The youth workers code of ethics is a more comprehensive version of the PCANZ, focused specifically on the youth work context. This table details their compatibility.
| PCANZ code of ethics | Youth work code of ethics |
| Quality relationships | |
| Your primary relationship
1.1 The youth worker’s primary relationship is with the young person they engage with. |
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| Behaviour covered by the code
2.1 Covered by the Code. This Code covers any behaviour, whether connected to their work or personal time, when it relates to or affects a youth worker’s practice. |
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| Ministers will deal truthfully with people, encouraging free and open discussion, upholding their best interests, rights and well-being. | Your conduct
3.1 Youth workers will perform their work honestly and impartially, and avoid situations which might compromise their integrity.
3.2 Youth workers will avoid words and actions that could be misunderstood or cause offence.
3.3 Youth workers should avoid activities that would bring young people, fellow workers, their organisation, or youth work into disrepute.
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| Being transparent
4.1 Youth workers will be open, honest and accountable to young people. |
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| Obtaining informed consent
5.1 Youth workers will fully inform young people (and their family, school or employer where appropriate) of the youth work they are offering and the nature of any proposed involvement.
5.2 A young person must be able to freely enter into a relationship with a youth worker and be able to cease their involvement with the youth worker when they decide to.
5.3* Wherever possible steps must be taken so that both parental and youth consent is gained in any activities.
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| Ministers will respect the right of people to privacy and confidentiality of information except when there is a clear and imminent danger to those people or others, at which time they will be informed of those limits. | Confidentiality
6.1 The young person’s ability to trust the youth worker to hold information in confidence is fundamental to the relationship.
6.2 When it is clear that confidences might be shared, the youth worker will explain the boundaries of confidentiality.
6.3 When information is disclosed, the youth worker will endeavour to obtain the young person’s permission, ideally working with the young person to do so.
6.4 Youth workers will comply with the Privacy Act 1993.
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| Boundaries
7.1 Youth workers will create and maintain culturally and age-appropriate physical, emotional, sexual and spiritual boundaries.
7.2 The purpose of this is to ensure a safe space for all, build confidence in their role as a youth worker and avoid unhealthy, dependent relationships.
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| Ministers will recognise that sexual intimacy in the pastoral situation is unacceptable and will not subject people to sexual exploitation, sexual harassment or sexual abuse. | Sexual boundaries
8.1 Youth workers will be aware of compromising thoughts or situations and ensure that strategies are in place to help them deal safely with the situation.
8.2 Sexual acts between youth workers and young people they connect with in their capacity as a youth worker are never acceptable.
8.3 Youth workers will not enter into a romantic relationship with a young person during the time they are working together. Once the youth work relationship has finished, youth workers will not enter into a romantic and/or sexual relationship until the power relationship is determined to no longer influence personal decision making. This decision will be made in consultation with their support network, including within supervision.
8.4 Youth workers will not engage in sexual harassment; nor will they tolerate sexual harassment of others (defined in the Human Rights Act 1993).
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| Ministers will recognise that there are limits to their competence and will refer people to others when this proves necessary or desirable. They will not attempt counselling without training. | Knowing your limits
9.1 The youth work relationship has limitations. Youth workers have a responsibility to be conscious of the limits of their role, skills and competencies, and must carefully consider whether they can take on particular roles or tasks.
9.2 In situations beyond their role and/or skill-base, youth workers will refer to and/or seek assistance from networks available in the wider community.
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| Ministers will not abuse their position by taking advantage of people for personal, financial or institutional gain.
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Personal agendas
10.1 Youth workers will not abuse their youth work relationships for personal, professional, religious, political or financial gain.
10.2 While youth workers may agree or disagree with others’ beliefs, values, priorities and behaviour, they will treat all people with respect and dignity.
10.3 Youth workers will not abuse their position in order to manipulate young people to their political, religious, ethnic or cultural beliefs, or to specific communities.
10.4* Religious instruction must be carried out in a manner that is appropriate to the context and setting.
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| Exchanges between youth workers and young people
11.1 Any exchanges between young people and youth workers will be transparent and handled with sensitivity (acknowledging gifts/koha usually have emotional and/or cultural significance). |
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| Ministers will recognise that there is a cultural context for pastoral care and will act with awareness and sensitivity. | Diversity and cultural safety
12.1 The youth work relationship is one of mutual respect
12.2 Youth workers will understand that all aspects of young people’s lives are influenced by the values of the cultural contexts they belong to. A young person’s cultural context can be centred around: geographical community; identity/whakapapa; and/or community of interest.
12.3 Youth workers will create an environment that allows young people to safely express and explore their cultural identity.
12.4 Youth workers acknowledge and will challenge the attitudes, beliefs, policies and practices that act as barriers to safe youth work and undermine young people.
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| Connectedness | |
| Ministers will promote co-operation with colleagues, pastoral workers and members of other helping professions, treating them with consideration and respecting professional confidences.
Ministers will exercise stewardship in the time given to ministry, guarding against both over commitment and avoidance of responsibility.
Ministers will exercise stewardship in the time given to ministry, guarding against both over commitment and avoidance of responsibility. |
Working collaboratively
13.1 Youth workers will endeavour to relate to, create, strengthen and maintain young people’s connections to their key social environments, these being their whānau, peers, school/workplace and community.
13.2 Youth workers will recognise and honour the importance of the relationship with whakapapa through whānau, marae, hapū and iwi when working with Tangata Whenua.
13.3* Youth workers will take the time to get to know all parents/guardians where appropriate.
13.4* Youth Workers will keep parents/guardians informed, inviting them to participate in or observe the programmes being provided. |
| Consistent strengths-based approach | |
| 14.1 Youth workers will respect and co-operate with other professionals and/or other significant people involved in the young person’s life to secure the best possible outcomes for the young people they engage with. There may be issues of confidentiality to take into account.
14.2 Youth workers will relate to others in the community with integrity, respect, courtesy, openness and honesty.
14.3 Youth workers will seek guidance from Tangata Whenua with regard to working with rangatahi. |
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| Ministers will recognise the dignity and worth of every person and will offer pastoral care without unfair discrimination. | Working positively
16.1 Young people are an integral part of our society. Youth workers seek to have this acknowledged and valued by society as a whole.
16.2 Youth workers do not see young people as problems to be solved, and will avoid labeling young people negatively.
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| Ministers will use regular opportunities for spiritual growth, personal recreation and refreshment. | Looking after yourself
17.1 Youth workers and their organisations must take responsibility for the youth worker’s overall well-being.
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| Ministers will use regular approved supervision to maintain accountability and a high standard of pastoral care. | Supervision
18.1 Youth workers will actively participate in regular meetings (such as individual, group, tandem, peer, or team supervision) with skilled supervisors within the organisation and/or external to it. |
| Personal awareness
19.1 Youth workers will be aware of any physical or personal circumstances that may affect their ability to work safely and effectively.
19.2 Youth workers will approach differences in others with respect.
19.3 Youth workers will understand and reflect on the impact that their own culture, values, attitudes and beliefs have on young people. Where there is a conflict, a youth worker may refer the young person to a more appropriate support person, however the relationship with the young person should be maintained during this process. |
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| Youth participation | |
| Personal determination
20.1 Youth workers will support Tangata Whenua communities to care for rangatahi.
20.2 Youth workers, with the involvement of appropriate others in the young person’s community, will work in ways that encourage and enable young people to identify their own strategies to deal with challenges and the direction of their lives.
20.3 If a young person lacks capacity, or is otherwise unable to act with self-determination, there is a responsibility to protect the young person’s rights and welfare. |
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| Empowerment
21.1 Youth workers, as part of the young person’s wider community, seek to empower young people, ensuring they have a greater say in decisions that affect them and the world around them. |
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| Big picture | |
| Ministers will act to prevent and eliminate unfair discrimination in the wider community. | Rights and responsibilities
22.1 Youth workers acknowledge the provisions of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the various Conventions and legislation protecting the rights of young people. Youth workers will not unlawfully discriminate against young people for any reason.
22.2* Youth Workers will uphold high standards of practice in ministry and work for the advancement of those standards.
22.3* Youth Workers will exercise stewardship in the time given to ministry, guarding against both over commitment and avoidance of responsibility.. |
| Safe practice
23.1 It is a youth worker’s responsibility to maintain the safety of young people in any service, programme, event or activity provided. |
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Ministers will encourage as part of their pastoral task, participation in the shaping of social policies, advocating the promotion of social justices, improved social conditions and a fair sharing of the community’s resources. |
Agents of change
24.1 Youth workers will recognise the impact of social, political, economic and cultural structures on young people and seek to remove barriers that restrict life opportunities for young people.
24.2 Youth work is not limited to facilitating change within the individual young person, but extends to the social context in which the young person lives.
24.3* Youth Workers will uphold high standards of practice in ministry and work for the advancement of those standards. Youth Workers will exercise stewardship in the time given to ministry, guarding against both over commitment and avoidance of responsibility. |
| Good information | |
| Understanding New Zealand
25.1 Youth workers will take personal responsibility to participate in ongoing training on Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Reo me ona Tikanga Māori, and apply this learning where appropriate.
25.2 Youth workers will acknowledge our shared histories and past and present power relationships between different groups of people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
25.3 Youth workers will acknowledge there is a unique relationship between Tikanga Māori and good youth development practice in Aotearoa New Zealand – and will recognise the important role this relationship can play in nation-building.
25.4 Youth workers will acknowledge the importance of whakapapa and will explore their own cultural heritage.
25.5 Youth workers have an obligation to acquire legal knowledge, including Acts of Parliament, public policies and strategies that impact on young people. |
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| Ministers will seek to extend and enhance their knowledge. | Training and professional development
26.1 Youth workers will make it a priority to participate in formal and informal training to support and improve their practice.
26.2 Youth workers will have knowledge and understanding of this Code of Ethics and how it applies to their work. |