Volunteers are expected to:

• Strictly observe all the terms and conditions listed in this Code of Conduct at all times, including the i) General Conduct, ii) Personal Data Protection and Confidentiality, and iii) Media Policy.

• Dress modestly and appropriately for a healthcare setting.

• Treat all patients with dignity, respect, and compassion; and to carry out the volunteer duties faithfully.

• Follow the instructions of the staff and personnel of the Organisations during activities.

• Comply with prevailing infection control measures. Do not interact with patients if you are unwell or exhibit flu-like symptoms.

• Sign in on the Organisations’ Volunteer Attendance FormSG at the start of every session.

• Notify  the Organisations immediately if you inadvertently receive access to information outside the scope of your assigned duties or become aware of any potential or actual breach of confidentiality.

• Notify the Organisations if you have or become aware of a pre-existing personal or professional relationship with any patient you volunteer with, so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Volunteers must not:

• Undertake duties, access locations, or participate in programmes outside your assigned volunteer role without prior approval from the Organisations.

• Interact with patients in a manner that is inappropriate, exploitative, disrespectful or harmful, including exchanging of personal contacts and forming personal or commercial relationships outside the volunteering context.

• Bring patients gifts, food, or personal items without prior approval from the ward supervisor.

• Solicit or accept gifts, gratuities, or personal benefits from patients, their families, staff of the Organisations, or any person encountered through your volunteer role.
   

Volunteers must observe strict confidentiality of all information encountered in the course of their volunteering engagement. This includes patient records, staff information, visuals, graphics and images, internal policies, legal and financial documents, and any personal data as defined under the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA) (collectively "Group Information").
 

Volunteers are expected to:

• Use Group Information only for authorised purposes directly related to their assigned duties.

• Return or destroy any Group Information in their possession upon conclusion of their volunteering engagement, in accordance with the Organisations' directions.

Volunteers must not, unless authorised and in the proper course of their duties:

• Remove documents or items containing Group Information from IMH's premises.

• Capture or publish on any social media, online or public platforms the images, graphics, or audio of any persons, documents, materials, or equipment constituting or containing Group Information.

• Communicate Group Information to any external parties or organisations.

• Attempt to re-identify or disclose methods to re-identify de-identified data.

• Disclose Restricted or Sensitive High information to patients, their next-of-kin, or caregivers via commercial messaging platforms such as WhatsApp. Such information must be transmitted via official email accounts only.

• Input, upload, or otherwise submit any Group Information into any artificial intelligence tool, chatbot, generative AI platform, or third-party software not authorised by the Organisations. This applies regardless of whether the tool is perceived to be private or secure.
   

Patient confidentiality takes precedence over all documentation of photography, videography and documentation of volunteer activities. Only volunteers with prior authorisationby the Organisations may capture photographs or videos during volunteer activities. All other volunteers are prohibited from doing so.
The Organisations reserve the right to request the immediate cessation of any unauthorised photography or videography, and to require the deletion of any unauthorised content.

Authorised photographers and videographers must:

• Ensure that identifiable features of patients, including facial features, unique haircuts, moles, tattoos, scars, or birthmarks, are not visible in any content captured.

• Obtain prior written consent before capturing frontal or face shots of patients, even where post-production treatment (e.g. masking) is intended.

• Obtain prior written approval from the Organisations before sharing or posting any photos, videos, captions, and hashtags on any public or private platform, including personal social media or internal staff circulation. .
   

Volunteers must not:

• Represent yourself as an agent, representative or spokesperson of the Organisations.

• Post photos or videos from volunteering sessions on personal social media accounts or any online platform without prior written approval by the Organisations.

• Share photos, videos, or other volunteer-related content with third parties, including employers, corporate partners or community organisations , without prior  written approval by the Organisations.

• Photograph hospital facilities or patients in a manner that could be distressing, undignified, or damaging to the reputation of the Organisations.

• Divulge any information regarding the Organisations’ operations, staff, patients, and other volunteers to any third party whatsoever, including family members, friends, and the media.
   

The Organisations are committed to providing a safe, respectful and professional environment for patients, volunteers and staff. Volunteers are expected to comply fully with this Code of Conduct at all times.
Any breach of this Code of Conduct will be taken seriously. Serious misconduct, repeated breaches, or any conduct that compromises, or has the potential to compromise, the safety, dignity, wellbeing, privacy or trust of patients, staff, volunteers or the Organisations may result in immediate disciplinary action, without prior warning where circumstances warrant.
 

Depending on the nature and severity of the breach, the Organisations reserve the right to take one or more of the following actions:

• issue a verbal or written warning;

• require additional training or supervision;

• suspend the volunteer from current or future volunteering activities;

• terminate the volunteer's engagement ; and/or

• declare the individual ineligible for future volunteering opportunities with the Organisations.
   

Nothing in this Code limits the rights of the Organisations to report suspected criminal offences or regulatory breaches to the relevant authorities where required.

The examples below are provided as a guide and are not exhaustive. Depending on the nature, severity, frequency and circumstances of each case, we may take appropriate action in response to a breach of this Code of Conduct.

Where necessary, we may do so without prior warning to protect the safety, dignity, wellbeing and privacy of patients, volunteers and staff, or to safeguard our operations and reputation.