1 The Public Interest
Safeguard the interests of your employer / client provided that they do not conflict with the duties and loyalties owed to the community, its laws and social and political institutions
In performing work for an employer / client your priority should be to satisfy their needs and to meet the specifications to which you are committed. If, however, in meeting these requirements you are forced to breach law or inflict damage upon a third party, then you are professionally responsible to make the employer / client aware of these consequences and agree to an alternative course of action.
2 Integrity
Do not breach public trust in the profession or the specific trust of your employer / clients and stakeholders.
Observance of utmost honesty and integrity must underlie all your professional decisions and actions.
3 Confidentiality
You must not disclose information acquired in the course of your professional work except where consent has been obtained from the rightful legal owner or where there is a legal or professional duty to disclose
This is applicable to most professions, but it is particularly applicable to you as a Recordkeeping and Information Management professional as you are likely to have access to employer / clients' information due to the nature of your work. You should be aware that information is the property of the employer / client, and must not be distributed freely or used for your personal advantage or that of a third party without the employer / client's consent.
4 Objectivity and Independence
Be objective, impartial and free of conflicts of interest in the performance of your professional duties
In each professional assignment undertaken, you must be seen to be free of any interest which is incompatible with objectivity. Always make sure you are aware of your employer / client ' s objectives and the benefits they are looking for, and be careful not to lose objectivity created by the latest development technology or by the desire to promote your own product.
In the situation where a conflict exists between two or more employer / clients, a full and frank explanation and disclosure of the conflict should be made to the employer / clients.
5 Competence
Accept only such work as you believe you are competent to perform and do not hesitate to obtain additional expertise from appropriately qualified individuals where advisable
You should always be aware of your own limitations and not knowingly imply that you have competence you do not possess. This, of course, is distinct from accepting a task of which the successful completion requires expertise additional to your own. You cannot possibly be knowledgeable on all facets of Recordkeeping and Information Management but you should be able to recognise when you need additional expertise and information.
6 Keeping Up-To-Date
Keep yourself, and subordinates, informed of such new technologies, practices and standards as are relevant to your duties
Undertake, where appropriate, the RMAA CPD Scheme to assist in the gaining of new technologies, practices, standards and skills.
Others will expect you to provide special skills and advice; and in order to do so, you must keep your knowledge up- to-date. This is true for members of all professions, but particularly so in Recordkeeping and Information Management which is developing and changing rapidly. You must also encourage your staff and colleagues to do the same, for it is impossible to retain one' s professional standing by relying only on the state of one' s knowledge and competence at the time professional status is achieved.
7 Subordinates
Ensure subordinates are trained in order to be effective in their duties and to qualify for increased responsibilities
Take action to ensure that your hard won knowledge and experience are passed on in such a way that those who receive it not only improve their own effectiveness in their present positions but also become keen to advance their careers and take on additional responsibilities.
Provide access to mentoring where appropriate and ensure that you pass your skills on to assist in the development of subordinates.
8 Responsibility to Your Employer / client
Actively seek opportunities for increasing efficiency and effectiveness to the benefit of the user/employer
Whatever the precise terms of your brief, you should always be aware of the environment surrounding it and not work solely towards completion of the defined task. You must regard it as part of your duty to make your employer / client aware of other needs that emerge, unsatisfactory procedures that need modification and benefits that might be achieved. You, as an innovator, should take into account the relevance of new methods and should always be looking for the possibility of additional benefits not foreseen when the project was planned.
9 Promoting Recordkeeping and Information Management and the RMAA
Endeavour to extend public knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Recordkeeping and Information Management, and the RMAA
People, for various reasons, can often be mistrustful or demonstrate resistance when it comes to Recordkeeping and Information Management and for that matter the Association as a whole. Aim to promote Recordkeeping and Information Management and the RMAA by educating people as to the benefits that can be achieved through its application or involvement to their business. You should, however, only express an opinion on a subject within your level of competence and when it is founded on adequate knowledge and honest conviction, and oppose any untrue, inaccurate, exaggerated or misleading statement or claims.
10 The Image of the Profession and the Association
Refrain from any conduct or action in your professional role which may tarnish the image of the Recordkeeping and Information Management profession or unjustifiably detract from the good name of your professional body
The Association is aware that the public image of Recordkeeping and Information Management is of some concern. It is imperative, therefore, that members of the Recordkeeping and Information Management profession endeavour to maintain a professional standard that improves and enhances the profession’s image.
Download the Code of Professional Conduct and Practice
