Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance in the practical application of CAP’s Christian ethos, values and culture, as well as policies and legal obligations. This Code of Conduct Policy helps us meet the high standards of integrity and professionalism expected of us.

It is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of appropriate actions and behaviour or to address every situation.

Application

This Code of Conduct applies to all support office employees, coaches, volunteers, or contractors effective, from 1 July 2024.

It is key that anyone working for or representing CAP in any context follows this Code of Conduct and any behaviour that deviates from the expectations outlined in this policy may lead to further investigation and where appropriate disciplinary action.

The above excludes volunteers who do not have a volunteer agreement directly with CAP. 

CAP’s Values Overview

CAP’s three values guide the approach that every person working for or representing CAP should bring to their mahi. They frame how we act in any given situation and are the compass that keeps us in tune with what matters most – our clients.

You should be familiar with CAP’s values and be constantly mindful of how you are outworking each of the values in your day-to-day mahi and decision-making.

Mutual thriving

• Bringing health out of chaos requires our interdependence, always partnering together.
• With each piece of mahi, we pursue a win/win/win – for clients, for the stakeholder – for you, and me.
• We draw on the spirit of mutual flourishing inherent to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Giving our best to people we serve

• Those we serve – whānau, individuals, stakeholders – are people made in God’s image. Our quality of work reflects this.
• We seek to understand what thriving looks like for them – joining their strength with ours – so that clients are empowered or supported to reach their goals.

With Jesus

• Jesus is before us, at work in all things. We seek His leading, asking: ‘how am I bringing and developing my skills for this mahi?’
• We attune to situations in front of us through prayer, listening, evidence and constant learning.
• We want to see change for others; therefore, we must be prepared to be changed and formed also.

Respecting others

At CAP we believe that all people are created in the image of God, you are expected to demonstrate respect for all people at all times. Regardless of whether you agree with a person’s beliefs or decisions.

CAP does not accept any unlawful discrimination, as per the Human Rights Act 1993 and Employment Relations Act 2000.

Power differential

A power differential is the perceived authority, status, knowledge and capability difference between two people. This can arise in contexts where one person seeking help or support may place complete trust in a person providing that support or help.

It is important to be mindful of any power differentials in your working relationships, and particularly the power differential implicit within providing a service to CAP clients. You should thoughtfully seek to minimise the potential negative impact of that differential.

In line with this, it is not appropriate to form any romantic, emotional, or physical relationships with any clients. You are required to maintain appropriate boundaries with clients under all circumstances.  If you require any further clarity about a specific situation, speak with your line manager or People & Culture team.

In addition, if you are praying for any CAP Client, always ask first if you can pray for them. It is not appropriate to ask to lay hands on someone if you have met them for the first time, there is a gender difference, you are alone with a client or if there is any perceived power differential.

Receiving gifts

Gifts from clients

CAP clients are experiencing financial challenges, so it is important that no further financial strain is put on them. If a client wishes to express thanks to you with a gift, you may only accept small homemade or low value items from clients, such as a box of chocolates, or something they have grown in their garden or baked themselves.

You must not receive any cash gifts from clients, we ask that you politely decline the gift, stating that you are not able to accept it under CAP’s policy.

Gifts or Koha from others

You may keep a gift of approximate value $20 or less received in the course of your work without the need to disclose or add to the gift register.

Any other gifts you receive while at CAP must be disclosed to your line manager, who will pass it on to the People & Culture Director so that it can be added to the Gift Register.

The People & Culture Director will have a discussion with you regarding the most appropriate thing to do with the gift.

This may include: Keeping the gift for yourself; passing the gift on to CAP; passing the gift onto a client; sharing the gift with your team or another group; or another action as appropriate.

In exceptional cases, where there is concern that a gift could be seen to place an unnecessary burden on a vulnerable person or could in any other way pose a reputational risk to CAP, you may be required to return or politely decline the gift, stating that you are not able to accept it under CAP’s policy.

Privacy and confidentiality

CAP is committed to collecting, storing, using and disposing of any private information responsibly.

All CAP support office employees, coaches and volunteers are expected to complete CAP’s internal Privacy Training, the Privacy Commissioners Privacy ABC training and comply with CAP’s Privacy Policy & Privacy Statement. CAP’s Privacy Statement can be found on CAP’s website https://www.capnz.org/privacy-statement/

All privacy concerns must be raised to the Privacy Officer as soon as possible. All privacy concerns will be investigated and responded to as a matter of priority. Contact CAP’s Privacy Officer with any privacy concerns and refer to CAP’s Privacy Policy for further details.

Complaints & Comments

CAP is committed to service excellence and all complaints & comments are used as a means to improve the quality of our services.

All CAP support office employees, coaches and volunteers are expected to complete CAP’s internal Complaints & Comments quiz and comply with CAP’s Complaints & Comments Policy, Procedure and Guide.

Any complaints received are to be investigated and responded to as a matter of priority. 

Contact CAP’s Complaints Officer (Services Director) regarding any complaints and refer to CAP’s Complaints & Comments Policy, Procedure and Guide for further details.

Health & Safety

CAP recognises health and safety is everyone’s responsibility. This means that each individual must take all reasonable steps to make sure they are responsible for both their own health and safety and that of others. Each person has a responsibility to do what they can to avoid any accident or incident that could cause injury to yourself or others or damage to company property. 

You should follow good health and safety processes and comply with CAP’s Health & Safety Policy at all times, and immediately notify CAP’s Head of Health, Safety and Environment (hands@capnz.org) if you have any health and safety concerns. This includes promptly reporting asap any near misses, incidents or accidents that occur while you are carrying out your role and representing CAP. Refer to CAP’s Health & Safety Policy for further detail.

Protecting CAP

Representing CAP

You should always act in a way that demonstrates that your honesty is beyond question and behave in a way that does not bring CAP or anyone associated with CAP into disrepute. Bear in mind that you may be seen as a representative of CAP even in situations where you are not conducting CAP work (e.g. at church).

You should not directly or indirectly make any public statement about CAP or imply that you are representing CAP or CAP’s position on a subject unless you have direct authority from CAP to do so.

When sharing about CAP on social media, only share your own experiences. You should not share about clients other than reposting or sharing any stories that CAP has officially published.

Conflict of Interest

If you become aware of a relationship or arrangement which has the potential to either be, or be seen as, a conflict of interest with your CAP work, you should notify your manager so that they can ensure CAP’s processes for evaluating and managing conflicts of interest are followed.

You are required to disclose romantic workplace relationships to the People & Culture Director, if there is a potential or actual conflict of interest (e.g. manager and direct report).

Refer to CAP’s Conflict of Interest Policy for further details.

Financial and other arrangements

No CAP employee, coach, volunteer or contractor may:

• Enter into a personal financial arrangement with a client. This includes: lending a client money; receiving money from a client; selling goods or services to a client; paying a client for goods or services; selling goods or services on behalf of a client.
• Recommend a client financial services, investment schemes or other services that are not provided or approved by CAP.
• Enter into a non-financial barter exchange or loan/borrowing arrangement with a client that you directly, or indirectly, receive benefit from.

Following law and policy

As a part of giving our best to people we serve, CAP is committed to remaining aligned at all times with New Zealand law and best practice. As you carry out your role you must do so within the parameters of all New Zealand law, regulations and rules. You must also follow CAP’s Policies and Procedures.

If you have a concern about any conduct that may breach the law or CAP’s Policies/Procedures, you should let your manager know immediately. If you are not able to obtain a satisfactory response to your concern, or the concern is of a nature that could seriously affect the organisation and its reputation, you may report your concerns directly to the Head of Partner Services and Support (for Debt Coaches) or the People & Culture Director (for Support Office employees, other volunteers or contractors).

Financial stewardship

CAP is tasked with stewarding donated funds effectively to support the work of ending money chaos in Aotearoa. In line with this you must not use, nor allow the use of, CAP property, resources or funds for anything other than the authorised purposes.