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Our Ethics

Our ethical policy sets out our commitment to being a sustainable, diverse and inclusive organisation. Read it here in full.

1. Introduction
2. Scope
3. Terminology
4. Our ethical commitments
5. Our ethical statements
6. Responsibilities

 

1. Introduction

  • Fire Fighters Charity is committed to be, at all times, and across all activities, a sustainable, diverse and inclusive organisation, driven by ethical values and principles.
  • This policy details those ethical principles as well as our commitments to embed these principles across our activities. It influences many other policies governing how we work and is supported by tools to assist decision making where there are conflicting demands.
  • This policy covers the ethical standards we set and uphold for ourselves and for others. In delivery of our policy commitments, we will be pragmatic and realistic: our ethical values are rooted in the real world, recognising that in some cases there will be conflicting demands or dilemmas, and a need to balance many differing aspects (for example, financial, ethical, environmental and reputational).
  • We expect organisations that we invest in, that supply us, or who partner with us to respect and comply with the detail and the spirit of the Ethical Policy wherever possible, and to be clear to us where this is not possible so that we can act with integrity in our decision making.
  • It is designed to help staff and volunteers to responsibly and positively make decisions or choices which carry ethical implications while undertaking their duties.

2. Scope

  • This policy sets out clear ethical statements on clinical care, health and wellbeing support and research, fundraising, investments, our purchasing and the environment.

3. Terminology

  • Staff, within the scope of this policy, means anyone employed by the charity, and in addition includes contractors, agency workers and students on a placement with the charity.
  • Volunteer means a person who formally gives their time, skills and experience to the charity and its work, either routinely or ad hoc and includes trustees, Company Members and Life Patrons.

4. Our ethical commitments

4.1 We will contribute positively to health and wellbeing provision in the UK and report our provision in a consistent and transparent format.

4.2 We will have clear internal policies outlining our commitment to employee and volunteer health and safety, safeguarding, diversity and inclusion, support and wellbeing.

4.3 We will manage our own environmental performance to an externally recognised standard, continually improving upon our material areas of impact.

4.4 We will avoid involvement in any of our ethical issues of concern within our own activities.

4.5 We will assess organisations we are, or are considering working with, for their involvement in any of our ethical issues of concern.

4.6 We will work with organisations to influence a change in behaviour or policy around issues of ethical concern linked to our charitable objectives, only if there is a genuine intent and motivation to reach our standards.

4.7 We will use our ethical principles to define our approach when undertaking and commissioning care and research.

4.8 We will optimise financial sustainability (including in investment decisions, procurement decisions, corporate partnerships, and influencing), without compromising our social or environmental values.

4.9 We will challenge our own performance on diversity and inclusion and take active steps to reflect and represent wider society in our governance and decision-making.

4.10 We will identify and root out barriers to inclusion within our workforce.

5. Our ethical statements

5.1 Clinical care, health and wellbeing support and research:

5.1.1. Clinical frameworks: We strictly comply with all appropriate UK law and Care Quality Commission standards as a minimum and have been commended on a number of activities for our outstanding levels of service and ethical approach.

5.1.2. Research: All staff involved in research and the provision of care have a responsibility to be aware of and have a thorough understanding of the ethical issues referred to in this policy.

5.1.3. Consent: Fire Fighters Charity recognises the absolute right of service users to refuse treatment. We actively support the ability of service users to make informed choices about all aspects of their care.

5.1.4. Resuscitation: In the unlikely event a service user is in need of cardiopulmonary resuscitation while receiving care or support from the charity we consider cardiopulmonary resuscitation is inappropriate when a valid Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order or other advance directive is in place and evidenced to us. This must be the original order.

5.1.5. Assisted Dying:  Fire Fighters Charity takes a neutral position on assisted dying – we neither support nor have a position on a change in the law in the United Kingdom. We support the existing right of a competent service user to refuse consent to any medical treatment.

5.1.6. Confidentiality: Fire Fighters Charity and all our staff and volunteers work in line with the eight data protection principles as laid down in the 1998 Data Protection Act. Service user information provided in confidence is not used or disclosed in a form that might identify a service user without his/her consent. Read more on our Privacy Policy.

5.1.7. Scientific research: We undertake and occasionally fund or support research into ways to improve the health and wellbeing of the fire services community or to understand the impacts of service in the fire sector on health and wellbeing. We do not carry out or fund research in any way involving animals.

5.2. Fundraising: Fire Fighters Charity raises voluntary funds in order to provide care, support, information and advice to members of the fire service community. We concur with the Fundraising Regulator’s Promise to be open, honest, fair and legal.

5.2.1. Supporters: Fire Fighters Charity respects the rights of its supporters to clear, truthful information on the work of the charity; to openly report how we spend donated monies and to manage donors’ information responsibly.

5.2.1.1. We will comply with the Charity Commission and UK law in every respect, including those regarding openness and honesty with our supporters and members of the public.

5.2.1.2.  As members of the Fundraising Regulator’s scheme, we follow its Fundraising Promise, which helps to ensure that organisations raising money for charity from the public do so honestly and properly.

5.2.1.3. We will respect the privacy and contact preferences of all donors. We will respond promptly to requests to cease contacts or complaints and act as best we can to address their causes.

5.2.2. Refusals: We abide by the law which requires us in deciding whether to accept or refuse a donation, to consider which action is in the charity’s best overall interest.

5.2.2.1. We will not accept donations made by donors whose activities appear to be in direct conflict with the best interests of our service users, such as tobacco companies.

5.2.2.2 We will not undertake business with companies or individuals who participate in activities which could cause detriment to the charity’s reputation, which will disproportionately decrease the amount of donations to further the work of the charity.

5.2.2.3 The responsibility of the judgement on whether Fire Fighters Charity should refuse a donation lies first with the Director of Fundraising who would make a recommendation to the Senior Leadership Team; this would be proposed to and considered by the relevant sub-committee of the Board of Trustees and as appropriate, the Board of Trustees.

5.2.3. Endorsements: Fire Fighters Charity will not endorse medical treatments, therapies or products or companies under a commercial arrangement.

5.2.4. Investments: Fire Fighters Charity holds investments in regulated markets and in property assets.

5.2.4.1. The Board of Trustees has appointed investment managers to whom all day-to-day powers of fund and investment management have been delegated.

5.2.4.2. A separate Investment Policy is maintained [released soon].

5.2.4.3. The charity’s objectives are to maximise the total investment return from the funds invested, whether that be through income or capital growth.

5.2.4.4. The trustees, in delegating their investment management, require their investment managers to pay attention to the standard investment criteria, namely the suitability of the class of investment and the need for diversification insofar as appropriate to the circumstances of the charity.

5.2.4.5. There are some guidelines on the type of investments or markets in which the investment manager(s) may invest on the charity’s behalf, and they are obliged to screen for these:

      • Restrictions relating to tobacco production, distribution and support
      • Restrictions relating to alcohol production and distribution
      • Restrictions relating to gambling operations or products
      • Restrictions relating to pornography and adult entertainment services
      • Restrictions relating to the manufacture of products tested on animals and the production or sale of fur.
      • Restrictions relating to companies considered persistent or controversial offenders in relation to the environment (this includes topics such as energy consumption thresholds, greenhouse gas emission thresholds, energy, climate change and air pollution, biodiversity, exploitation of sensitive eco-systems, farm animal welfare concerns)
      • Restrictions relating to companies that have controversies relating to human rights, labour rights, non-discrimination and child and forced labour.
      • There are other restrictions which may be shared upon request.

5.2.5. Purchasing: Fire Fighters Charity has standards relating to supplier relationships and the purchase of goods and services from its suppliers.

5.2.5.1. Modern Slavery: Fire Fighters Charity is committed to ensuring the organisation and its supply chains are free of slavery.

      • We acknowledge responsibility to comply with all principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and will perform due diligence to provide transparency throughout the organisation.
      • Fire Fighters Charity is satisfied from its own due diligence there is no evidence of any act of modern-day slavery or human trafficking within our organisation.
      • The slavery act applies not only to the organisation’s own employees but also to suppliers, sub-contractors and other business partners. Therefore, as part of our procurements, we investigate the Modern Slavery statements of all significant proposed suppliers to make sure no forced labour is used in our supply chains.
      • Fire Fighters Charity will not knowingly support or deal with any businesses involved in slavery or human trafficking.

5.2.5.2. Social responsibility: Fire Fighters Charity believes the following principles should apply to all suppliers, and that a member of the Senior Leadership Team will decide whether to work with a supplier who does not comply.

      • Suppliers must uphold basic human rights.
      • Suppliers must ensure that all employees have attained the minimum age required in order to be legally employed.
      • Employees must be free to choose to work for the supplier and free to leave the supplier and there should be no forced, bonded or involuntary labour.
      • Employee wages and benefits should at least meet legal requirements.
      • Employee working hours and holiday allowances should comply with legal requirements.
      • Employee working conditions must be safe and hygienic.
      • Suppliers should always work within the laws of their country.
      • Suppliers should have a policy of equality where there is no discrimination.
      • Suppliers must make efforts to minimise the impact on the environment by seeking continual reduction in the use of resources, waste generation and by re-using and recycling where practical without affecting quality.
      • No organisation within the supply chain should be linked to an oppressive regime or be involved in a business that may damage the reputation of or is unacceptable to the principles of the charity.
      • Employees should have freedom to join trade unions or other representative organisations.

5.2.5.3. Supplier management:

      • Suppliers’ confidential information must not be disclosed to any third party or used in any way without the consent of the supplier.
      • The relationship between Fire Fighters Charity and a supplier should be open and honest and no relevant information should deliberately be withheld by either party.
      • In competitive situations unsuccessful suppliers should be fully debriefed about the procurement process and the rationale around the decision making process.
      • All suppliers should be treated fairly at all stages of the procurement process.
      • The arbitrary or unfair use of purchasing power or influence is discouraged.
      • Any material personal interest which may affect, or be seen to affect, impartiality or judgement should be declared by any staff member or volunteer who may be involved in the procurement process.
      • It should be ensured that suppliers understand and agree to any negotiated terms and conditions.

6. Responsibilities

  • The Board of Trustees is ultimately accountable for this policy.
  • The relevant trustee sub-committee will consider any care and support quality and impact, fundraising, procurement or investment matters that require consultation, for example when a due diligence assessment presents an ambiguous situation.
  • The Chief Executive is the member of the Senior Leadership Team who is responsible for this policy on behalf of the Board.
  • The Senior Leadership Team members are responsible for ensuring that ethical standards within this policy are implemented by embedding them in relevant decision-making procedures and processes in their directorates.