Joining Hands Visitation has adopted guidelines as the agency standard of ethics.  All employees shall be aware of and adhere to these guidelines.

1. Propriety – Staff should maintain high standards of personal conduct in the capacity or identity as Joining Hands Visitation staff.
   1.  The private conduct of staff is a personal matter to the same degree as is any other person’s except when such conduct comprises the fulfillment of professional responsibilities.
   2. Staff should not participate in, condone, or be associated with dishonest, fraud or misrepresentation.
   3. Staff should distinguish clearly between statements and actions made as a private individual and as a representative of Joining Hands Visitation.

2. Competence and Professional Development – Staff should strive to become and remain proficient in professional practice and the performance of their duties.
   1. Staff should accept responsibility or employment only on the basis of existing competence or the intention to acquire the necessary competence.
   2. Staff should not misrepresent professional qualifications, education, experience, or affiliations.

4. Service
   1. Staff should regard as primary the service obligation of the social service profession
   2. Staff should retain ultimate responsibility for the quality and extent of the service that they assume, assign or perform.
   3. Staff should act to prevent practices that are inhumane or discriminatory against any person or group of persons
5. Integrity – Staff should act in accordance with the highest standard of professional integrity.  Do Not cross any professional boundaries with our clientele and know your job duties and adhere to agency guidelines.
6. Personal Appearance – Discretion in style of dress and behavior is essential to the effectiveness of our service delivery and interactions with the public. Staff are, therefore, required to dress in attire appropriate to their workplace and to behave in a professional, businesslike manner.
   1. Good judgment in the choice of work clothes is expected. Business class casual is the accepted norm for current work attire.  Should this be abused at the discretion of the Agency Director this policy may be revoked at any time.
   2. Also at the discretion of the Executive Director, certain days may be designated for more relaxed or casual dress. Staff should, however, dress at all times in a way that best represents JHV and appropriate to their work responsibilities.
   3. All staff are required as a part of their work attire to wear an agency issued badge at all time while performing your visitation duties.  NO EXCEPTIONS!!
   4. Staff is also required to keep the work environment clean and orderly.
   5. Before departing at the end of the workday, staff is required to secure all files and cabinets and clear all work materials of a sensitive or confidential nature.
   6. If staff fails to adhere to the JHV standards with respect to appearance and conduct, staff will be subject to corrective action.
   7. If you use something or borrow anything, please return it to its rightful place.  Nothing is to be removed from the JHV offices without the express permission of the Agency Director.

6. Safety and Health – Joining Hands Visitation is committed to providing a safe and healthful working environment. Staff is expected to work diligently to maintain safe and healthful working conditions and to adhere to proper operating practices and procedures designed to prevent injuries and illnesses.  Staff responsibilities in this regard include:
   1. Exercising maximum care and good judgment at all times to prevent accidents and injuries; Report to supervisor and seek first aid for all injuries, regardless of how minor;
   2. Report unsafe conditions, equipment, or practices to supervisory personnel;
   3. Using safety equipment provided by JHV at all times;
   4. Being conscientious in observing all safety rules and regulations at all times; and
   5. Notify supervisors, before the beginning of the workday, of any medication you are taking that may cause drowsiness or other side effects that could lead to injury to you or your co-workers.