Contractors code of conduct

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must take reasonable action to keep themselves and others safe
• owe a duty of loyalty to the council
• must not work against the best interests of the council
• must not behave in a way which is incompatible with their role

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must not engage in, or otherwise be involved in, any bribery or corrupt activities or practices
• must avoid any reasonable suspicion of bribery and/or corruption
• must make sure they comply with any legal requirements
• must not use any assets, equipment, or other facilities of the council for personal use, or for any other use than that that they have been provided for

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must follow all policies, procedures, and rules of the council that have been provided by the council
• must not express their political opinions during the course of their work. They mustn't allow their personal and/or political opinions and/or interests to interfere with their work on behalf of the council

Contractors working on our behalf:

• are accountable to the council for their actions and decisions whilst working on behalf of the council
• must cooperate fully with any council investigations into their behaviour or conduct

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must use and share information appropriately, having regard to their data protection obligations
• must treat information with the appropriate level of confidentiality and sensitivity

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must deal with residents, councillors and employees of the council without bias
• must treat people with fairness and equality
• must maintain professional relationships with vulnerable adults or children who are service users. They must not develop personal friendships and/or inappropriate relationships

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must seek permission from the council before talking to the media about any activity that is undertaken on behalf of the council
• must not post inappropriate content on social media which is a breach of their loyalty to the council

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must park legally, and courteously. They should avoid parking on grass verges, footpaths, disabled access, or designated spaces providing access for emergency services/refuse collections

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must wear and display identification badges. Badges should include a contact number for residents to call and confirm the person’s identity
• must wear uniform/branded clothing
• must maintain standards of dress and appearance appropriate to the type of work/visit to ensure safe and respectful working
• must attend work in a fit condition to undertake their duties in a safe manner. The use of recreational drugs and alcohol is not permitted, this includes working in homes, council spaces, or in vehicles

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must take reasonable steps to communicate with residents before any visits. Cold calling is not permitted
• must turn up at the agreed time and day. Where delays occur, they must tell residents at the earliest opportunity, and give them the chance to rearrange the visit
• must follow any information about residents’ individual needs. Take reasonable steps to tailor services to meet these needs
• always allow enough time for residents to answer the door before aborting a visit ‘no access’
• always leave a card if there is no access, explaining the purpose of the visit and how to rearrange it
• must not proceed with any visits inside tenanted homes unless there is a responsible person present
• must provide notification to households if work may impact neighbours or residents such as prolonged drilling on a neighbour’s party wall or erecting a scaffold outside a neighbour’s window. Notification should be proportionate and allow the person to make alternative arrangements

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must treat residents and their homes with respect and dignity
• must introduce themselves and explain who they are, why they are there, and how long they expect the visit to last
• must undertake a risk assessment and then discuss this with the resident. Communicate any necessary safety precautions or information on areas that need to be clear
• must not move resident’s possessions without their permission
• must respect residents’ privacy and cultures and pay attention to their needs and requests. Not all residents want to engage in conversation or make eye contact. This may be cultural, and/or linked to individual needs such as mental health issues, phobias, or a history of domestic violence

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must take reasonable care to make sure that no damage happens to tenant’s possessions, and minimise mess and disruption
• must wear shoe covers, and/or use protective floor coverings to protect carpets and other floor coverings
• should take reasonable steps to assist residents who are unable to move furniture and white goods themselves, where this is safe to do so
• must avoid excessive dust, fumes, and noise by adhering to safe working practice
• must always clean up and leave the home/area as tidy as it was before the work started. If they have caused excess mess or damage to resident's possessions, they must discuss this with the resident. They must also report this to their supervisor or manager

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must explain to the resident what work they've done, any outstanding actions, and any instructions (including a demonstration) on how to use or maintain any new equipment
• must agree any further visits needed with the resident or explain the next steps to arrange this. They shouldn't tell the resident to contact the council themselves

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must not smoke or vape inside any home or building (including empty homes)
• must not use offensive or inappropriate language
• must not discriminate, induce, or attempt to induce others to discriminate
• must not harass, abuse, or intimidate any person
• must only use residents own facilities (including electricity, gas, toilets, sinks, and kitchens) with their permission
• must dispose of any waste if they consume food and drink on any site
• should only play music and/or radio inside homes with the resident’s permission. Must not play inappropriate, offensive, or loud music under any circumstances (inside or outside)
• must not view, or share, inappropriate content on mobile phones or other devices, whether these are personal devices, or provided for work purposes

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must take all reasonable steps to make sure that homes/work areas are secure. Must keep doors and windows closed/locked (including communal doors)
• never prop fire doors, or communal doors open, or block emergency routes
• never store materials in communal areas without prior permission from the council
• never leave hazards unattended, particularly when leaving a home temporarily or where there are young children present. Must take temporary measures to isolate hazards if necessary and not rely on asking residents not to go into certain areas of their home
• must leave temporary facilities/measures in place if work isn't completed at the end of the day. Must not leave residents without essential services such as power, heating, cooking, toilet, or bathing facilities
• must not dispose of any waste in refuse chutes or residents own dustbins

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must avoid sharing personal opinions with residents about the appropriateness of work ordered or any other topics which are likely to cause conflict between residents and the council. Should raise any concerns with supervisors/managers
• must make sure that the resident understands the purpose of the visit and can ask questions and understand the responses. If language, or other communication needs are a barrier, they must arrange access to translation or interpretation services
• must avoid confrontation with residents. Must report any disputes to their supervisor/manager so that they can be resolved without escalation and risk to safety. Where appropriate, they should pause visits until they can agree a resolution
• must get approval from the council for any letter templates or communications before sending

Contractors working on our behalf:

• must not identify any personal data, the resident, or third parties in any photographs taken to record work (before, during, or after). They must not share these photographs for anything other than legitimate work reasons
• can only object to filming if they feel that it is compromising their health and safety. Residents can, by law, photograph and/or film inside or within the curtilage of their homes. This includes anyone working in there, if they don't share the images without consent of the person in the images