This resource is from the Issues section. This page contains details of the Domestic Violence Board code of conduct.

Sections available here:

• Domestic Violence Board - code of conduct
  • Rights
  • Responsibilities
  • Role of the Chair(s)
  • Expectations
  • Complaints

Domestic Violence Board - code of conduct

The following is the code of conduct for participants of the MPA Domestic Violence Board. All participants of the Board are expected to abide by this Code, whether in their dealings at Board meetings and/or between Board meetings. Failure to do so can result in disqualification from the Board. The key rights and responsibilities of the Code are:

Rights

• to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect;
• to work in a climate free from intimidating, humiliating or hostile treatment;
• to expect that concerns raised at the Board will be treated and, if necessary, investigated fairly, confidentially and within a reasonable timescale;
• not to be treated unfairly or victimised for raising an issue.

Responsibilities

• to not discriminate on grounds of colour, race, ethnic origin, gender; age, religion, political or other opinion, disability or sexual orientation;
• to strive to not to do anything which compromises, or which is likely to compromise, the impartiality of those who work for, or on behalf of, the Authority;
• to listen to other’s views, whilst also being able to constructively challenge;
• to comply with the letter and spirit of the MPA’s Equal Opportunities Policy (see attached);
• to always refer any matter falling within this Code to the Secretariat to the MPA Domestic Violence Board (MPA Race & Diversity Unit).

Role of the Chair(s)

• To manage Board meetings;
• To assist in leading discussions and debates;
• To encourage and facilitate participation from attendees;
• To provide advice and give ruling on processes;
• To broker and mediate in disputes;
• To ensure meetings keep to time.

Expectations

• It is expected that the MPS and other stakeholders (e.g. local authorities; CJS partners, etc) will submit papers to Board meetings as and when requested; as much notice as possible will be given by the Secretariat to the Board to ensure that authors are given as much notice as possible. Whilst it may be appropriate for attendees to criticise the contents of reports, this must not amount to a personal attack on the author. In such instances, the Chair will intervene. Should such behaviour persist, attendees may be asked to leave the meeting and be disqualified from Board membership.

Complaints

• If a complaint is made in reference to an attendee of the Board (who is not a MPA member) and which falls within this Code, this should be made in writing to the Secretariat to MPA Domestic Violence Board (MPA Race & Diversity Unit).
• If there is a complaint about an MPA member's conduct on the Board to the extent that they may have breached the MPA's own code of conduct, this should be made in writing in the first instance to the Secretariat to MPA Domestic Violence Board (MPA Race & Diversity Unit).