Our code of ethics.

Why these standards matter

Fairness and accountability guide our work, including how we hold ourselves to account. This code applies to the founder and anyone acting on behalf of In Your Corner.

Read our mission and what drives us.

The standards we work to

1. Families’ interests and informed choice

We help families understand their options, the evidence and the possible consequences. We do not pressure people into our preferred outcome or take over decisions that belong to them. We explain what we can offer and what has actually been agreed.

2. Children and young people have a voice

We take children’s and young people’s wishes, feelings, understanding and communication needs seriously. Their views may differ from a parent’s. We make space for that difference and consider whose decision, consent or authority is required rather than assuming a parent can decide every matter.

3. Honest evidence and fair challenge

We distinguish established facts, reported concerns, allegations, professional opinions and findings. We do not invent, exaggerate or knowingly misrepresent evidence. We acknowledge uncertainty and correct material mistakes. Supporting a family does not mean endorsing every allegation or pursuing every requested action.

4. Independent judgement

We assess the issue on its facts. We challenge decisions where there is a proper reason and recognise when an explanation or decision is supported by the evidence. Disagreement does not, by itself, establish wrongdoing. We do not use families’ cases to pursue personal grievances.

5. Fair and respectful access

We treat people with dignity and do not discriminate. We consider communication and accessibility needs and explain practical limits honestly. Acceptance depends on scope, capacity, conflict and suitability; personal connections, gifts or public attention must not buy priority.

6. Consent, privacy and proportionate sharing

We explain how information will be used, ask only for what is needed and follow our Privacy Notice. Authority to communicate with another organisation is separate from data-protection consent. Confidentiality is not absolute where lawful and necessary safeguarding or other disclosure is justified; our Safeguarding Statement explains that distinction.

7. Conflicts of interest

We identify and record personal connections, previous involvement and other interests that could affect a case. We explain relevant conflicts without exposing another person’s confidential information. Where a conflict cannot be managed fairly, we decline or step back and explain the available next steps. These standards apply to the founder as well as anyone working with IYC.

8. Competence, capacity and reliability

We only agree work we can reasonably support. We are clear about the agreed task, responsibilities and limits. We do not guarantee decisions, diagnoses, placements, waiting times or outcomes. If our availability or ability to help changes, we explain that promptly and discuss outstanding actions and deadlines.

9. Boundaries, gifts and influence

We do not exploit a family’s vulnerability or use casework for personal, financial or inappropriate relational benefit. Advocacy is free to families. Gifts must not influence acceptance, priority or advice; any gift that could create obligation or compromise independence should be declined. We do not accept payment for steering families towards a particular provider.

10. Accountability and learning

We welcome questions, acknowledge mistakes and explain our decisions. People can raise concerns without being pressured to withdraw them. Complaints follow the published complaints process, including its independent-review arrangements. Safeguarding allegations follow the safeguarding route and must not be treated only as service complaints. Nobody should investigate or finally determine a safeguarding allegation about themselves.

If something falls short

If you believe IYC has not met these standards, tell us what happened and which action or decision concerns you. Use our complaints procedure for service concerns and our safeguarding routes for concerns about harm or the conduct of a person working with IYC. You can use the appropriate external safeguarding route directly.

We should record the concern, consider conflicts, explain the appropriate route and consider corrective action. Where conduct or a conflict makes continued involvement inappropriate, that person should step back from the work concerned. Any action must respect confidentiality, fairness and safeguarding requirements.

This is IYC’s own public code. It does not represent external accreditation or membership of a professional regulatory body.

Published 27 September 2026. We will review this code when our work or governance arrangements change.

Privacy · Safeguarding · Service boundaries · Editorial standards