Sparrow
Code of Conduct
Sparrow Culture
Our attitude is one of service, aiming to help people flourish and give back into their communities. Sparrow Health values walking alongside people and offering clients and their families a healthy life solution including creativity, flexibility, fun and diversity. We look at the bigger picture of our clients worlds and their interaction with life, designing from these observations a service that inspires. We support each other, we are polite, diligent, timely and organised. We delight in seeing our clients and Sparrow Team reach goals and engage with life positively.
Dignity of Risk in Decision-making
It’s important to assist clients in understanding the context of their choices and to support them to make informed choices about the benefits and risks of the options under consideration.
Reporting
Part of keeping our community safe is adhering to our reporting process. You must recognise that you are working in support of many people in vulnerable situations and your duty of care is paramount. This includes the immediate reporting of any abuse toward a client, be it physical, emotional, financial, sexual or psychological.
Constructive and Creative Communication
Communicating with each other is key to the success of our community. We expect regular communication that builds toward our shared goal of helping our clients discover, develop and release their potential. We do this with regular feedback sessions, meetings, client reporting and imagination for how we can better our clients experience with Sparrow.
At Sparrow, we facilitate and create space for people with disability and mental illness to discover, develop and release their potential. For this to happen well, we need foundations of integrity and trust - so we’ve created this Code of Conduct to safely and respectfully guide our community to the realisation of this purpose.
Choice and Independence
We believe that people with disability have the right to choose services that will maximise their independence and flourishing. We provide flexible and diverse services that allow people to exercise their choice and reach their goals.
You must respect the decisions and goals of each client, their families, support team and Sparrow management unless it is deemed illegal or unsafe to do so.
Professionalism
You are expected to act within the scope and role of your given job description. You may only operate in services you are qualified to and must always uphold Sparrow’s standards, procedures and processes.
We expect employees to act responsibly while at work and refrain from drug or alcohol use. We require you to manage your timetable with diligence, be punctual and prepared for each session.
Specific Incident Reporting
As part of our adherence to the NDIS Quality and Safeguard standards and for the protection of our community, you must report any specific incident occurring during a session via our 24/7 incident reporting process. It should be reported immediately or up to 1 day after occurrence.
Policies, Procedures and Standards
Sparrow has specific policy and procedure documents that are designed to help us grow as a community. You must understand and adhere to these documents, ensuring both you and your clients are cared for and kept safe within the NDIS Code of Conduct.
Family and Community
People living with disabilities are often quite connected with their family and/or community. At Sparrow, we make an effort to get to know and include key people in our clients lives. It’s important to acknowledge the vital roles these people play in the lives of our clients.
Inclusive Environment
We have a culture of inclusion. This means you will ensure that each client knows they are accepted and included in our community. Participation in bullying, harassment or discrimination of any kind is unacceptable and shall be reported immediately through the Sparrow incident reporting process.
Clients who have specific needs to practice their culture, values and beliefs will be respected and supported to do so if required by the Sparrow community.
Honesty and Integrity
You must act with honesty and integrity within the Sparrow community and specifically toward your clients. Any issues that arise will be dealt with transparently and respectfully with all people involved. For complex issues, all parties will come to an agreed arrangement and action plan.
Workplace Safety
Health and Wellbeing
Working with and watching people living with disabilities flourish is a hugely rewarding thing. We also understand how demanding this work can be at times. We ask that you consider your self care and wellbeing at all times. Monitor your levels of fatigue, moods and attitudes to your work. We offer an open door to all employees and encourage regular check-in’s with Management for support and guidance.
Zero Tolerance of Abuse and Exploitation
We have a zero tolerance policy to any form of abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation. You must not assault any member of our community with the above harassments and you will not put any client at risk of physical, emotional or psychological harm.
You have a responsibility to prevent and report all forms of this behaviour to Sparrow Management immediately.
We pride ourselves on services of the highest quality and safety. In order to maintain safety for our clients, the following must be adhered to:
Privacy, Dignity and Relationship
We encourage all our services to be built on good relationships while respecting professional boundaries. We believe relationships are the core of all our services.
While building relationships with your clients we ask you to respect their privacy and dignity. Keep personal information confidential and always uphold people and their family and friends with dignity and respect. You must not share the private information of any Sparrow client with anyone else and if you are aware of a breach in privacy, this must be reported to Sparrow Management immediately.
Background Checks
For the safety of our clients - before beginning work with Sparrow, we require the completion of a Police Check, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission NDIS Worker Orientation Module and the Disability Worker Exclusion Scheme check.
NDIS Code of Conduct
We are committed to providing safe and encouraging services for those living with disabilities. As part of this, we adhere to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Code of Conduct drafted by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
The code requires workers and providers to:
- act with respect for individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination, and decision-making in accordance with relevant laws and conventions
- respect the privacy of people with disability
- provide supports and services in a safe and competent manner with care and skill
- act with integrity, honesty, and transparency
- promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that might have an impact on the quality and safety of supports provided to people with disability
- take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse of people with disability
- take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct.
The Victorian Code of Conduct contains further obligations and can be accessed here:
Further legislations and guidelines for workers and providers: