Professional Conduct Committee

The Committee will have responsibility for continuing to develop the Chartered Institute’s Member Code of Conduct, the Code of Behaviour for its events, have oversight of all complaints and disciplinary policies and processes relating to professional conduct, and set up disciplinary and appeals panels as needed.

This Committee will lead the Chartered Institute’s approach to embedding the highest possible standards of professional conduct across its membership and across the profession more broadly.

It will advise the Board and staff team on approaches to improving standards of professional conduct across the profession.

It will have oversight of all complaints (internal and external) and responsibility, where necessary, for forming disciplinary panels. It will have responsibility for making sure the Complaints & Disciplinary Rules fulfil their proper function of ensuring high standards of conduct by members of the Chartered Institute. It will ensure that people involved in the complaints and disciplinary processes are properly supported.

Key priorities will include:

• Lead on the development of the Chartered Institute’s Code of Conduct and Code of Behaviours at events, recommending any changes to the Trustees
• Advising and guiding the Trustees and staff on approaches to raise standards of professional conduct across the profession
• Oversight of complaints and disclosures received by Tell Jane and the Chartered Institute, and all subsequent investigations and all subsequent disciplinary processes
• Monitoring and evaluating the working of the complaints policies and procedures  and recommending any changes to the Trustees as necessary
• Having an overview of all issues related to professional conduct within the Chartered Institute’s membership and the profession
• Establishing disciplinary and appeals panels as necessary.

The Committee will report formally to the Board of Trustees every quarter.

The Committee shall comprise 7 members (including the Chair).

The Chair of the Committee shall be independent and recruited through an open process.

Membership of the Committee will be based on expertise and experience, balancing knowledge and understanding of professional conduct, complaints and disciplinary procedures with fundraising experience and expertise in order to properly fulfil the role of the Committee and support the regulatory and disciplinary functions of the Chartered Institute.

Members shall be recruited for an initial term of 3 years, renewable once with the agreement of the Board.

The Committee will support the Chartered Institute staff team to recruit, on an ongoing basis, a pool of suitably qualified people to be members of Disciplinary and Appeals Panels.

The Committee will establish Disciplinary Panels as it deems necessary.

The Committee will establish Appeals Panels as necessary to consider appeals by members who have been adjudged by a disciplinary panel of to have breached the Code of Conduct.

A member of the Professional Conduct Committee may not be a member of any Disciplinary or Appeals Panel, and vice versa.

Where any Disciplinary and Appeal Panel is considering a case which includes aspects related to any specific protected characteristics (including but not limited to age, gender, race, sexuality etc)  that Disciplinary or Appeal Panel shall include members who share that or those protected characteristics.

The Committee shall meet at least 3 times a year, and provide an update report to every Trustee meeting.

The Committee shall receive executive and secretariat support from the Head of Professional Conduct at the Chartered Institute.

The Committee will invite the CEO and/other Chartered Institute staff to attend as appropriate.

The Committee shall appoint a Deputy Chair, who shall lead meetings in the absence of the Chair.

Meetings includes virtual meetings, conference calls as well as face to face meetings.

Members of the Committee shall avoid any situation that may give rise to a conflict of interest between the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and the Professional Conduct Committee. Members shall make full and immediate disclosure to the Committee if any such conflict should occur and disqualify themselves from the relevant elements of Committee business.

All matters discussed at the Committee will be undertaken on a strictly confidential basis.

A copy of the Terms of Reference relating to the Committee and its membership shall be available on the Chartered Institute’s website and upon request.

The Committee will consult the Institute’s members as necessary in relation to changes it is considering in relation to the Code of Conduct, to the Complaints and Disciplinary Rules or other systemic issues it is considering in relation to the professional conduct of members.

Communication in relation to the discussions and decisions of the Committee will be undertaken by the Chartered Institute.

Membership of the Committee is voluntary and not generally subject to remuneration, however, reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed by the Chartered Institute and remuneration will be considered as necessary to bring on specific expertise and/or to ensure there are no barriers to participation.

Volunteers give their time, skills and expertise to support our work. There is no such thing as a typical volunteer. Individuals are motivated to volunteer for different reasons; to learn new skills, to use their spare time positively or because they believe in what we are doing.  

Whether you’re good with people, numbers or ideas, you’ll find it worthwhile to spend your time as a volunteer supporting the vibrant fundraising community within the UK. You’ll gain the kind of knowledge and experience you’d be hard pressed to find elsewhere. And all the while, you’ll be making a difference.

Volunteering with us is:

• Flexible – you give us the time you’re able to.
• Sociable – you’ll meet people from all walks of life and make new connections and friends.
• Useful – you’ll develop new skills and gain valuable experience.
• Fair – we’ll treat you as an individual, giving you all the training you need.
• Rewarding – you’ll know that the time you give can have an impact on the fundraising community.

• You can apply for a committee role by completing the form below. The deadline for applications is Monday 27 March 2023.
• We passionately believe that the development of an equal, diverse and inclusive fundraising community is integral to delivering excellent fundraising. To help us achieve this we need people with all types of skills and from all kinds of backgrounds. It's important to us that our staff and volunteers bring their skills and knowledge regardless of age, being married or in a civil partnership, being pregnant, on maternity leave, disability, race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religious belief, gender, or sexual orientation.
• If you have any questions about the roles, the process, or anything else, please contact us at recruitment@ciof.org.uk

The Chartered Institute of Fundraising (Chartered Institute) of Canopi, 7-14 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YR is the data controller.

The information you submit will be accessed by senior Chartered Institute staff on a need-to-know basis and shared with the committee chair and Chartered Institute lead staff member to enable the recruitment process. Forms will be kept until all applicants have been notified of the outcome of their application and will be deleted no later than 1 calendar month after this date.

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