Code of Professional Conduct

Members shall:

  1. Exercise professional skills and judgement to the best of their ability and discharge professional responsibilities safely and with integrity.
  2. Have full regard for the enhancement of the practice of horticulture, which is the science, technology, and business involved in intensive plant cultivation for human use.
  3. Have full regard for the public interest at all times.
  4. Support the charitable objects of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, using any skills or knowledge they possess to further those objects.
  5. Commit to maintaining professional competence by undertaking appropriate continuing professional development and give all reasonable assistance to further the education training and professional development of others.
  6. Notify the Chartered Institute of Horticulture:
  7. if convicted of a serious criminal offence
  8. of any breach of the Code of Professional Conduct by another member. 

Guidance notes on the rules of professional conduct and their interpretation and application

The Chartered Institute of Horticulture Code of Professional Conduct lays down the ethical and professional standards by which members should abide. The code applies to all members of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, irrespective of the professional role they fulfil and the country in which they practice.

Members should always be aware of their responsibility to the public good. A member’s obligations to their employer or client can never override this and they should therefore not enter into undertakings which compromise this responsibility.

If a member is confronted by an ethical problem, or put into a position where a breach of the Code of Professional Conduct may arise, they should contact the Institute’s Secretariat who will arrange a confidential discussion with one or more members of the Chartered Institute’s Council of Trustees to assist in reconciling the problem confronted by the member.

These guidance notes are designed to help members interpret and apply the rules of professional conduct. They are not exhaustive and do not cover all contingencies.

Members shall exercise professional skills and judgement to the best of their ability and discharge professional responsibilities safely and with integrity.

Members shall at all times so order their conduct as to uphold the dignity and reputation of their profession. Members should be competent in the work they undertake. They should ensure that they have the relevant knowledge and expertise. Where appropriate, this may include access to the knowledge and experience of others, or access to other relevant sources of knowledge. They must disclose, where appropriate, any relevant limitations upon their competence. Members must also acknowledge said sources of knowledge in undertaking their professional duties.

Members should give professional opinions that are objective, reliable and backed with scientific rigour. They should not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation or discrimination. They should ensure that their professional activities do not risk the health and safety of others.

Members should treat people on an equitable basis, without discrimination or bias on grounds of gender, marital status, race, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, national origin, disability, sexuality, religion or belief, or age. Members should encourage diversity and respect the customs, practices and reasonable ambitions of others. Members should treat colleagues on an equitable basis, without discrimination, recognising their specific needs, pressures and problems.

Potential breaches of Rule 1 could include;

  • Failing to carry out their professional duties with complete objectivity and impartiality, including failing to declare conflicts of interest or to acknowledge the work of others.
  • Failing to have due regard to their duty of confidence in relation to all parties with whom they have dealings as part of their professional duties.
  • Failing to carry appropriate insurance, either personally or through their employers, failing to advise their clients of the position before accepting the engagement.
  • Maliciously or recklessly injuring or attempting to injure, directly or indirectly, the professional reputation of another.
  • Having any form of involvement, whether direct or indirect, and whether for the benefit of the member, the member’s employer, or a third party, in bribery, extortion, fraud, deception, collusion or any other corrupt activity.
  • Being guilty of any form of plagiarism or collusion.
  • Failing to take all reasonable steps to protect the health and safety of members of the public and of those engaged in the project.

Members shall have full regard for the public interest at all times

Except when authorised in the national or public interest, members shall not do anything or sanction anything to be done of which the probable consequences would, in their professional judgement, endanger human life or safety, needlessly pollute the environment, waste resources or degrade ecosystems or expose valuable property to the risk of destruction or serious damage.

Members should take account of the broader public interest – the interests of all stakeholders in any project must be taken properly into account, including the impact on future generations. This must include regard for the impact upon the society and quality of life of affected individuals, groups or communities, and upon their cultural, archaeological and ethnic heritage, and the broader interests of humanity as a whole.

Members commit to maintaining professional competence by undertaking appropriate continuing professional development and give all reasonable assistance to further the education training and professional development of others

Members should serve as an example to others. They should use their skills and experience to serve the needs of the environment and society.

All members have a duty to improve and update technical knowledge, and to keep abreast of relevant developments, including new or changed statutory provisions. Every member has a duty to be proactive in the training and continuing professional development of others, especially those for whom the member has line management responsibility.

Members shall notify the Chartered Institute of Horticulture:

  1. if convicted of a serious criminal offence
  2. of any significant breach of the Code of Professional Conduct by another member.

A serious criminal offence means an offence involving dishonesty or deception or any other offence punishable by a Court of competent jurisdiction by a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more (whether or not any custodial sentence is in fact imposed).

In the event of a member notifying the Chartered Institute of Horticulture of a significant breach of the Code of Professional Conduct by another member, the Institute’s Officers shall follow the procedure set out in the Institute’s Whistle Blowing Policy.