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UK-Med Code of Conduct

Last update: March 2019

All UK-Med representatives (employees, volunteers, Consultants or Clinicians who are engaged to act on UK-Med’s behalf, either paid or as volunteers) will agree to adhere to the following standards of behaviour when working with UK-Med;

• Maintain the highest standards of professional and personal conduct while working with UK-Med.
• If engaged in clinical duties will work to their existing professional Code of Conduct and within the competencies for which they are licensed and approved for in their country of registration (for example General Medical Council/Royal College of Nurses)
• Will not behave in any way that may threaten the security of themselves or others while working with UK-Med.
• Will follow the UK-Med security policy and or security directives of the UK-Med Team Lead at all times.
• Will not engage in any sexual or inappropriate relationships with anyone under the age of 18 years of age or any vulnerable adults whilst on mission.
• Will not engage in exchanging money, employment or goods for sexual favours.
• Will respect cultures, structures and customs of the communities and communities that we work with, including culturally appropriate dress.
• Will adhere to UK-Med Child Safeguarding Policy and procedures.
• Will not drink alcohol to excess (or to the extent that it affects your ability to do your work) and where it is illegal will not drink alcohol at all.
• Will only smoke in designated smoking areas and will not smoke while on clinical duty or in uniform.
• Will act in a professional manner at all times whilst wearing the UK-Med T-shirt/uniform.
• Will not accept any bribes or any significant gifts from community members or any third parties.
• Will follow the advice of the team leader on the acceptance of gifts and donations.
• Will respect the confidentiality of UK-Med and or host organisations in-country at all times.
• Will refrain from handling any weapons e.g. firearms or explosives.
• Will follow the instructions of the Team Leader guidance on Social Media use.

Principles of Conduct

1. The humanitarian imperative comes first.
2. Aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the recipients and without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities are calculated on the basis of need alone.
3. Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint.
4. We shall endeavour not to act as instruments of government foreign policy.
5. We shall respect culture and custom.
6. We shall attempt to build disaster response on local capacities.
7. Ways shall be found to involve programme beneficiaries in the management of relief aid.
8. Relief aid must strive to reduce future vulnerabilities to disaster as well as meeting basic needs.
9. We hold ourselves accountable to both those we seek to assist and those from whom we accept resources.
10. In our information, publicity and advertising activities, we shall recognize disaster victims as dignified human beings, not hopeless objects.

From ‘Principles of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Response Programmes’ – https://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/who-we-are/the-movement/code-of-conduct/