NCSA Code of Conduct

v08.01.2022

Code of Conduct Foundations:

  • All NCSA Members and NCSA Certified Newborn Care Specialists should maintain high standards of personal conduct in the capacity or identity as an NCSA Member or Certified Newborn Care Specialist.
  • NCSA Members and Certified Newborn Care Specialists are at all times held to the NCSA Code of Conduct, NCSA Scope of Practice, and NCSA Grievance Policy and Procedure they sign and agree to when Certifying with the NCSA as Newborn Care Specialists.
  • NCSA Members and Certified Newborn Care Specialists are committed to being lifelong learners and continually seek to improve their knowledge and understanding of infant development through ongoing professional development education and collaboration with colleagues in the newborn care specialist field and related professions.

Duty to clients:

Newborn Care Specialists have a duty of care for the infant. The welfare of the infant is their paramount concern, along with the welfare of other children in the family, followed by the welfare of the adults involved in the care dynamic.

  • Newborn Care Specialists are responsible for their own actions and behavior along with our duty of care, thus we avoid any conduct which would lead a reasonable person to question motivation and/or intentions.
  • Newborn Care Specialists will implement the same professional standards for all client families, regardless of culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief, and/or sexual identity.
  • Newborn Care Specialists assist each client seeking Newborn Care support either by providing services or making appropriate referrals.
  • Newborn Care Specialists must respect the privacy of their clients. All information about clients should be presumed to be confidential at all times unless the client specifies in writing, and thus any client information should only be shared on a “need to know” basis.
  • Newborn Care Specialists must respect their client's privacy and confidentiality at all times on social media platforms, blogs, chat rooms, and email groups. Any pictures of clients, their infant(s), family or friends should be posted ONLY with written consent from the client. Any details regarding the client or care of their infant shared even in ‘private’ online groups in order to receive advice or start a discussion must always keep the client completely anonymous.
  • Newborn Care Specialists should not give medical advice or practice outside their specific scope of practice. If requested, they can refer clients to published articles, research, and scholarly works.
  • When we agree to work with a particular client as a Newborn Care Specialist, our obligation is to do so reliably, without fail, for the term of the contract agreement.
  • When setting fees, a Newborn Care Specialist should ensure that they are fair, reasonable and commensurate with services performed.
  • Newborn Care Specialists are strongly urged to use signed contracts for all services agreed upon and clearly state their fees to the client and describe the services provided, terms of payment and refund policies.
  • Newborn Care Specialists should dress appropriately for the responsibilities of their profession and provide a positive and competent image to clients and their families, friends, and guests at all times.

Duty to Colleagues

  • Newborn Care Specialists should treat colleagues with respect, courtesy, fairness, and good faith. The NCSA does not tolerate discrimination (including age, sex, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, or marital status or any other legally-recognized protected group) and will uphold federal, state, and local laws, regulations or ordinances.
  • Newborn Care Specialists have a responsibility to relate to the clients of colleagues with full professional consideration as if they were their own clients.
  • Newborn Care Specialists should show courtesy, respect, fairness and good faith towards other Newborn Care Specialists on social media platforms at all times. Full credit should be given when featuring or sharing content from others, including tagging the originator and whenever possible providing a link to evidence supporting content and the author of original content. Care should be taken to clarify that any opinions are stated as their own, and offensive posts or posts meant to intentionally harm someone's reputation may result in a grievance procedure being initiated by the NCSA Grievance Committee itself.

Duty to the Newborn Care Profession:

  • Newborn Care Specialists should uphold and advance the values, integrity ethics, knowledge and mission of the Newborn Care Specialist profession at all times.
  • NCSA Certified Newborn Care Specialists must not share or discuss NCSA Certification Exam content or their answers with anyone. All essays, whether written, video or audio, submitted for the certification process must be original and in your own words. Do not copy/paste from websites, plagiarism will result in disqualification from certification.
  • Newborn Care specialists are encouraged to give back to the community by providing newborn care specialist support at a reduced cost for families in need, if possible, or making appropriate referrals when available.

    • Newborn Care Specialists should use good judgment on social media platforms, sharing only public information and be aware that social media content is permanent and may reflect on the newborn care specialist profession.

  • Newborn Care Specialists should dress appropriately for the responsibilities of their profession and provide a positive and competent image to clients and their families, friends, and guests at all times

Duty to Society:

  • Newborn Care Specialists should promote the general health of women, birthing people, their partners, infants, and whenever possible, that of their family and friends.
  • Newborn Care Specialists recognize and respect the value and intrinsic worth of every individual, regardless of economic or social background, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief, sexual identity and/or any other difference and treat everyone with respect, understanding, and kindness.