Professional Behaviour
& Responsibilities

This Code of Conduct outlines the standards expected from anyone undertaking duties on behalf of Steve Gregson Photography when working with children and young people.

Adults working with children are in a position of authority, responsibility and trust and may be regarded as role models. It is therefore essential that they behave appropriately and are able to recognise and report behaviour that may cause concern.

Everyone working on behalf of Steve Gregson Photography is expected to understand and follow this Code of Conduct and the associated safeguarding requirements.

When working with children and young people, you should:

• promote relationships based on openness, honesty, trust and respect;
• avoid showing favouritism;
• be patient and respectful;
• exercise appropriate caution when discussing sensitive issues;
• ensure contact with children is appropriate and relevant to the professional activity;
• ensure an appropriate chaperone or responsible adult is present when working with children; and
• if you unexpectedly find yourself alone with a child, locate an appropriate chaperone or responsible adult as soon as reasonably possible.

When working with children and young people, you must not:

• allow safeguarding concerns or allegations to go unreported;
• take unnecessary risks;
• smoke, consume alcohol or use illegal substances in their presence;
• develop inappropriate relationships with children or young people;
• make unnecessary or inappropriate physical contact;
• take photography or video footage outside the agreed professional commission or authorised activity;
• make inappropriate promises to children;
• engage in abusive, exploitative or sexual behaviour of any kind;
• give children personal contact details or communicate with them through personal social-media accounts;
• behave in a way that could reasonably be perceived as threatening or intrusive;
• patronise, humiliate or belittle children or young people;
• use inappropriate or offensive language; or
• make sarcastic, insensitive, derogatory or sexually suggestive comments or gestures to, about or in front of children.

Any concern about inappropriate behaviour, safeguarding or the welfare of a child or young person must be taken seriously and reported promptly.

Where the work is taking place for another organisation, concerns should normally be reported through that organisation's safeguarding procedure and to its designated safeguarding lead or other appropriate responsible person.

Concerns relating to anyone working on behalf of Steve Gregson Photography should also be raised directly with Steve Gregson.

Anyone required to work under this Code of Conduct should confirm that they have read, understood and agreed to follow it.

The signed working copy may include fields for the individual's name, signature and date. The public website version does not require those signature fields.