|
|
CODE OF ETHICS FOR CENTACARE SERVICES
a) STATEMENT OF MISSION
Centacare exists as an expression of the social mission of the
Catholic Church in the Diocese of Rockhampton.
b) SOCIAL MISSION OF THE CHURCH
That social mission is a continuation of the mission of Christ to
establish the Kingdom of God in which good news is brought to the
poor, captives are released, the blind see and the oppressed are
liberated (Luke 4:18-19).
Such a mission is based on love. That love of all people urged
Christ to work for the coming of a Kingdom in which the fullness of
life for all would be possible (John 10:10) and the mystery of God's
love a reality in the everyday events of life.
In such a human society, human relationships on both individual and
institutional levels would be characterised by:-
- genuine caring, compassion and love
- respect for the just rights of individuals and communities
- honesty and truthfulness
- freedom and opportunities for individuals and communities to
pursue their just aspirations within the limits prescribed by
the common good.
Such a society may never perfectly exist in this world. Yet the
mission of the Church is to work towards the ever-increasing
incarnation of the values which would permeate such a society.
Within a less than perfect world, individuals suffer in a variety of
ways. Some suffering, such as bereavement, is unavoidable; some is
the result of unjust and uncaring structures in society and is, in
principle, avoidable.
The social mission of the Church is to stand in solidarity with the
suffering, to remain with those whose suffering is unavoidable, and
to work with those whose suffering is, in principle, avoidable to
eliminate the causes of their suffering.
c) SPECIFIC MISSION OF CENTACARE
All members of the Church are called to participate in the social
mission of Christ as individuals and as members of the Church
community.
Some activities in a complex modern society require an organisation
rather than an individual approach in carrying out the social
mission of the Church.
Centacare has been entrusted by the Bishop of Rockhampton to
incarnate some aspects of the Church's social mission which require
specifically organised and professional approaches.
The activities of Centacare fall under three broad headings:-
(i) SERVICE
Centacare makes itself available to all people who are suffering,
because of external oppression, interpersonal or family difficulties
or intra-personal problems.
Centacare stands with such people in their suffering and offers all
possible assistance.
Despite the increasing need of a fee - for service approach, a
deliberate effort is made to ensure that the most needy, most
vulnerable and most devalued members of society have priority access
to service.
(ii) ADVOCACY
Centacare works with oppressed people themselves and with all others
who are working towards a more just social order according to
Christian principles.
Centacare works to see that individuals and communities receive
their current entitlements under current social policy, and that
future social policy has as its base the fundamental rights of all
people, especially those who are currently poor, vulnerable and
devalued.
(iii) SOCIAL EDUCATION
Centacare has a role to raise the consciousness of all members of
society, and particularly of those within the Church, about the
social, political and economic conditions of the society in which
they live.
d) CODE OF ETHICS
Centacare observes the following principles in formulating policies,
establishing programmes and detailing procedures in all of its
operations.
(i) All policies, programmes and procedures will be faithful to
Gospel values and the social teaching of the Church.
(ii) All policies, programmes and procedures will reflect the
recognition that the human dignity of each person is inviolable, and
brings with it natural rights and duties.
All programs policies and procedures will support :
- the sanctity and dignity of human life from the moment of
its conception until death
- the sanctity of marriage
- the fundamental and central role of the family in society
- the individual's right to live a full life without undue
social control and unwarranted interference and to participate
in decision-making processes affecting personal and community
life.
- the individual's need to be part of a meaningful and
fulfilling social network for a continued sense of well being.
(iii) Centacare will, in evaluating social policy, also support
those policies which:-
- ensure that all people are treated fairly and have access to
all essential goods and services, such as food, clothing,
shelter, health care, education and transport
give a preferential treatment for those who are disadvantaged,
devalued or distressed
- protect and uphold every person's right to live with dignity
(iv) When deciding on the allocation of their own limited resources,
Centacare will ensure that such allocation results in maximum access
to those resources for the disadvantaged, devalued and distressed
members of society.
(v) Centacare services will be available to all people, regardless
of their gender, ethnic background, beliefs, or disability.
(vi) Centacare services will aim at promoting the highest possible
degree of autonomy and self-determination in individuals, families
and communities.
Centacare services, even those with an initially remedial focus will
aim at the enhancement of living skills in recipients so that they
may live their future life with the greatest possible degree of
self-determination and self reliance.
Centacare services will respect the intrinsic value, equality and
human dignity of all persons and will be aware and sensitive to the
potential power positions of worker and client in the delivery of
services.
(vii) In working, within the Church towards social justice and a
society permeated with Christian love, Centacare will acknowledge
the special roles and contributions of:-
- organisations established by the Bishop of Rockhampton or by
State or National groupings of Bishops
- national organisations eg the Australian Catholic Social
Welfare Commission/Centacare Australia
- members of religious orders
- members of parish communities
- members of lay societies, approved by Bishops.
Centacare will seek to act in true partnerships with such
organisations and groups.
As an agent of the diocesan community, Centacare will carry out its
mission within the structure of the diocese, acknowledging that the
Bishop has the responsibility to oversee, guide and support the
pastoral work in the diocese.
When Centacare finds itself holding a different view about a
particular issue or course of action to that held by other
organisations, within the Church or outside of it, Centacare will
respect the views of the other organisations whilst continuing to
work for a resolution of the difference, consistent with the
requirements of justice.
(viii) Centacare will work with individuals, groups and social
agencies outside of the Church on issues, policies and programmes
which are compatible with Christian values and which works towards a
just society.
(ix) Centacare will respect the absolute right of individual
conscience, but will not advocate or promote in any of its
activities any course of action which is in clear contradiction to
any authoritative Catholic Church teaching on faith and morals.
(x) Centacare will seek to always be caring and just in its
relationships with staff, volunteers, clients and people in other
organisations, groups and people in the wider community.
(xi) Centacare will strive to ensure the health and safety of all
staff, clients and others in the Centacare workplace.
(xii) Centacare will hold itself fully, consistently and publicly
accountable for its programmes and fiscal operations. It will seek
objective certification that it meets standards of quality in its
performance.
(xiii) Centacare will recognise confidentiality as a living
principle within the agency, and will establish policies and
procedures which assure the privacy of the relationship established
with staff, clients and other relevant bodies, within the frame-work
of State and Federal laws.
(xiv) Centacare will subscribe to and advocate for, both within its
own policies and practices and its evaluation of social policy, the
principle of subsidiary with its concern to leave the highest degree
of freedom to the individual which is consonant with the common
good.
(xv) In conformity with Catholic social teaching, Centacare will
support the legitimate, necessary and important role of government
in complex modern society in providing programmes essential for the
welfare of all citizens.
(xvi) In evaluating the effectiveness of its programmes, Centacare
will not only take into account standards drawn from professional
and bureaucratic practice but will also take into account values of
justice and love drawn from the Gospel. Centacare will resist all
attempts to force it to evaluate its practice in purely economic and
statistical terms.
By placing itself firmly within the social mission of the Church,
Centacare expects that all board members, committee members,
volunteers, management, professional and support staff will identify
themselves with the essential aspects of that social mission.
All associated with the work and administration of Centacare will be
expected to accept and conform to the Code of Ethics given above.
Government bodies funding Centacare should be made aware of the Code
and funding should only be accepted by Centacare on the
understanding that such funding does not compromise adherence to the
Code.
Clients approaching Centacare should be helped to understand how the
agency works and what its policies are, particularly in relation to
protecting their privacy, their rights and their responsibilities.
e) NATURAL JUSTICE
Centacare Central Queensland embraces the principles of natural
justice in relation to its staff and in relation to those who
approach Centacare for service.
i) NATURAL JUSTICE - THE PRINCIPLES
Natural justice is based on the principle of fairness. Acting on
this principle, Centacare endeavours to give fair treatment to all
staff within the Agency, and to all persons who approach the Agency
for service. It means that decisions will not to be made which
affect staff or clients in a way that is detrimental to their
personal, physical or material well-being without consultation and
without providing adequate information and reasons why the decision
is being made.
When a decision is to be made, and where that decision affects the
existing rights, interests, status or benefit of another person,
that person ought to be consulted and given reasons for the
decision. The person ought also be given an opportunity to express
an alternative point of view and to state the ways in which the
decision affects him or her. Wherever possible when making a
decision that affects the rights, interests, status or legitimate
expectations of a person, Centacare will ensure that the person so
affected is invited to participate in a process that will enable
that person to put forward his or her case.
ii) NATURAL JUSTICE - INDUSTRIAL AWARDS
Centacare accepts that Awards and workplace agreements, and
conditions attached to these documents, are an expression of natural
justice. Where a dispute about natural justice arises between a
staff member and the administration of the Agency, the terms of the
Agreement are to be given precedence over any other interpretation
given to this section.
iii) PROCEDURES OF NATURAL JUSTICE
Centacare wishes to make clear to all staff their right to express
concerns about matters of natural justice, firstly to their
immediate supervisor or line manager and finally to the Diocesan
Director when such appeal is warranted. If necessary an appeal forum
may be established. Higher appeals can be made to Diocesan
authorities.
Line Managers are required to do all in their power to ensure that
staff address any concerns about fairness in relation to their job
and that this matter is clarified at all Performance Appraisals.
The Diocesan Director, and Line Managers will be aware of four
critical issues when making any decision that affects staff:
Whose authority is needed to make this decision, ie. is the decision
appropriate for that potential decision-maker? If not, who within
the system has the responsibility to make such a decision. Whose
approval is required for this decision, and has such approval been
formally sought?
Once approval has been given and/or has been legitimised by the
decision-maker, who then should the decision-maker consult prior to
the decision being made? Are there any persons on the staff of the
Agency, or serviced by the Agency whose existing rights, interests,
status or benefits will be affected by the decision? If possible, it
is important that this consultation take place before the decision
is made. After the consultation the decision may in fact be changed
or abandoned.
After determining the question of approval, and after adequate
consultation a decision may be made. It is then important to be
clear about 'information sharing'. The critical question for the
decision-maker is to decide who within the Agency, or among those
who are serviced by the Agency, should be informed of the decision.
Having decided the critical questions about approval, consultation
and information sharing, it is then important to ensure that the
decision is open to review in the light of any changed circumstances
which may have arisen since the decision was first contemplated, and
which may arise in the future.
All staff within Centacare will adhere to Code of Ethics of their
respective professional body.
iv) ONGOING EXPECTATIONS
Normally it can be an expectation of all staff within Centacare that
staff and all clients who come to Centacare for service, will be
consulted about decisions and informed of the outcomes which may
affect their rights, interests, status or legitimate expectations.
|
