This policy is part of the DofE’s Safeguarding framework and it applies to all DofE staff and its volunteers. This includes agency staff, contractors, those on placement or secondment.

Document date and review schedule

Date of this version: July 2026.

Date by when this must be reviewed and any updates made: July 2027.

Definitions

Staff: anyone employed by DofE including agency staff, those on secondment or placement and contractors.

Volunteer: anyone carrying out a volunteer role for DofE in which they are managed by and/or it has been agreed in writing that they are directly responsible and accountable to DofE whilst carrying out their role. This includes but is not limited to trustees, volunteers for programmes such as DofE Direct and Young Ambassadors and others acting as ambassadors for DofE from time to time. The term excludes those persons acting in a volunteer capacity for LOs or AAPs or any organisation other than DofE.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure all DofE staff and volunteers know and understand DofE’s expectations in relation to their behaviour. This will include behaviour both inside and outside of work at DofE, whether paid or unpaid.

DofE is committed to promoting the welfare of our participants, staff, volunteers and others we may come into contact with, in the course of our activities. Safeguarding is at the heart of all we do. Setting standards for our behaviour and making sure we conduct ourselves within professional boundaries is key to building a safeguarding culture and putting it into practice.

This means holding one another to account and being willing to challenge behaviour that falls short.

Code of conduct

What the DofE expects of you as a staff member or volunteer

• Be an excellent role model at all times: this includes not smoking, vaping or consuming alcohol (including being under the influence from drinking earlier) in the presence of participants who are under 18 during any activity, programme or event delivered by or on behalf of the DofE. In rare and specific cases where alcohol is served at an external facing event (e.g. Awards ceremonies, fundraising events) and young people are present:
  • Any member of staff consuming alcohol must not be responsible for the care or supervision of the young person/ people at the event.
  • Any alcohol consumed must be in moderation.
• Create an environment where participants feel safe to express any concerns
• Encourage an open and transparent culture, where anyone can challenge inappropriate attitudes or behaviours
• Treat all participants and adults equally and with dignity and do not show favouritism
• Always work in an open environment avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication
• Remember someone under 18 is a child, regardless of how they may look or behave
• Always place the welfare of children and young people first
• Consider how you will safeguard adults with care and support needs
• Celebrate and respect difference and be alert to factors which may place some children, young people and adults at greater risk of abuse or harm
• Keep a respectful physical and professional distance. Do not initiate hugs
• Be aware of the effect that your words and actions may have
• If a participant or adult is distressed, offer comfort with words rather than by touching them
• Take concerns, allegations and disclosures seriously and report them immediately to the DSL for further action
• Treat information confidentially and share appropriately in order to safeguard
• Ensure LOs, AAPs and other partners are fully briefed about DofE Safeguarding arrangements and that they are able and willing to comply with DofE safeguarding requirements
• Follow the relevant DofE policies and procedures and seek clarity from the DSL if you are unsure.

Practices to be avoided

• Spending time alone (unsupervised) with children and young people. Where possible, remain where others are nearby or where you can be visibly seen
• Straying from the task or activity which has been agreed
• Being unnecessarily inquisitive
• Saying anything that might make the child, young person or adult feel uncomfortable or debased
• Saying anything that could be interpreted as aggressive, hostile or impatient
• Being drawn into personal conversations or introducing personal subjects
• Sitting or standing too close to a participant
• Standing over a participant or otherwise making them feel pressured
• Meeting other than at the pre-arranged venue
• Giving a participant a lift in your car, unless prior arrangements have been made or in exceptional circumstances such as a medical emergency, where this is appropriate.

You should never

• Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching
• Exchanging personal contact details including personal mobile phone numbers, social media name(s) and personal email address
• Allow participants to use inappropriate language or behaviour unchallenged
• Allow or encourage abusive peer activities (e.g., initiation ceremonies, ridiculing, bullying, cyber bullying, sexting, harassment, etc.)
• Exaggerate or trivialise safeguarding issues
• Do things of a personal nature for children, young people or adults that they can do themselves
• Make sexually suggestive comments to a participant, even in fun or engage in sexually provocative games
• Reduce a participant to tears as a form of control
• Allow allegations about staff or volunteers made by a participant, their parent or carer or other person to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon
• Promise that confidences will be kept secret.

You must not act in a way that would put another person at risk or bring DofE into disrepute. This includes failing to act when it is your duty to do so.

Breach of the Code of Conduct will be followed up by DofE in a way that is proportionate and in line with relevant policies. Serious or repeat breaches may lead to disciplinary action.

Professional boundaries

The Children Act 2004 states that anyone who comes into contact with children and young people in their work has a responsibility to safeguard and promote their welfare.

Understanding and maintaining professional boundaries is a key factor to safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk. Professional boundaries help create a safe space, demonstrating good safe practice to those DofE come into contact with. Maintaining professional boundaries can help protect our staff and volunteers from allegations.

Everyone working in a way that is guided by professional boundaries and a Code of Conduct is essential to DofE’s reputation and its commitment to safeguarding.

As such, the Code of Conduct and Professional Boundaries Policy is a standard that DofE expects all staff and volunteers to comply with.

Staff and volunteers have a responsibility to maintain public confidence in their ability to safeguard the welfare and best interests of children, young people and adults at risk. There may be times where an individual’s actions in their personal life could compromise their position within a work setting in relation to the protection of children, young people or adults at risk, loss of trust and confidence, or bringing the DofE into disrepute.

Staff and volunteers should behave in a manner that would not lead any reasonable person to question their suitability to work with children, young people or adults at risk.

Staff and volunteers must inform their line manager without delay of

• any cautions, convictions or if they have been arrested or charged with a criminal offence;
• they believe they may have crossed or blurred professional boundaries;
• they believe a colleague (staff or volunteer) has crossed or blurred professional boundaries.

What to do if you have concerns

If you have concerns that a DofE staff member or volunteer has breached the Code of Conduct and/or not maintained appropriate boundaries, you must act without delay and report it to the DSL.

Even where the breach or inappropriate behaviour seems small or a nagging doubt, it should be reported as a low-level concern so that appropriate action can be taken.

In the case of a low-level concern, the action taken may simply be a reminder to the individual concerned regarding DofE’s expectations.

Where the concern is more serious or immediate, you must report it as soon as possible and no later than 24 hours of the incident or behaviour coming to your attention. You should report the matter to the DSL.

Doing nothing is never an option. If in doubt, speak to the DSL who will advise you.

Ownership and responsibilities

It is the responsibility of all staff and volunteers to follow this policy.

The DSL shall be responsible for

• keeping this policy under regular review and updating it to reflect legislation and best practice;
• ensuring that staff and volunteers receive appropriate training, support and information regarding this policy.

Relevant policies and further information

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
• Managing Allegations Against Adults Procedures
• Low-Level Concerns Policy
• Complaints Policy
• Whistleblowing Policy
• HR and Volunteer Management Policies.