Our Standards of Professional Communication & Teamwork
How we treat people matters. The Arc’s Standards of Professional Communication ensures that our consumers, family members, visitors, vendors and co-workers are treated with dignity and respect.
These behavior standards promote consumer-centered care that emphasizes mutual respect, integrity, exceptional quality service and high standards of collaboration and cooperation. The care and safety of our consumers is always our top priority.
Expected Standards for Communication
The following behaviors support The Arc’s standards and are expected to be consistently demonstrated by our staff, whether at your worksite or in the community.
Treat everyone you encounter with courtesy, respect, dignity and fairness. This includes consumers, families, visitors, co-workers, students, volunteers and other professionals with whom you interact.
Uphold and reinforce the rights of consumers by maintaining consumer’s confidentiality and privacy.
Demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism through honesty and integrity in all work activities, communications and interactions.
Work together with all staff promoting teamwork and mutual trust.
Display a sense of pride and ownership in how you approach your work by taking initiative, proactively participating in staff meetings, education and training needed to perform your job.
Personal appearance and fitness for duty reflects upon each staff member’s professionalism. Cleanliness, grooming and professional attire for your position is expected. Staff must report promptly to a supervisor any individual who may be impaired in performing their assigned duties.
Be respectful of the diversity of others, including: their race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, national origin and/or religion.
Standard of Cooperative Teamwork
The Arc of Camden County believes in the concept of teamwork. We share the common goal of supporting the needs of the people we serve. We believe that we can best fulfill that common goal by working together in an atmosphere that encourages teamwork.
Teamwork is based upon a set of values that encourage people to show that they:
Consistently work with others in a positive and cooperative manner.
Respect the contributions and ideas of other team members.
Recognize the interests and achievements of others.
Listen and respond respectfully to points of view expressed by others.
Actively participate in the work of the team.
Are willing to explore the ideas of others and to question and re-think their own ideas.
Are willing to give, ask for, and receive help.
Can make an individual commitment to the group’s effort to reach a common goal.
Take responsibility for their actions and the consequences that may result.
Can give other team members the benefit of the doubt, are willing to resolve conflict, and are willing to offer and receive forgiveness.
This Standard of Cooperative Teamwork shall be the basis for all interactions between employees, persons supported, their family members and others we may encounter.
Unacceptable Behavior
The following behaviors by The Arc’s staff are unacceptable and will not be tolerated:
Making degrading or demeaning comments
Failure to carry out duties and responsibilities
Use of profanity or disrespectful language
Bullying or threatening others
Use of personal communication devices while on duty.
Yelling or raising your voice to others
Any act of physical aggression
If anyone experiences any of these behaviors by The Arc’s staff, we ask them to please contact our Human Resources Manager immediately at 856-767-3650, ext. 12.