CIH members must:

• Maintain honest, transparent, fair and lawful business activity with employees, employers, organisations, clients, tenants, other professionals and the public
• Uphold an exemplary attitude based on professional integrity, respect, empathy and trust
• Always promote professional principles and values across their organisation and the wider housing profession
• Apply informed, impartial, and professional judgement and ethical decision-making principles in reaching difficult but responsible decisions
• Apply ethical business practices, ensuring that their professional duties and conduct are not compromised or influenced by their personal, political, and financial interests, bias or the undue influence of others,
• Always conduct themselves in accordance with the code, upholding the reputation of the profession and CIH, and disclosing any conflicts that arise to the appropriate authority
• Ensure that all services provided by them and their organisation are performed in line with the code and in the best interest of the individuals and wider communities they serve
• Safeguard sensitive, confidential or privileged information entrusted to them as a result of their business activity
• Role model practices that promote equality of opportunity, diversity, collaboration, inclusion and human rights across their organisation and the wider housing profession
• Demonstrate sensitivity for the customs, cultures, perspectives and beliefs of others, valuing, recognising and drawing on these in their professional activity
• Challenge others if they suspect unlawful, inappropriate, offensive, discriminatory or unethical behaviours and attitudes that are inconsistent with the values and mission of CIH, the code, the housing profession and with their own professional values and integrity
• Report any breaches of the code to CIH.

Integrity Ethical Inclusive

CIH members must:

• Maintain the highest level of professional competence, ensuring they and their colleagues have the appropriate skills and knowledge to undertake their duties both now and in the future
• Seek guidance, advice and support as required and share expertise with others
• Consistently self-assess their competence and development needs, commit to their reflective learning and professional growth, and comply with any CIH requirements and guidance on continuing professional development and professional practice
• Pioneer customer service, demonstrate flexibility and adaptability, solve problems creatively and embrace the opportunities presented by change, to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the services provided
• Hold the appropriate levels of insurance for the work and duties they undertake

Skilled Knowledgeable 

CIH members must:

• Recognise and take ownership of their actions and mistakes, learning from them and striving to rectify
  them
• Recognise the social and environmental impact of their work
• Conduct themselves in a way that upholds the values and reputation of the profession and CIH by driving positive outcomes and maximising the impact they make on the individuals and communities they serve, actively supporting and influencing others to follow suit
• Act as an ambassador for the wider profession by championing, role-modelling and promoting exemplary ethical conduct
• Recognise and value the impact of their behaviour on the broader sector
• Pursue opportunities to embrace innovation and vision
• Enhance the reputation, public pride and sense of community of the housing profession by modelling a clear set of values and social purpose that align with the code and CIH professional standards.

Leadership Advocate

In practice, members must:

• Understand and uphold your professional and legal obligations
• Be respectful, fair, transparent and honest in your work
• Recognise conflicts of interest and ensure that your professional judgement and values are not compromised
• Understand the differences between personal and professional relationships
• Build trust in yourself, your employer/business and your profession
• Act in the best interests of others, your clients and customers, your colleagues, your organisation and the community in which you work
• Never take advantage of your position for personal gain
• Trust in your professional judgement, ensuring you have all the relevant information before taking action, understanding the impact of your decisions, and critically learn from mistakes
• Take the time to understand the context of the situation and the needs of those involved
• Understand, value and demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity and treat your customers and colleagues impartially and fairly
• Challenge inappropriate, offensive or discriminatory behaviour
• Safeguard others’ confidential information.

Integrity Ethical Inclusive

Here are some self-evaluation questions to see if you meet these standards.

• Am I aware of all my legal and professional obligations and if not what do I need to do?
• Would I be happy if my actions were made public in the press or on social media?
• Do I understand what a conflict of interest would be in my role or organisation?
• Do my personal preferences or views influence my behaviour or decisions?
• Do I know what professional boundaries mean within the context of my role?
• Is my behaviour in the workplace respected by my colleagues?
• Do I act in self-interest? Do I always understand and act in the best interest of tenants/customers/partners?
• Do people trust my professional judgment? Do I own up to my mistakes and learn from them?
• Do I provide information and advice based on evidence and facts?
• Can I see things from another person’s perspective/step into their shoes? How would I ensure that I did this with sensitivity to the
  person/situation?
• Am I comfortable challenging inappropriate, offensive, or discriminatory behaviour? Do I challenge false assumptions made about people who live in rented housing (both inside and outside of work)?
• Do I create unnecessary obstacles by not considering circumstances or needs?

In practice, members must:

• Keep up with the general and specialist knowledge and skills that you need to do your job effectively
• Share your knowledge and good practice with others
• Make a positive contribution to team culture
• Continue your professional development to build, maintain and learn new skills and knowledge, striving to achieve the highest standards
• Honestly assess your development needs and commit to your own personal development addressing knowledge and skills gaps
• Take pre-emptive action and proactively problem solve, using customer insight intelligence to shape your actions and prepare for future challenges
• Take responsibility for your own development
• Act within the scope of your own competence and role.

Skilled Knowledgeable

Here are some self-evaluation questions to see if you meet these standards.

• Do I stay up to date with the latest policy and practice developments in housing? Do I adapt to change well?
• Do I share my knowledge with others to create a learning environment among my colleagues?
• Am I clear about the knowledge I need to effectively do my job?
• Do I regularly review my own development and progress, how am I doing, what do I need to do more of?
• Do I actively listen and really hear what people are saying?
• Do I understand what challenges or triggers impact on my ability to be resilient? Do I take advantage of networks to support my development?

3. Be responsible and accountable

In practice, members must:

• Reflect on the outcomes of your decisions and learn from them to improve your skills in the future
• Actively apply lessons learnt and reflective practice
• Ensure you consider the broad impact of your decisions
• Contribute to the profession, and those you are responsible for, your colleagues, your organisation and the community, sharing experience, and supporting innovation and change
• Support others in their development
• Be an advocate for the profession
• Get involved with CIH networks, influencing, public affairs and policy work
• Speak up when faced with attitudes and behaviour that stereotype and stigmatise the housing sector
• Create and contribute to a sense of community.

Leadership Advocate

Here are some self-evaluation questions to see if you meet these standards.

• Have I changed how I work because of feedback I have received?
• What kind of leader am I? Where have I made a change/impact? Where could I suggest
  improvement?
• How do I support my colleagues to be leaders in their roles? Am I prepared to champion new ways of working?
• Do I give feedback constructively in a cooperative manner?
• How do I support others to be advocates for the housing profession?
• Do I challenge the behaviours of colleagues and organisations that undermine the reputation of the profession? Do I call out unprofessional behaviour in others?
• Am I a publicly positive representative of my organisation and the wider profession?