Our Code of Ethics
Policy and Procedure
Policy:
Abound Community Services will maintain a code of ethics that ensures ACS will provide professional services with objectivity and with respect for the unique needs and values of the individual being provided services. ACS will ensure that the Code of Ethics policy is in written format in the ACS Employee Handbook and that all ACS employees and agents will receive a copy of the ACS Handbook upon hire, annually or as needed due to policy updates. Employees who do not comply with the code of ethics as stated in ACS’s Employee Handbook will be subject to Disciplinary Actions as outlined in the ACS Employee Handbook.
The Executive Director or Designee will be available to accept any questions or complaints and address them in a timely manner. Individuals expressing complaints will receive a written answer to their concerns within 7 days of registering the complaint
Procedure:
Abound Community Services, its employees and agents shall abide by the following code of ethics:
Provide professional services with objectivity and with respect for the unique needs and values of the individual being provided services.
Avoid discrimination based on factors that are irrelevant to the provision of services, including, but not limited to:
a. race
b. creed
c. gender
d. age
e. disability
f. sexual orientation
Provide sufficient objective information to enable an individual, or the individual’s guardian, to make informed decisions.
Accurately present professional qualifications of all employees or agents.
Require all employees or agents to assume responsibility and accountability for personal competence in the practice of the person’s profession and in the provision of services under this article.
Require employees or agents to maintain knowledge and skills required for continued professional competence including all requirements necessary for a licensed or accredited professional to maintain the professional’s licensure or accreditation.
Require professional, licensed, or accredited employees or agents to adhere to acceptable standards for the employee or agent’s area of professional practice.
Require employees or agents to comply with all laws and regulations governing a licensed or accredited person’s profession.
Require all employees or agents to maintain the confidentiality of individual information consistent with the standards of this article and all other laws and regulations governing confidentiality of individual information.
Require all employees or agents to conduct all practice with honesty, integrity, and fairness.
Require all employees or agents to fulfill professional commitments in good faith.
Require all employees or agents to inform the public and colleagues of services by use of factual information.
Prohibit advertising or marketing services in a misleading manner.
Prohibit engaging in uninvited solicitation of potential clients, who are vulnerable to undue influence, manipulation, or coercion.
Make reasonable efforts to avoid bias in any kind of professional evaluation.
Not subject its directors, officers, employees, contractors, subcontractors or agents to negative consequences following the reporting of:
a. Alleged abuse or neglect of an individual
b. Violation of provider’s policies and procedures
c. Violation of BDDS or FSSA policies and procedures
d. Violation of state and/or federal laws
e. For more information please see the ACS Whistleblower policy
Notify the appropriate party, which may include:
a. the division
b. the Indiana state department of health
c. a licensing authority
d. an accrediting agency
e. an employer
f. the office of the attorney general, consumer protection division
g. individual’s guardian
of any unprofessional conduct that may jeopardize an individual’s safety or influence the individual or individual’s representative in any decision-making process.
Not allow for nepotism during the conducting, directing, reviewing or other managerial activity of an investigation into an allegation of abuse or neglect, by prohibiting friends and relatives of an alleged perpetrator from engaging in these managerial activities.
Prohibits the giving of gifts to state employees, special state appointees, the spouse or un-emancipated child of an employee, the spouse or un-emancipated child of a special state appointee, an individual potentially receiving services from the provider, and any guardian or family member of an individual potentially receiving services.
Limits the provisions of gifts, to an individual receiving services or any family member or guardian of an individual receiving service, to Birthday or Holiday exchange of gifts, as this is a normal part of life and living in the community. All gifts of this nature should be of minimal expense. The exchange of cards or other small tokens of appreciation or recognition are not considered a gratuity but a part of the philosophy of what HWF feels is a normal part of life and community integration. No money is to be exchanged or accepted by any HWF staff member as a gift.