Safe and Respectful Culture

Voluntary and community organisations have an obligation to create a work environment which is safe and respectful towards those who work there (staff and volunteers) and towards beneficiaries. Some of the ways that organisations can ensure this is:

• Role-model a safe and respectful culture and appropriate attitudes and behaviour from the top of the organisation
• Make it clear in the organisation’s statement of values
• Review the extent that staff live the values as part of their annual appraisal
• Make it clear in the organisation’s terms and conditions of service
• Make it clear in the organisation’s disciplinary rules
• Make it clear in the organisation’s code of conduct
• Make it clear in the organisation’s health & safety policy
• Make it clear in the organisation’s safeguarding policy
• Make it clear in the organisation’s bullying and harassment policy
• Make it clear in the organisation’s equal opportunities policy
• Make it clear in the organisation’s diversity, inclusion and good relations policy(ies)
• Have an effective grievance process
• Have an effective complaints process
• Regularly survey staff, volunteers and beneficiaries on the extent that they feel safe and respected
• Actively listen to staff, volunteers and beneficiaries