Code of Conduct for Associates

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Code of Conduct for Associates

External provider (Associate) - defined

Associates are defined as any person who is not an ISB employee and who works autonomously with ISB students either independently, or in small groups, who operates in either a contracted or subcontracted (paid or unpaid) role.  Examples include: coaches, tutors, after school programs, long-term volunteers.

Code of Conduct & Child Safeguarding

All external providers who work with ISB’s students are required to sign this Code of Conduct & Child Safeguarding form and share the below information with their associates.

Purpose

Providers who work with ISB students have a professional and ethical obligation to ensure that our students experience a safe and nurturing environment where they can grow and develop to their full potential and are protected from harm. This Code of Conduct forms part of your contractual agreement with ISB and contains specific expectations with regard to safeguarding children. 

Relationships with Students

External providers and their associates should use professional judgement and avoid actions or behaviors that could be construed as inappropriate, misconduct, child exploitation, or abuse.

External providers and their associates will:

1. Uphold, as far as possible given their role, the principle of the best interests of the student and ensure that the welfare of students is placed first. 

2. Maintain the highest levels of personal and professional conduct, behaving in ways that uphold the integrity of their professional role and the reputation of the school. 

3. Take reasonable steps to ensure visibility to passers-by during any one-to-one contact with a student.

4. Consider the student’s age, developmental level, and level of care required when gaining their attention or comforting a distressed student.

5. Be alert to cues from students about their need for personal space or their need for extra support.

6. Intervene to prevent incidents of bullying between students.

7. Maintain safe and appropriate physical, psychological, and professional boundaries with students and be cautious about physical contact in practical activities.    

8. Immediately notify ISB staff if there is any issue or concern related to the items above.

The following are prohibited:

1. Any form of romantic or sexual relationships with ISB students;

2. Any form of romantic or sexual relationship with any child under the age of 18;

3. Discussing their own sexual relationships with or in the presence of students;

4. Discussing a student’s sexual relationship in any settings or contexts outside of necessary professional conversations (e.g. counseling, Health Center, Health & Wellness Classes);

5. Sharing or providing unapproved drugs or supplements, or alcohol to students. In the case where a student needs medication of any kind (including over-the-counter meds), the provider and all that work for the provider must direct the student to the ISB teacher/chaperone in charge.  The ISB chaperone is the sole representative who may distribute medications per family request and in accordance with the parent’s permission on file with the school.;

6. Physical punishment or humiliation;

7. Carrying out personal care that students can do for themselves (i.e. toileting or helping students change clothes). The ISB Personal Care policy outlines measures to be taken for students who require assistance with personal care.

8. Using bathrooms that are designated as student bathrooms;

9. Engaging in rough, physical, or sexually provocative games, including play wrestling with students or tickling;

10. Allowing or engaging in any form of inappropriate or unwanted touching;

11. Allowing students to use inappropriate language. Issues should be directed to ISB staff;

12. Using inappropriate language in any form of communication with or in the presence of students, including language that is harassing, abusive, sexually provocative, demeaning, or culturally inappropriate;

13. Exposing a student to sexually explicit, offensive, or violent images, films, music, and websites not directly related to learning objectives;

14. Sharing a private bedroom with a student with whom the external provider or their associate is not related during school trips;

15. Drinking alcohol or taking illicit substances with current students, purchasing alcohol or illicit substances for students, or consuming alcohol/illicit substances when responsible for supervising students on any trips.

16. Spending unsupervised one-on-one time with a student

Social Media and the Use of Student Images and Videos

No photos, videos, or images of any kind may be taken of ISB students.

Data Protection

The external provider shall not request and collect data or permissions directly from the ISB students or parents. ISB will provide the necessary contact and medical details for all students and ISB Staff directly to the Provider as necessary. The Provider must securely store the data and only provide access to relevant people and/or subcontractors responsible for delivering services. The external provider must dispose of the data securely once the need to retain it has passed. 

External Providers responsibility
The External provider shall ensure that they and/or the Associate:

• are properly qualified under all applicable laws and regulations (or relevant professional body) and have obtained the relevant permission/license/qualification from applicable authorities to supply services;

• do not have criminal records;

• supply all Services with due care and skill, and Provider’s equipment (and/or its Associates’ equipment), if applicable, is fit for purpose, safe and secure, and is free from defects in materials, design, workmanship, and installation;

• comply with all relevant regulations, laws and, operational procedures, policies, including those relating to times and places of access, accreditation, safety and security, emergency procedures, applicable schedules, Child Safeguarding, personal data protection laws.

“Managed by Risk Management” - Revised July 2024, Effective August 1, 2024