PART 9MANAGEMENT AND STAFFING

Order and discipline

59.  The director and each member of staff in a centre shall encourage good order and discipline in a centre through positive influence and example and promoting mutual respect.

General duties of members of staff

60.—(1) It shall be the duty of every member of staff to conform to these rules and the policies and procedures of a centre, to assist and support the director in their maintenance and to comply with and act upon his lawful direction.

(2) A member of staff shall respect the privacy of each child in a centre consistent with the nature of the centre and communal living and shall not disclose information concerning a child or his family to anyone not authorised to receive it.

(3) A member of staff shall perform his duties conscientiously and shall be courteous towards other staff and members of the public.

(4) A member of staff shall inform the director promptly of any breach of these rules or of any abuse or impropriety which comes to his knowledge.

(5) No member of staff shall take part in any business or pecuniary transaction with or on behalf of a child without the permission of the director.

(6) Each member of staff shall promote and safeguard the best interests of children in a centre.

(7) A member of staff in a centre shall inform the director, or a healthcare officer, promptly of a child who appears to be unwell, or whose behaviour or attitude indicates, in the opinion of the member of staff, that he may have suicidal intentions or otherwise require further attention or advice.

(8) A member of staff shall not contact a person whom he knows to have been held in a centre or a relative or friend of such a person except as permitted in policy promulgated by the director.

Gratuities

61.—(1) A member of staff shall not receive any unauthorised fee, gratuity or other consideration in connection with his office.

(2) If a member of staff is offered a fee, gratuity or any other consideration by any person he shall inform the director.

Contracts

62.  Except with the permission of the Secretary of State, a member of staff shall not directly or indirectly have any interest in any contract or tender connected with the centre nor receive a fee, gratuity or other consideration from any contractor, or from any person tendering, or any other person whatever in connection with any such contract or tender.

Communications with the media

63.—(1) Except with the permission of the Secretary of State, a member of staff shall not directly or indirectly communicate to a representative of the press, television or radio or to any other person matters which he has come to know in the course of his duties.

(2) A member of staff shall not, without the permission of the Secretary of State, publish any matter or make any public statement relating to the administration of a centre or to any child detained or formerly detained therein.