risk can be supported to participate in activities safely. 
• This may include asking for the provision of a suitably trained support worker/volunteer. 
• The need for physical intervention and what is required should be clearly documented as part of any risk assessment prior to the activity taking place. 
• All cases involving the need for repeated physical intervention should be brought to the attention of a DSL. Such a need will be documented in safeguarding records. 

3.8 Any physical intervention used should be recorded as soon as possible after the incident by the staff/volunteers. The matter should be referred to the Designated Safeguarding Lead within twenty-four hours. The details of the incident will be recorded on a safeguarding incident reporting form and saved onto SharePoint. 

4.0 Best Practice 

 4.1 It is not good practice for staff and volunteers to: 

•  Enter changing rooms unless in pairs and never enter opposite sex changing rooms. 
• Be alone or unobserved with a child, young person or adult at risk. 
• To leave children or adults at risk unattended. 
• Take children, young people and vulnerable adults in their own car, however short the journey is. Where this is unavoidable then the DSL should be informed. 
• Arrange to meet children, young people and vulnerable adults outside an organised activity or service 

 If these situations are unavoidable, they should only occur with the full prior knowledge and consent of your line manager and the child, young person or vulnerable adults’ parents/carer. 

 4.2 Staff and volunteers should never: 

•  Engage in rough physical games including horseplay 
• Engage in sexually proactive games 
• Take unnecessary risks 
• Smoke, consume alcohol or use illegal substances prior to or whilst working with young people. 
• Take children, young people or adults who may be vulnerable to your home where they will be alone with you 
• Develop inappropriate relationships with children or young people 
• Allow children, young people or adults who may be vulnerable to use inappropriate language unchallenged, or use it yourself 
• make inappropriate promises to children and young people 
• let children and young people have your personal contact details (mobile number, email or postal address) or have contact with them via a personal social media account 
• patronise or belittle children and young people 
• Make sexually suggestive comments about or to a child, young person or adult who may be vulnerable, even in fun 
• Do things of a personal nature for children, young people and adults at risk that they can do themselves, e.g. assist in changing 
• Share a room with a child, young person or an adult who may be vulnerable 
• Enter areas designated only for the opposite sex
• Use the internet to access child image sites 

4.3 If any person has behaved inappropriately, they will be subject to our disciplinary procedures. Depending on the seriousness of the situation, individuals may be asked to leave JET. We might also make a report to statutory agencies such as the police and/or the local authority child protection services.  

 4.4 If any person becomes aware of any breaches of this code, they must immediately report them to the Designated Safeguarding Lead. If necessary, you should follow our whistleblowing procedure and safeguarding and child/adult protection procedures. 

5.0 Role of Parents and Carers 

5.1 We welcome and encourage parental involvement. Parents and carers are recognised as valuable partners in promoting a culture of openness and transparency. We believe that they have a pivotal role in promoting positive behaviour and in challenging inappropriate or abusive behaviour. Parents and carers are encouraged to report any concerns immediately to staff, volunteers or the JET Dedicated Safeguarding Lead. 

 6.0 Oversight and supervision 

6.1 Any breaches of this policy should be reported in line with the safeguarding policy and low level concerns policy. 

 6.2  Effective and regular supervision of all staff and volunteers through the existing JET structure will be required to maintain standards of behaviour and identify areas of concern. Professional boundaries should be reiterated at all supervision meetings. 

 7.0  Procedural implementation and review  

  Last updated: March 2026