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All Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ members must work in accordance with the Ethical Framework. You commit to complying with the Framework when you join or renew your membership and it is the main point of reference for decisions in professional conduct hearings.

You should read it, and understand its main principles and points, before working with clients. It’s much better to build the Ethical Framework into your practice to help you face challenges and issues rather than just turning to it if something goes wrong.

It has three main sections:

• Our commitment to clients provides a summary of working to professional standards and building an ethical relationship
• Ethics specifies the values, principles and personal moral qualities that inform our work and underpin supervision
• Good practice considers the application of our commitments to clients and ethics to our practice

Clients need to be able to participate freely as they workÌýwith practitioners of the counselling professions towardsÌýtheir desired goals. This requires clients to be able to trustÌýtheir practitioner with their wellbeing and sensitiveÌýpersonal information. Therefore, as members or registrantsÌýof Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ, we take being trustworthy as a serious ethicalÌýcommitment. We have agreed that we will:

1.ÌýPut clients first by:
a. making clients our primary concern while we are working with them
b. providing an appropriate standard of service to our clients

2.ÌýWork to professional standards by:
a. working within our competence
b. keeping our skills and knowledge up to date
c. collaborating with colleagues to improve the quality of what is being offered toÌýclients
d. ensuring that our wellbeing is sufficient to sustain the quality of the work
e. keeping accurate and appropriate records

3.ÌýShow respect by:
a. valuing each client as a unique person
b. protecting client confidentiality and privacy
c. agreeing with clients on how we will work together
d. working in partnership with clients

4.ÌýBuild an appropriate relationship with clients by:
a. communicating clearly what clients have a right to expect from us
b. communicating any benefits, costs and commitments that clients mayÌýreasonably expect
c. respecting the boundaries between our work with clients and what lies outsideÌýthat work
d. not exploiting or abusing clients
e. listening out for how clients experience our working together

5.ÌýMaintain integrity by:
a. being honest about the work
b. communicating our qualifications, experience and working methods accurately
c. working ethically and with careful consideration of how we fulfil our legalÌýobligations

6.ÌýDemonstrate accountability and candour by:
a. being willing to discuss with clients openly and honestly any known risksÌýinvolved in the work and how best to work towards our clients’ desiredÌýoutcomes by communicating any benefits, costs and commitments that clientsÌýmay reasonably expect
b. ensuring that clients are promptly informed about anything that has occurredÌýwhich places the client at risk of harm or causes harm in our work together,Ìýwhether or not clients are aware of it, and quickly taking action to limit or repairÌýany harm as far as possible
c. reviewing our work with clients in supervision
d. monitoring how clients experience our work together and the effects of our workÌýwith them.

1.ÌýOur ethics are based on values, principles and personal moral qualities thatÌýunderpin and inform the interpretation and application of Our commitment toÌýclients and Good practice.

Values

2.ÌýValues are a useful way of expressing general ethical commitments that underpin theÌýpurpose and goals of our actions.

3.ÌýOur fundamental values include a commitment to:

• respecting human rights and dignity
• alleviating symptoms of personal distress and suffering
• enhancing people’s wellbeing and capabilities
• improving the quality of relationships between people
• increasing personal resilience and effectiveness
• facilitating a sense of self that is meaningful to the person(s) concernedÌýwithin their personal and cultural context
• appreciating the variety of human experience and culture
• protecting the safety of clients
• ensuring the integrity of practitioner-client relationships
• enhancing the quality of professional knowledge and its application
• striving for the fair and adequate provision of services

4.ÌýValues inform principles. They become more precisely defined and action-orientatedÌýwhen expressed as a principle.

Principles

5.ÌýPrinciples direct attention to important ethical responsibilities. Our core principles are:

• Being trustworthy:Ìýhonouring the trust placed in the practitioner
• Autonomy:Ìýrespect for the client’s right to be self-governing
• Beneficence:Ìýa commitment to promoting the client’s wellbeing
• Non-maleficence:Ìýa commitment to avoiding harm to the client
• Justice:Ìýthe fair and impartial treatment of all clients and the provision of adequate services
• Self-respect:Ìýfostering the practitioner’s self-knowledge, integrity and care for self

6.ÌýEthical decisions that are strongly supported by one or more of these principlesÌýwithout any contradiction with the others may be regarded as well-founded.

7.ÌýHowever, practitioners may encounter circumstances in which it is impossible toÌýreconcile all the applicable principles. This may require choosing which principlesÌýto prioritise. A decision or course of action does not necessarily become unethicalÌýmerely because it is controversial or because other practitioners would have reachedÌýdifferent conclusions in similar circumstances. A practitioner’s obligation is to considerÌýall the relevant circumstances with as much care as possible and to be appropriatelyÌýaccountable for decisions made.

Personal moral qualities

8.ÌýPersonal moral qualities are internalised values that shape how we relate to othersÌýand our environment. They represent a moral energy or drive that may operateÌýunconsciously and unexamined. This moral energy or drive is ethically more beneficialÌýwhen consciously examined from time to time and used to motivate our ethicalÌýdevelopment or shape how we work towards a good society.

9.Ìý‘Personal moral qualities’ are a contemporary application of ‘virtues’ from moralÌýphilosophy.

10.ÌýThe practitioner’s personal and relational moral qualities are of the utmost importance.ÌýTheir perceived presence or absence will have a strong influence on how relationshipsÌýwith clients and colleagues develop and whether they are of sufficient quality andÌýresilience to support the work.

11.ÌýHigh levels of compatibility between personal and professional moral qualities willÌýusually enhance the integrity and resilience of any relationship.

12.ÌýKey personal qualities to which members and registrants are strongly encouraged toÌýaspire include:

• Candour:Ìýopenness with clients about anything that places them at risk of harm or causes actual
  harm
• Care:Ìýbenevolent, responsible and competent attentiveness to someone’s needs, wellbeing
  and personal agency
• Courage: the capacity to act in spite of known fears, risks and uncertaintyÌý
• Diligence:Ìýthe conscientious deployment of the skills and knowledge needed to achieve a
  beneficial outcome
• Empathy:Ìýthe ability to communicate understanding of another person’s experience from that
  person’s perspective
• Fairness:Ìýimpartial and principled in decisions and actions concerning others in ways thatÌýpromote equality of opportunity and maximise the capability of the people concernedÌý
• Humility:Ìýthe ability to assess accurately and acknowledge one’s own strengths and weaknessesÌý
• Identity:Ìýsense of self in relationship to others that forms the basis of responsibility, resilienceÌýand motivationÌý
• Integrity:Ìýcommitment to being moral in dealings with others, including personalÌýstraightforwardness, honesty and coherenceÌý
• Resilience:Ìýthe capacity to work with the client’s concerns without being personally diminishedÌý
• Respect:Ìýshowing appropriate esteem for people and their understanding of themselvesÌý
• Sincerity:Ìýa personal commitment to consistency between what is professed and what is doneÌý
• Wisdom:Ìýpossession of sound judgement that informs practice

Conclusion

13.ÌýThe challenge of working ethically means that practitioners will inevitably encounterÌýsituations that require responses to unexpected issues, resolution of dilemmas, andÌýsolutions to problems. A good understanding of the ethics that underpin our work is aÌývaluable resource which is helpful in making significant decisions. The use of an ethicalÌýproblem-solving model and discussion about ethics are essential to good practice.ÌýThis Ethical Framework is intended to assist practitioners by directing attention to theÌývariety of ethical factors that may need to be taken into consideration and to identifyÌýalternative ways of approaching ethics that may prove more useful.

14.ÌýNo statement of ethics can eliminate the difficulty of making professional judgementsÌýin circumstances that may be constantly changing and full of uncertainties. ByÌýaccepting this statement of ethics, members and registrants of the British AssociationÌýfor Counselling and Psychotherapy are committing themselves to engaging withÌýthe challenge of striving to be ethical, even when doing so involves making difficultÌýdecisions or acting courageously.

1.ÌýAs members of the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ (Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ) we areÌýcommitted to sustaining and advancing good practice.

2.ÌýThis section of the Ethical Framework looks behind Our commitment to clients and EthicsÌýto consider their implications for good practice in more detail.

3.ÌýIt sets out what can be expected of all members and registrants of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ as practitionersÌýproviding therapeutically-informed services, particularly coaching, counselling,Ìýpastoral care, psychotherapy and using counselling skills. This includes being aÌýsupervisor, trainer, educator of practitioners, or researcher of any aspect of theÌýcounselling professions. Trainees will fulfil all the commitments to clients within theÌýEthical Framework when working with members of the public as their clients. GoodÌýpractice point 81 sets out the commitments for working with other trainees to learnÌýnew knowledge and skills.

4.ÌýAs members and registrants of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ, we have committed ourselves to the principlesÌýand values set out in this Ethical Framework and recognise that our membership orÌýregistration may be at risk if we fail to fulfil our commitments.

5.ÌýOur responsibilities are set out as full or qualified obligations. We are fully andÌýunconditionally committed to fulfilling a specific requirement of Good practice whereÌýwe state ‘we will…’ or ‘we must…’. Where we consider a requirement may need to beÌývaried for good ethical reasons, we state that ‘we will usually…’.

6.ÌýWe are committing ourselves to being openly accountable and willing to explainÌýhow we have implemented any of these obligations to people with a valid interestÌýin our work.

7.ÌýWe will make each client the primary focus of our attention and our work during ourÌýsessions together.

8.ÌýAny professional or personal interests that conflict with putting a client’s interestsÌýfirst will be carefully considered in consultation with a supervisor, an independentÌýexperienced colleague or, when appropriate, discussed with the client affected beforeÌýservices are offered.

9.ÌýWe will give careful consideration to how we manage situations when protectingÌýclients or others from serious harm or when compliance with the law may requireÌýoverriding a client’s explicit wishes or breaching their confidentiality – see also 10, 55Ìýand 64.

10.ÌýIn exceptional circumstances, the need to safeguard our clients or others from seriousÌýharm may require us to override our commitment to making our client’s wishes andÌýconfidentiality our primary concern. We may need to act in ways that will support anyÌýinvestigations or actions necessary to prevent serious harm to our clients or others. InÌýsuch circumstances, we will do our best to respect the parts of our client’s wishes orÌýconfidences that do not need to be overridden in order to prevent serious harm.

11.ÌýWe share a responsibility with all other members of our professions for the safety andÌýwellbeing of all clients and their protection from exploitation or unsafe practice. WeÌýwill take action to prevent harm caused by practitioners to any client – see also 24.

12.ÌýWe will do everything we can to develop and protect our clients’ trust.

13.ÌýWe must be competent to deliver the services being offered to at least fundamentalÌýprofessional standards or better. When we consider satisfying professional standardsÌýrequires consulting others with relevant expertise, seeking second opinions, or makingÌýreferrals, we will do so in ways that meet our commitments and obligations for clientÌýconfidentiality and data protection.

14.ÌýWe will keep skills and knowledge up to date by:

a. reading professional journals, books and/or reliable electronic resources
b. keeping ourselves informed of any relevant research and evidence-based guidance
c. discussions with colleagues working with similar issues
d. reviewing our knowledge and skills in supervision or discussion with experiencedÌýpractitioners
e. regular continuing professional development to update knowledge and skills
f. keeping up to date with the law, regulations and any other requirements, includingÌýguidance from this Association, relevant to our work

15.ÌýWe will keep accurate records that:

• are adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary for the type of service beingÌýprovided
• comply with the applicable data protection requirements – see Ìý(www.ico.org.uk).

16.ÌýWe will collaborate with colleagues over our work with specific clients where this isÌýconsistent with client consent and will enhance services to the client.

17.ÌýWe will work collaboratively with colleagues to improve services and offer mutualÌýsupport – see 56–59 Working with colleagues and in teams.

18.ÌýWe will maintain our own physical and psychological health at a level that enables us toÌýwork effectively with our clients – see 91 Care of self as a practitioner.

19.ÌýWe will be covered by adequate insurance when providing services directly orÌýindirectly to the public.

20.ÌýWe will fulfil the ethical principles and values set out in this Ethical FrameworkÌýregardless of whether working online, face-to-face or using any other methods ofÌýcommunication. The technical and practical knowledge may vary according to howÌýservices are delivered but all our services will be delivered to at least fundamentalÌýprofessional standards or better.

21.ÌýWe will respect our clients’ privacy and dignity.

22.ÌýWe will respect our clients as people by providing services that:

a. endeavour to demonstrate equality, value diversity and ensure inclusion for all clients
b. avoid unfairly discriminating against clients or colleagues
c. accept we are all vulnerable to prejudice and recognise the importance of self-inquiry,Ìýpersonal feedback and professional development
d. work with issues of identity in open-minded ways that respect the client’s autonomyÌýand be sensitive to whether this is viewed as individual or relational autonomy
e. challenge assumptions that any sexual orientation or gender identity is inherentlyÌýpreferable to any other and will not attempt to bring about a change of sexualÌýorientation or gender identity or seek to suppress an individual’s expression ofÌýsexual orientation or gender identity
f. make adjustments to overcome barriers to accessibility, so far as is reasonablyÌýpossible, for clients of any ability wishing to engage with a service
g. recognise when our knowledge of key aspects of our client’s background, identity orÌýlifestyle is inadequate and take steps to inform ourselves from other sources whereÌýavailable and appropriate, rather than expecting the client to teach us
h. are open-minded with clients who appear similar to ourselves or possess familiarÌýcharacteristics so that we do not suppress or neglect what is distinctive in their lives.

23.ÌýWe will take the law concerning equality, diversity and inclusion into carefulÌýconsideration and strive for a higher standard than the legal minimum.

24.ÌýWe will challenge colleagues or others involved in delivering related services whoseÌýviews appear to be unfairly discriminatory and take action to protect clients, ifÌýnecessary – see 11.

25.ÌýWe will do all that we reasonably can to ensure that our clients are participating on aÌývoluntary basis. Hesitant clients or clients who feel under pressure from other peopleÌýor agencies to work with us will have their reservations acknowledged and taken intoÌýaccount in how services are offered.

26.ÌýWe will work with our clients on the basis of their informed consent and agreement. WeÌýrecognise that exceptional situations may arise where we may need to prioritise theÌýsafety of the client or others over our client’s wishes and confidentiality – see 10.

27.ÌýCareful consideration will be given to working with children and young people that:

a. takes account of their capacity to give informed consent, considering whether it isÌýappropriate to seek the consent of others who have parental responsibility for theÌýyoung person, and their best interests
b. demonstrates knowledge and skills about ways of working that are appropriate toÌýthe young person’s development and how relationships are formed
c. demonstrates a sound knowledge of the law relevant to working with children andÌýyoung people and their human rights
d. is informed about the current culture and customs that affect parenting/care givingÌýand how children and young people interact with each other and other significantÌýpeople in their lives.

28.ÌýWe will give careful consideration to obtaining and respecting the consent ofÌývulnerable adult clients, wherever they have the capacity to give consent, or involvingÌýanyone who provides care for these clients when appropriate.

29.ÌýOur work with clients will be based on professional partnerships with them that aim toÌýincrease their wellbeing, capability and/or performance.

30.ÌýWe will usually provide clients with the information they ought to know in advance inÌýorder to make an informed decision about the services they want to receive, how theseÌýservices will be delivered and how information or data about them will be protected.ÌýWhere the urgency or seriousness of the situation requires us to intervene beforeÌýproviding such information, we will do so at the first appropriate opportunity.

31.ÌýWe will give careful consideration to how we reach agreement with clients and willÌýcontract with them about the terms on which our services will be provided. AttentionÌýwill be given to:

a. reaching an agreement or contract that takes account of each client’s expressedÌýneeds and choices so far as possible
b. communicating terms and conditions of the agreement or contract in ways easilyÌýunderstood by the client and appropriate to their context
c. stating clearly how a client’s confidentiality and privacy will be protected and anyÌýcircumstances in which confidential or private information will be communicated toÌýothers
d. providing the client with a record or easy access to a record of what has been agreedÌý
e. keeping a record of what has been agreed and of any changes or clarifications whenÌýthey occur
f. being watchful for any potential contractual incompatibilities between agreementsÌýwith our clients and any other contractual agreements applicable to the work beingÌýundertaken and proactively strive to avoid these wherever possible or promptlyÌýalert the people with the power or responsibility to resolve these contradictions.

32.ÌýWe will periodically review each client’s progress and, when practicable, seek ourÌýclient’s views on how we are working together.

33.ÌýWe will establish and maintain appropriate professional and personal boundaries inÌýour relationships with clients by ensuring that:

a. these boundaries are consistent with the aims of working together and beneficial toÌýthe client
b. any dual or multiple relationships will be avoided where the risks of harm to theÌýclient outweigh any benefits to the client
c. reasonable care is taken to separate and maintain a distinction between ourÌýpersonal and professional presence on social media where this could result inÌýharmful dual relationships with clients
d. the impact of any dual or multiple relationships will be periodically reviewedÌýin supervision and discussed with clients when appropriate. They may also beÌýdiscussed with any colleagues or managers in order to enhance the integrity of theÌýwork being undertaken.

34.ÌýWe will not have sexual relationships with or behave sexually towards our clients,Ìýsupervisees or trainees.

35.ÌýWe will not exploit or abuse our clients in any way: financially, emotionally, physically,Ìýsexually or spiritually.

36.ÌýWe will avoid having sexual relationships with or behaving sexually towards peopleÌýwhom we know to be close to our clients in order to avoid undermining our clients’Ìýtrust in us or damaging the therapeutic relationship.

37.ÌýWe will avoid continuing or resuming any relationships with former clients that couldÌýharm the client or damage any benefits from the therapeutic work undertaken. WeÌýrecognise that conflicts of interest and issues of power or dependence may continueÌýafter our working relationship with a client, supervisee or trainee has formally ended.ÌýTherefore:

a. we will exercise caution before entering into personal or business relationships withÌýformer clients
b. we will avoid sexual or intimate relationships with former clients or people close toÌýthem. Exceptionally, such a relationship will only be permissible following carefulÌýconsideration in supervision and, whenever possible, following discussion withÌýexperienced colleagues or others concerned about the integrity of the counsellingÌýprofessions, when:

• enough time has elapsed or the circumstances of the people concerned haveÌýsufficiently changed to establish a distinction between the former and proposedÌýnew relationshipÌý
• any therapeutic dynamics from the former relationship have been sufficientlyÌýresolved to enable beginning a different type of relationship. (This may notÌýbe possible with some clients or inappropriate to some therapeutic ways ofÌýworking.)Ìý
• an equivalent service to the one provided by the practitioner is available to theÌýformer client, should this be wanted in future
• the practitioner has taken demonstrable care in ensuring that the newÌýrelationship has integrity and is not exploitative

c. We will be professionally accountable if the relationship becomes detrimental toÌýthe former client or damages the standing of the profession

38.ÌýWe will inform clients about any fixed limits to the duration or number of sessions asÌýpart of the contracting process.

39.ÌýWe will endeavour to inform clients well in advance of approaching endings and beÌýsensitive to our client’s expectations and concerns when we are approaching the endÌýof our work together.

40.ÌýWe will inform clients in advance of any planned breaks in working together, forÌýexample, holidays or medical treatments, and give as much notice as possible.

41.ÌýAny unplanned breaks due to illness or other causes will be managed in ways toÌýminimise inconveniencing clients and, for extended breaks, may include offering to putÌýclients in touch with other practitioners.

42.ÌýIn the event of death or illness of sufficient severity to prevent the practitionerÌýcommunicating directly with clients, we will have appointed someone to communicateÌýwith clients and support them in making alternative arrangements where this isÌýdesired. The person undertaking this work will be bound by the confidentiality agreedÌýbetween the practitioner and client, and will usually be a trusted colleague, a speciallyÌýappointed trustee or a supervisor.

43.ÌýWe will maintain high standards of honesty and probity in all aspects of our work.

44.ÌýWe will be as open and as communicative with our clients, colleagues and others as isÌýconsistent with the purpose, methods and confidentiality of the service.

45.ÌýWhenever we communicate our qualifications, professional experience and workingÌýmethods, we will do so accurately and honestly. All reasonable requests for thisÌýinformation will be answered promptly.

46.ÌýWe will give conscientious consideration to the law and how we fulfil any legalÌýrequirements concerning our work – see also 14f, 23 and 70.Ìý

47.ÌýWe will promptly notify this Association about any criminal charges or disciplinaryÌýprocedures brought against us. We will also notify this Association of civil claims arisingÌýfrom work in the counselling professions, or if we have been declared bankrupt.

48.ÌýWe will avoid any actions that will bring our profession into disrepute.

49.ÌýWe will encourage clients to raise any concerns about our work with them at theÌýearliest possible opportunity, give any concerns careful consideration and, whenÌýappropriate, attempt to resolve them. Clients will be informed of any applicableÌýcomplaints processes open to them including the Professional Conduct Procedures ofÌýthis Association.

50.ÌýWe will take responsibility for how we offer our clients opportunities to work towardsÌýtheir desired outcomes and the safety of the services we provide or have responsibilityÌýfor overseeing.

51.ÌýWe will discuss with clients how best to work towards their desired outcomes and anyÌýknown risks involved in the work.

52.ÌýWe will ensure candour by being open and honest about anything going wrong andÌýpromptly inform our clients of anything in our work that places clients at risk of harm,Ìýor has caused them harm, whether or not the client(s) affected are aware of what hasÌýoccurred by:

a. taking immediate action to prevent or limit any harm
b. repairing any harm caused, so far as possible
c. offering an apology when this is appropriate
d. notifying and discussing with our supervisor and/or manager what has occurred
e. investigating and take action to avoid whatever has gone wrong being repeated

53.ÌýWe will consider carefully in supervision how we work with clients – see 60–73.

54.ÌýWe will monitor how clients experience our work together and the effects of the workÌýwith them in ways appropriate to the type of service being offered.

55.ÌýWe will protect the confidentiality and privacy of clients by:

a. actively protecting information about clients from unauthorised access or disclosure
b. informing clients about how the use of personal data and information that theyÌýshare with us will be used and who is within the circle of confidentiality, particularlyÌýwith access to personally identifiable information
c. requiring that all recipients of personally identifiable information have agreed toÌýtreat such information as confidential in accordance with any legal requirements andÌýwhat has been agreed with the client at the time of disclosure
d. informing clients about any reasonably foreseeable limitations of privacy orÌýconfidentiality in advance of our work together, for example, communications toÌýensure or enhance the quality of work in supervision or training, to protect a clientÌýor others from serious harm including safeguarding commitments, and when legallyÌýrequired or authorised to disclose
e. taking care that all contractual requirements concerning the management andÌýcommunication of client information are mutually compatible
f. ensuring that disclosure of personally identifiable information about clients isÌýauthorised by client consent or that there is a legally and ethically recognisedÌýjustification
g. using thoroughly anonymised information about clients where this provides aÌýpractical alternative to sharing identifiable information

56.ÌýProfessional relationships will be conducted in a spirit of mutual respect. We willÌýendeavour to build good working relationships and systems of communication thatÌýenhance services to clients.

57.ÌýPractitioners will treat colleagues fairly and foster their capability and equality ofÌýopportunity.

58.ÌýPractitioners will not undermine any colleague’s relationship with clients by makingÌýunjustifiable or ill-judged comments.

59.ÌýAll communications between colleagues about clients should be on a professionalÌýbasis and thus purposeful, respectful and consistent with the management ofÌýconfidences agreed with clients.

60.ÌýSupervision is essential to how practitioners sustain good practice throughout theirÌýworking life. Supervision provides practitioners with regular and ongoing opportunitiesÌýto reflect in depth about all aspects of their practice in order to work as effectively,Ìýsafely and ethically as possible. Supervision also sustains the personal resourcefulnessÌýrequired to undertake the work.

61.ÌýGood supervision is much more than case management. It includes working in depthÌýon the relationship between practitioner and client in order to work towards desiredÌýoutcomes and positive effects. This requires adequate levels of privacy, safety andÌýcontainment for the supervisee to undertake this work. Therefore a substantial part orÌýpreferably all of supervision needs to be independent of line management.

62.ÌýSupervision requires additional skills and knowledge to those used for providingÌýservices directly to clients. Therefore supervisors require adequate levels of expertiseÌýacquired through training and/or experience. Supervisors will also ensure that theyÌýwork with appropriate professional support and their own supervision.

63.ÌýAll supervisors will model high levels of good practice for the work they supervise,Ìýparticularly with regard to expected levels of competence and professionalism,Ìýrelationship building, the management of personal boundaries, any dual relationships,Ìýconflicts of interest and avoiding exploitation.

64.ÌýAll communications concerning clients made in the context of supervision will beÌýconsistent with confidentiality agreements with the clients concerned and compatibleÌýwith any applicable agency policy.

65.ÌýCareful consideration will be given to the undertaking of key responsibilities for clientsÌýand how these responsibilities are allocated between the supervisor, supervisee andÌýany line manager or others with responsibilities for the service provided. ConsiderationÌýneeds to be given to how any of these arrangements and responsibilities will beÌýcommunicated to clients in ways that are supportive of and appropriate to the workÌýbeing undertaken. These arrangements will usually be reviewed at least once a year, orÌýmore frequently if required.

66.ÌýTrainee supervision will require the supervisor to collaborate with training andÌýplacement providers in order to ensure that the trainee’s work with clients satisfiesÌýprofessional standards. The arrangements for collaboration will usually be agreed andÌýdiscussed with the trainee in advance of working with clients.

67.ÌýWhen supervising qualified and/or experienced practitioners, the weight ofÌýresponsibility for ensuring that the supervisee’s work meets professional standardsÌýwill primarily rest with the supervisee.

68.ÌýSupervisors and supervisees will periodically consider how responsibility for workÌýwith clients is implemented in practice and how any difficulties or concerns areÌýbeing addressed.

69.ÌýThe application of this Ethical Framework to the work with clients will be discussed inÌýsupervision regularly and not less than once a year.

70.ÌýSupervisors will conscientiously consider the application of the law concerningÌýsupervision to their role and responsibilities.

71.ÌýSupervisors will keep accurate records of key points discussed in supervision.

72.ÌýSupervisees have a responsibility to be open and honest in supervision and to drawÌýattention to any significant difficulties or challenges that they may be facing in theirÌýwork with clients. Supervisors are responsible for providing opportunities for theirÌýsupervisees to discuss any of their practice-related difficulties without blame orÌýunjustified criticism and, when appropriate, to support their supervisees in takingÌýpositive actions to resolve difficulties.

73.ÌýSupervision is recommended to anyone working in roles that require regularly giving orÌýreceiving emotionally challenging communications, or engaging in relationally complexÌýand challenging roles.

74.ÌýAll trainers will have the skills, attitudes and knowledge required to be competentÌýteachers and facilitators of learning for what is being provided.

75.ÌýAny information about the teaching, education or learning opportunities beingÌýprovided will be accurate and enable potential students to make an informed choice.

76.ÌýAny selection of students will be fair, respectful and transparent to candidates and useÌýprocedures designed to select suitable students.

77.ÌýAny assessments of students will be fair, respectful and provide reasoned explanationsÌýfor the outcome to the students.

78.ÌýCare will be taken when using examples of work with clients for teaching purposes thatÌýthe client information is used with the consent of the person or sufficiently anonymisedÌýso that the person concerned cannot be identified by any means reasonably likely to beÌýused.

79.ÌýTrainers and educators will model high levels of good practice in their work, particularlyÌýwith regard to expected levels of competence and professionalism, relationshipÌýbuilding, the management of personal boundaries, any dual relationships, conflicts ofÌýinterest and avoiding exploitation.

80.ÌýTrainers and educators will encourage trainees to raise any concerns at the earliestÌýopportunity and have processes and policies for addressing any trainee’s concerns.ÌýTrainers and educators are responsible for providing opportunities for trainees toÌýdiscuss any of their practice-related difficulties without blame or unjustified criticismÌýand, when appropriate, to support trainees in taking positive actions to resolveÌýdifficulties.

81.ÌýTrainees working with each other will:

a. relate respectfully to others and endeavour to support each others’ learning
b. follow good ethical practice when working with each other, for example whenÌýpractising skills or in personal developmentÌý

82.ÌýIn the interests of openness and honesty with clients:

a. trainees on a practitioner-qualifying course working with clients will inform clientsÌý(or ensure that clients have been informed) that they are trainees
b. trainees who are undertaking post-qualification CPD or further training will beÌýguided by any applicable training requirements when using their professional andÌýethical judgement about whether to inform clients that they are in training

83.ÌýAll trainees will:

a. seek their clients’ permission to use any information from work with them forÌýtraining purposes, for example, in presentations, case studies or as assessedÌýpractice. Alternatively, any report of work undertaken will be so thoroughlyÌýanonymised that the identity of the person concerned cannot be identified by anyÌýmeans reasonably likely to be used. Consent is required if anonymity cannot beÌýassured or when required by the training provider’s instructions or regulations.
b. ensure that they deliver services that satisfy the minimum professional standardsÌýwhen working as practitioners with members of the public. This standard may beÌýachieved with the assistance of appropriate professional support.
c. collaborate with their trainers, placement providers, supervisors and otherÌýprofessional advisers to provide services to their clients that satisfy professionalÌýstandards by being undertaken with reasonable care and skill
d. be watchful for any incompatibilities between contractual requirements that haveÌýimplications for work with clients, for example, between agreements with clients,Ìýtraining providers and placements, and seek appropriate support in order to ensureÌýthat all contractual requirements are compatible
e. be open and honest with trainers, placement providers and supervisors about allÌýissues relevant to their selection, training, supervision and professional practice

84.ÌýWe value research and systematic inquiry by practitioners as enhancing ourÌýprofessional knowledge and providing an evidence-base for practice in ways thatÌýbenefit our clients.

85.ÌýWe will usually support and provide opportunities for research if it is compatible withÌýthe services we provide.

86.ÌýWhen undertaking research we will be rigorously attentive to the quality and integrityÌýof the research process, the knowledge claims arising from the research and how theÌýresults are disseminated.

87.ÌýAll research that we undertake will be guided by the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¾«×¼×ÊÁÏ Ethical Guidelines forÌýResearch in the Counselling Professions.

88.ÌýAll participants in research will do so on the basis of explicit informed consent.

89.ÌýAll research will be reviewed in advance to ensure that the rights and interests ofÌýparticipants have been considered independently of the researcher.

90.ÌýThe research methods used will comply with standards of good practice in any servicesÌýbeing delivered and will not adversely affect clients.

91.ÌýWe will take responsibility for our own wellbeing as essential to sustaining goodÌýpractice with our clients by:

a. taking precautions to protect our own physical safety
b. monitoring and maintaining our own psychological and physical health, particularlyÌýthat we are sufficiently resilient and resourceful to undertake our work in ways thatÌýsatisfy professional standards
c. seeking professional support and services as the need arises
d. keeping a healthy balance between our work and other aspects of life

92.ÌýWe recognise that professional and ethical issues, problems and dilemmas will ariseÌýfrom time to time and are an unavoidable part of our practice.

93.ÌýWe will use our supervision and any other available professional resources to supportÌýand challenge how we respond to such situations. We will give careful consideration toÌýthe best approaches to ethical problem-solving.

94.ÌýWe will take responsibility for considering how best to act in such situations and will beÌýready to explain why we decided to respond in the way we did.