Member Code of Conduct

1.0 Our Commitment to You
Early Childhood is the leading national children’s advocacy and membership organisation. We work in partnership with early years, school age care and childminding settings to ensure that every child is thriving and learning. We advocate for an effective and inclusive system which values, supports and invests in childhood, children and services.

Early Childhood Ireland welcomes both positive and negative feedback from members and potential new members. Early Childhood Ireland listens and responds to the views of our members so that we can continue to improve.

Early Childhood Ireland provides a high-quality service to our members and potential new members, in a safe and secure environment. It is our duty to ensure, as far as it is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare of our employees and board members. We set the highest standard of professional conduct at all times and work towards the Organisation’s Vision and Mission. To ensure the best possible experience for our members and potential new members. we have established guidelines for participation which will underpin all engagements between staff and members.

We require our members to adhere to this Code of Conduct.

Early Childhood Ireland board and staff will communicate with members and potential new members with integrity, diligence, impartiality, courtesy, consideration, fairness, and promptness. At all times, our employees have a right to expect dignity and respect from our members. We ask our members and potential new members to note that certain behaviours will not be accepted in the provision of any of our services or in any communications.

Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct, which we expect to be a rare occurrence, may result in a withdrawal of some or all member services, which while regrettable may be necessary. We reserve the right to alter, suspend or terminate membership of our organisation to anyone who violates this Code of Conduct.

2.0 Purpose
The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to:
• Provide a fair and transparent process for Early Childhood Ireland’s board and staff when raising a complaint
• Address a complaint promptly and efficiently
• Resolve a complaint in a satisfactory manner

3.0 Scope
This Code of Conduct covers all communications with Early Childhood Ireland’s board and staff, including in person, by electronic means, at meetings and conferences and so on.

4.0 We expect Members and their employees, agents, and representatives to:
• Show respect and courtesy to Early Childhood Irelands board and staff at all times
• Treat staff with respect and dignity
• Allow staff reasonable time to respond to requests for information, assistance or any of our services. What is deemed reasonable time will depend on the nature of the query

4.1 We will not tolerate conduct observed by Early Childhood Ireland such as:
• The use of foul, abusive, offensive, or discriminatory language in any interaction with or when referring to any member(s) of Early Childhood Ireland or staff
• Raised voices or shouting during any communications with staff
• Making threats or unreasonable demands towards or staff
• Identifying or criticising any staff member(s) publicly and/or online
• Sharing images of any staff member(s)
• Discriminating against any staff member on the grounds of race, colour, age, religion or political beliefs, disability or illness, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, class, learning abilities, appearance, or employment status
• Engaging in any form of harassment

4.2 Early Childhood Ireland will:
• Ask a member who is breaching this Code of Conduct to cease any behaviours outlined above and afford the member the opportunity to desist from the behaviour
• End a call or an email or other communication politely, where they feel this is necessary by informing the caller that they are doing so and why
• Notify a manager as soon as possible about the incident(s) using procedure laid out below
5.0 Allegations of Breach of this Code
Early Childhood Ireland, as an employer, takes our responsibilities around due care of our staff seriously and makes the following commitments:
• Always investigate and treat allegations of unacceptable behaviour seriously
• Investigate and adjudicate upon the complaint fairly and impartially and in accordance with the requirements of natural and constitutional justice
• Take action appropriate to how serious the alleged breach of the code is, and in line with the procedure set out below

6.0 How to make a complaint of alleged misconduct
A complaint of alleged misconduct against a member may be made by Early Childhood Ireland board and/or staff of Early Childhood Ireland. The complaint should be made in writing to the Membership Manager who will refer it to the Senior Management team. For the purposes of this Code, in writing shall mean by letter or by email
• Where a complaint is made by a member of the senior management team or a Board member, they will automatically be recused from any of the proceedings/ or investigation

7.0 Complaint Investigation
• An investigator will be appointed by the Senior Management Team to investigate the matter. This person may be someone within organisation who does not have prior knowledge of the complaint or where necessary, an independent third party. For the avoidance of any doubt the person investigating will not adjudicate on the matter. Their role is to investigate and present findings to the Senior Management team
• The member concerned will be contacted and advised that a has been made and that if substantiated it amounts to a breach of the code of conduct
• A copy of the complaint will be put to the member within 14 working days of the member being notified of the complaint
• The member will be given adequate opportunity to respond, and a written response should be submitted within fourteen working days of receipt of complaint
• Due consideration will be given to the details of the complaint and the response given by the member.
• A decision will be taken in relation to the withdrawal of some or all member services such as but not limited to processing of Garda vetting, access to the Quality Support Team, advertising on our Jobs Board, certain Member Discount Deals including those in the ECI Online Shop, online access to membership only free resources such as policies and procedures, attendance at our National Annual conference or other member events and participation in the policy and implementation panel, and other member-involving policy working groups
• Details of the decision will be communicated to the Member by letter within fourteen working days of the decision being reached

8.0 Appeal
• The member will have the opportunity to Appeal the decision in writing to the CEO within fourteen working days of receipt of the written decision
• The decision will be reviewed by the CEO and a response in writing will issue to the Member, within fourteen working days. The appeal is in relation to the decision of the senior management team and is not a re-hearing of the matter
• The member has the right to bring an appeal to the Board of Early Childhood Ireland which is the final arbiter and must be made within fourteen working days of receipt of written response of CEO. The appeal should be made in writing to Chairperson of the Board.

9.0 Record of Complaints and Confidentiality
• Early Childhood Ireland will keep an accurate and detailed record of each complaint for a period of three years from the date the complaint has been dealt with. Complaint information is stored confidentially.

10.0 Review and Continuous Improvement
• Early Childhood Ireland will regularly review the effectiveness of this Code of Conduct and make improvements as necessary to ensure a fair and efficient complaints-handling process

11.0 Dissemination of Policy
Early Childhood Ireland’s Code of Conduct will be made readily available to all members through our website.

The application of this Code of Conduct and the withdrawal of services procedure does not infringe or violate any rights that any member has by law.