an excerpt from the Board Manual, Policy B3-20, Board Code of Ethics
Recognizing its legal and ethical responsibility for the direction and operations of Lansdowne Children’s Centre, the Board of Directors will keep the following uppermost in all its decision making:
a) the health and well being of children and their families;
b) the delivery of high-quality services; and
c) the welfare of staff.
1.0 Ethical Duties and Obligations
1.1 Directors will exercise reasonable care (care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise in a like position and under similar circumstances) when making decisions as stewards of Lansdowne Children’s Centre.
1.2 Directors will be faithful to Lansdowne’s mission and will not act in a way that is inconsistent with the agency’s central goals.
1.3 Directors will protect the confidentiality of all information acquired in their role as a Board member.
1.4 Directors will avoid conflict of interest (a conflict of interest arises when a director has a personal interest in the result of a decision made by the Board of Directors). Directors will consider the interests of Lansdowne first, and will not use information obtained as a director for personal gain. Directors with a financial conflict of interest will not participate in discussions or vote on matters that affect decisions made by the Board of Directors.
1.5 A Director with a conflict of interest will be responsible for declaring such conflict.
1.6 Directors will present consolidated support for decisions made by the Board of Directors, so as to demonstrate the integrity of the Board.
2.0 Primary Organizational Responsibilities
2.1 The Board of Directors will be responsible for the creation of the mission and purpose of Lansdowne Children’s Centre and review them periodically for accuracy and validity. Each Director will understand the mission and support it.
2.2 The Board of Directors selects and supports the Executive Director through regular performance reviews. The Board of Directors will ensure that the Executive Director has the moral and professional support needed to further the goals of Lansdowne Children’s Centre.
2.3 As stewards of Lansdowne Children’s Centre, the Board of Directors will actively participate with staff in an overall planning process to assist in implementing the agency’s goals.
2.4 One of the Board of Directors foremost responsibilities is to ensure adequate resources for Lansdowne Children’s Centre to fulfill its mission.
2.5 The Board of Directors review and approve Lansdowne’s annual budgets and ensure that proper financial controls are in place.
2.6 The Board of Directors will ensure that programs are consistent with Lansdowne’s mission and monitor their effectiveness.
2.7 As the primary link to the community, the Board of Directors must clearly articulate Lansdowne’s mission, accomplishments and goals to the public, and garner support from relevant members of the community.
2.8 The Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for ensuring adherence to legal standards and ethical norms. The Board of Directors will establish pertinent policies and adhere to the provisions of Lansdowne’s Bylaws and Letters Patent.
2.9 The Board of Directors will articulate and make known its needs in terms of its members’ experience and skill to ensure a balanced Board composition. The Board of Directors will help orient new Directors to their responsibilities and to Lansdowne’s history, needs and challenges. The Board of Directors will evaluate its performance and identify and act on areas of improvement needed to fulfill its responsibilities.
