In relation to children I will:
- View each child firstly as a child and value their unique abilities.
- Respect that each child is part of a family and whānau and incorporate this understanding in all my interactions with children and their families.
- Acknowledge the major role of play in development and be sensitive to children's rights to play, their needs for stimulation, enjoyment, choice and preference.
- Interact with children in ways which enhance their development and value their achievements.
- Identify, value and build upon the abilities and strengths of each child.
- Promote safe, healthy and stimulating environments that optimise children's well-being and development.
- Work to ensure that children are not discriminated against on the basis of ability, diagnosis, label, gender, religion, language, culture or national origin.
- Acknowledge the cultural and linguistic diversity of children and families and adapt practices accordingly (eg. cultural consultation/interpreters).
- Engage in practices that are respectful of and ensure the safety (emotional, physical and cultural) of children and in no way degrade, endanger, exploit, intimidate or harm them.
- Act on behalf of children to protect their physical and emotional well-being in accordance with the Vulnerable Children’s Act of 2014.
- Uphold appropriate privacy and confidentiality (as per Privacy Act and Health Information Code).
- Acknowledge and encourage the right of Maori children to access kaupapa Maori education and intervention services.
- Uphold the principles of partnership, participation and protection.
In relation to colleagues I will:
- Work to communicate effectively, act with integrity and build professional trust, respect and openness.
- Value the personal and professional strengths that my colleagues bring to the team.
- Support Early Interventionists having access to high quality professional support and development.
- Respect the perspectives that different disciplines bring to the understanding of the needs of each child, family/whānau, service and community.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality.
- Actively support a working environment that is spiritually, physically, culturally, emotionally and professionally safe.
- Respect the right of tangata whenua to learn, interact and participate in tikanga Maori, attendance at hui Maori, tangihanga.
- Support tangata whenua having access to high quality early intervention/special education training and professional support and development in a kaupapa Maori context.
In relation to myself as a professional I will:
- Engage in ongoing professional development and keep up-to-date with new developments in early intervention.
- Consistently reflect on my practice and ensure I engage in peer review and appropriate supervision.
- Work within the boundaries of my profession and qualifications.
- Be an advocate for children, early intervention and the services/agencies that support the children and their families and whānau.
- Enhance the community's perception of my profession.
- Ensure my practices are culturally appropriate and actively promote anti-racist attitudes.
- Demonstrate in my behaviour and language that children are not discriminated against.
- Ensure that I maintain professional standards in all documentation.
- Ensure that I maintain personal integrity, truthfulness and honesty in all professional activities.
- Commit to upholding the standards, values and practices expressed in the Code of Ethics.
In relation to families/whānau/caregivers I will:
- Uphold the principles of partnership, participation and protection.
- Respect each family and whānau's perspective and priorities for their child and make this the starting point for intervention.
- Develop collaborative partnerships with families and whānau respecting carer and family expertise about the children and share my professional knowledge and understanding sensitively/respectfully.
- Work to develop positive relationships with families and whānau that are based on shared decision-making, mutual trust and open communication.
- Acknowledge and respect the uniqueness of each family and whānau, and the significance of its culture, customs, language, beliefs and the community context in which it operates.
- Work to ensure that families have access to cultural support services, including interpreters.
- Assist each family and whānau to develop a sense of trust and connection to the services in which their children participate.
- Maintain confidentiality and respect each family and whānau's right to privacy.
- Provide full and accurate information to families and whānau in language that is clear and understood to enable them to make informed decisions.
- Provide information to both parents unless precluded by legal considerations.
- Acknowledge, respect and support families in the context of whānau, hapu and iwi.
In relation to community and society I will:
- Support the development and implementation of policies and laws that promote the well-being of children and families.
- Promote co-operation among all agencies and professions working in the best interests of children and families.
- Promote children's best interests through community education and advocacy.
- Support continuous service evaluation and accountability to clients and the community.
- Acknowledge whānau, hapu and iwi as the community context for tangata whenua.
- Recognise the unique nature of whānau hapu and iwi eg. dialectal, tikanga, and kawa differences.