Updated Member Code of Conduct

Purpose

This policy is set out to guide both members, and Support Staffordshire in what are considered to be appropriate and inappropriate behaviours.

The guidance may be used by Support Staffordshire staff and trustees in carrying out their duties as appropriate. Specifically, it is made in accordance with Article 32(2) in relation to Membership.

Scope

This code applies to all members: organisational (General / VCSE members), individual members, start-up members, parish council members and V4A (volunteering for all) members.

It applies to all staff and volunteers, including trustees, contractors or other authorised representatives of the above.

Hereafter we will use the short hand term ‘members’.

Basis of Code

The code is based upon the Support Staffordshire Strategic Plan, in particular our Values and Strategic Aims. It is also informed by our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Policy, as well as the more general (Nolan) Standards in Public Life.

The Member Code

Members should act in the overriding interest of their charity/organisation as expressed by their charitable objects and/or good causes; not for personal, private, or other organisational gain.

Members should act openly in terms of governance and constitutional standing; updating Support Staffordshire of any significant changes, especially where this may change their eligibility for membership.

Members should engage with, and where appropriate consult, fellow members and communities. Where reasonable they should seek to collaborate with fellow members and communities, especially where they have joint aims or overlapping work.

Members should support local empowerment in decision making. This means that the strategic decision making of the member organisation, should be informed by local operational activity. Where organisations are based and governed outside of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent particular attention should be paid to ensuring that Staffordshire beneficiaries are able to engage with decision making effectively.

Members should seek to share understanding and learning within the local sector for the betterment of communities; not to keep information and innovation to themselves solely for commercial, reputational or other organisational gain.

Members should tackle overt hate, prejudice and discrimination experienced by or perpetrated by its employees, volunteers and contractors. Such behaviours should usually be treated on a zero tolerance basis.

Members should take reasonable steps to address unintentional discrimination of marginalised groups, through information, education and learning

Members should act with integrity, building trust through their behaviours; and not be aggressively competitive or dominant.

Members should demonstrate leadership of the above behaviours across their organisation; tackling breaches actively, not hiding or excusing poor conduct.

Support Staffordshire commits in return to:

Deliver support and services to our members in pursuit of our charitable objects and strategic aims, as set out in our Strategic Plan, in an open, professional and equitable manner; not for personal, private, or other organisational gain.

To act at all times in accordance with our Values.

Where our representative role mandates that we should speak out, we will not hesitate to do so for fear of adverse financial impacts upon Support Staffordshire.

To not to be competitive with our member organisations for the delivery of established frontline services to residents, which are beyond our remit, unless there are specific reasons for us to do so.

This may include being asked to do so by sufficient numbers of members, significant concerns about quality of services impacting on wider sector reputation, or where a service has wider benefits or potential benefits to our member organisations, beyond a single provider, and we are able to enact those benefits.

To handle feedback, complaints or grievances from members in a professional manner, in accordance with our policies and procedures, with a view to continuous improvement. Where we have acted in error we will be honest, apologise and seek to remedy the situation wherever possible.

Member Breaches of the Code of Conduct

Where a breach or potential breach of the code comes to our attention, we will in the first instance seek to clarify the position and where possible to resolve the concern informally.

Where it is not possible to resolve the concern, the issue will be referred to the Support Staffordshire Board of Trustees for consideration and a decision about ongoing membership.

In accordance with Article 33(4) the Trustees may then resolve to terminate membership by a simple resolution of trustees where an existing member shows disregard for the member code of conduct.

Such a resolution to terminate membership must be notified to that member at least seven days prior to the meeting at which the resolution will be proposed, giving the reasons why it is to be proposed. The member or a notified representative must be permitted to make representations to the meeting.