ETHICS & COMPLIANCE
Every day, services have a positive impact on the lives of millions of people. This is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our company results is just as important as the achievements themselves.
We are driven by our firm commitment to high quality and operational excellence across the functions and clients we serve, every day. Passion for healthcare success, empowerment, trust and integrity govern how we do business and how we interact with each other.
Each staff member is accountable for upholding the Merewood Healthcare Code of Conduct and following all applicable laws, regulations, and company policies. Merewood Healthcare’s Principles of Risk Management suggests that risk is managed by each employee in his or her daily work. In a further step,
Quality Healthcare Assurance, Legal, Intellectual Property, Ethics and Compliance provide independent checks and controls. Ownership of risk-free healthcare provision therefore stays with every employee, and so does accountability for ethical and compliant behaviour both cannot be delegated.
Merewood Healthcare has an Ethics and Compliance program designed to support legal and ethical actions throughout the company. The Ethics and Compliance initiative encompasses the activities of advice and assistance, training, monitoring and control.
Combined, these create a sustainable advantage for Merewood Healthcare services by enabling compliant company performance that is embedded consistently across all our clientele locations while building a legacy of integrity.
PERFORMANCE & INTEGRITY
Our activities are guided by our vision and our ambition to perform with integrity. We do this through
setting the right priorities and delivering our commitments whilst adhering to our company’s code of
conduct set values and the standards.
Code of conduct
Whom Does the Code of Conduct Apply To?
This Code of Conduct applies to all Merewood Healthcare services employees administrative and managerial staff. All employees are expected to know, understand and comply with all laws, regulations and best business practices that apply to their activities.
This Code of Conduct covers some of Merewood Healthcare’s most important policies, but it is not exhaustive. We rely on you to exercise good judgement in your decision making and to ask for help when
you have questions or concerns not addressed in this Code of Conduct.
Anti-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities
Merewood Healthcare recognizes its people as the cornerstone of its success, and we value our diversity as a source of strength. Merewood Healthcare is committed to non-discriminatory working practices at all time. Independent of their position, all employees are duty bound to treat their colleagues with fairness, courtesy, and respect.
Merewood Healthcare does not tolerate any verbal, electronic or physical discrimination, harassment, or bullying based on ethnicity, national origin, color, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, identity or gender expression, creed, age, sex, disability, veteran status or any similar characteristic. Nor engagement in, or support, child labor, human tracking, slavery, or bonded or forced labor of any. Conflicts of Interest
Merewood Healthcare’s best interests are the supreme consideration in all healthcare transactions. Doing what is right for Merewood Healthcare is important. A conflict of interest occurs when our employee’s personal activities or relationships interfere with his or her objectivity in doing what is best for Merewood Healthcare. Situations that create, or appear to create, a conflict between a Merewood Healthcare employee’s personal benefit and Merewood Healthcare’s interests should be avoided, or else be disclosed to management and resolved.
Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery
No Merewood Healthcare employee shall offer any payment or improper financial advantage to any client, administrative member of staff or any government official (including any employee of a government-controlled agency, state-owned enterprise, or public international organisation) or any other third party for the purpose of obtaining or retaining a commercial advantage of any kind. Bribes, kickbacks or similar payments are never permitted. Similarly, Merewood healthcare employees may not solicit or accept such payments. All employees and any third party acting on Merewood Healthcare’s behalf must comply with all applicable anti-bribery laws and regulations.
Business Gifts
Offering, soliciting or accepting gifts and donations from residents and our clients is prohibited. However, entertainment and gifts of ordinary corporate hospitality are acceptable provided they do not violate applicable law. These include festival season cards, candies, biscuits, stationery and others.
Use and protection of Assets and Confidential Information
Merewood Healthcare’s services, ideas, concepts and other information produces daily are important company proprietary business assets. Merewood Healthcare employees have a duty to protect and make careful use of the company’s business assets.
Confidentiality should be maintained regarding sensitive information and commercial secrets. Merewood Healthcare employees may not disclose confidential or sensitive information of our clients, residents and Merewood Healthcare other than for legitimate business purposes and with the appropriate safeguards.
Accuracy of Records
Merewood Healthcare expects all employees to keep records accurately, and fairly reflect all
transactions. No payment may be approved or made with awareness that any false information was reported. All Merewood Healthcare staff should abide by Merewood Healthcare clients’ record policies.
Merewood expects its employees to report any unrecorded funds or assets, false or artificial entries in Merewood Healthcare or Merewood Healthcare clients’ books and records to any of Merewood Healthcare administrators. In addition, Merewood expects employees to comply with its weekly time sheet, travel and expense reporting policies. Employees should submit all time sheets and expense reimbursement vouchers via approved programs every Monday of the week before midday.
Data Privacy
Merewood Healthcare services respects the privacy of its employees, clients, service providers and others who share their personal information with us. Merewood Healthcare employees must ensure that any personal information Merewood Healthcare collects is treated with care, protected, and used lawfully and properly.
Data Integrity
Data integrity refers to the completeness, consistency, and accuracy of data. In Merewood Healthcare Services, Data integrity is the foundation to assuring that Rota systems, data and records are attributable, legible, contemporaneous, original and accurate. Every Merewood Healthcare employee has the responsibility to ensure that the data they generate, collect, review, analyse, document and the report adheres to these principles.
Social Media
Social media offers Merewood Healthcare Services new opportunities for communication and collaboration when used properly. Merewood Healthcare services expects its employees to follow the same professional conduct guidelines online as they would in the workplace (for healthcare service providers strictly during their breaks), and to maintain online confidentiality.
Dress code
Merewood Healthcare employees should note that appearance matters when representing our company in front of clients, visitors or other parties. Merewood Healthcare employees are expected to always be clean (includes the entire body) and well-groomed, dress up in dresses that are work related and project professional. Merewood Healthcare employees should avoid dressing up in clothes that are workouts and outdoor activities related, too revealing, with discernible rips, tears or holes and clothes with stamps that are offensive or inappropriate. Also, Jeans of any colour or type are strictly prohibited.
How We Implement
This Code of Conduct will be made available to all current and new employees. Merewood Healthcare
services will also include this Code of Conduct in employee training programs (classroom based) and will monitor compliance. Audits of compliance with this Code of Conduct may occur periodically.
When implementing this Code of Conduct, Merewood Healthcare Services will take in account government and local laws and regulations.
Merewood Healthcare top executives shall pass appropriate resolution enabling implementation of this code of conduct.
How We Maintain
Merewood Healthcare Human Resource expert uses the ethics and compliance designed program to support legal and ethical actions throughout the company. The ethics and compliance program covers the activities of advice and assistance, training, monitoring and control. Ethics and compliance related training will be assigned to Merewood Healthcare employees throughout each calendar year, including periodic training on this Code of Conduct. Merewood Healthcare services’ employees are required to take all assigned ethics and compliance training. Failure to complete these required trainings on time
may result in disciplinary or other corrective action, at the discretion of Merewood Healthcare
Management. Merewood Healthcare services Open Door and Non-Retaliation policy encourages employees to present ideas, ask questions, or voice concerns about any subject, especially those related to company policies and procedures. Anyone who, in good faith, raises a concern about a possible ethics or compliance breach will be supported by Merewood Healthcare management, and will not be subject to any retaliation.
How We Manage
Merewood Healthcare managers and administrators have leadership responsibilities for setting a good example, encouraging an environment of open and honest communication without fear of retaliation, and taking prompt action when ethical or compliance issues are brought to their attention. They must never direct employees to achieve results that violate Merewood Healthcare’s policies, this Code of Conduct, or the law.
How We Enforce
Merewood Healthcare services and its employees may incur heavy criminal penalties in case of violations of law. Other consequences of breaches may include loss of business, loss of faith and confidence in Merewood Healthcare services, damage to the personal reputations of employees, and increased risk of safety and environmental hazards.
Merewood Healthcare services will investigate any suspected failure to comply with this Code of Conduct, its supporting policies, or the laws and regulations governing the company. Employees must fully cooperate in all such investigations. Merewood Healthcare reserves the right to take appropriate corrective action in response to any violations, which may include suspension or termination of employment.
Name: …………………………………………. Date……………………………………….
Dater:………………………………………….
CC. Veronica Njenga (Director)
CC. Richard Kaggwa (Director)