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Maturus' ethical policy adheres to the BACP Ethical Framework and all associates will work within this framework. The BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) is one of the lead bodies in the counselling and psychotherapy field.

Maturus' confidentiality statement

Maturus is committed to maintain the highest level of client confidentiality, which means we will not disclose to a third party issues raised in a counselling session.

However, we have a statutory duty to disclose information to the relevant authorities where the threat to public interest is considered overwhelming under the following acts and in these circumstances the client is not informed of the disclosure:

  • Prevention of Terrorism Act 1989;
  • Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986.

In addition, Maturus reserves the right to disclose where we believe there is a serious risk of harm to self or others, particularly a child. In these cases we will seek to involve the client in the decision.

Further more any additional limitations as agreed between Maturus and the Employer will be specifically spelt out to the client at the outset of counselling, both verbally and in writing, e.g. industrial sabotage.

A summary of the BACP Ethical Framework is as follows:

  • Values
  • Principles
  • Personal moral qualities

Values of counselling and psychotherapy

The fundamental values of counselling and psychotherapy include a commitment to:

  • Respecting human rights and dignity;
  • Ensuring the integrity of practitioner-client relationships;
  • Enhancing the quality of professional knowledge and its application;
  • Alleviating personal distress and suffering;
  • Fostering a sense of self that is meaningful to the person(s) concerned;
  • Increasing personal effectiveness;
  • Enhancing the quality of relationships between people;
  • Appreciating the variety of human experience and culture;
  • Striving for the fair and adequate provision of counselling and psychotherapy services.

Values inform principles. They represent an important way of expressing a general ethical commitment that becomes more precisely defined and action-orientated when expressed as a principle.

Ethical principles of counselling and psychotherapy

Principles direct attention to important ethical responsibilities.

•  Fidelity:

honouring the trust placed in the practitioner;

•  Autonomy:

respect for the client's right to be self-governing;

•  Beneficence:

a commitment to promoting the client's well-being;

•  Non-maleficence:

a commitment to avoiding harm to the client;

•  Justice:

the fair and impartial treatment of all clients and the provision of adequate services;

•  Self-respect:

fostering the practitioner's self-knowledge and care for self.

Personal moral qualities

The practitioner's personal moral qualities are of the utmost importance to clients.

•  Empathy:

the ability to communicate understanding of another person's experience from that person's perspective.

•  Sincerity:

a personal commitment to consistency between what is professed and what is done.

•  Integrity:

commitment to being moral in dealings with others, personal straightforwardness, honesty and coherence.

•  Resilience:

the capacity to work with the client's concerns without being personally diminished.

•  Respect:

showing appropriate esteem to others and their understanding of themselves.

•  Humility:

the ability to assess accurately and acknowledge one's own strengths and weaknesses.

•  Competence:

the effective deployment of the skills and knowledge needed to do what is required.

•  Fairness:

the consistent application of appropriate criteria to inform decisions and actions.

•  Wisdom:

possession of sound judgement that informs practice.

•  Courage:

the capacity to act in spite of known fears, risks and uncertainty.

Providing a good standard of practice and care

All clients are entitled to good standards of practice and care from their practitioners in counselling and psychotherapy. Good standards of practice and care require professional competence; good relationships with clients and colleagues; and commitment to and observance of professional ethics.

  • Good quality of care
  • Maintaining competent practice
  • Keeping trust
  • Teaching and training
  • Supervising and managing
  • Researching
  • Fitness to practise
  • If things go wrong with own clients
  • Responsibilities to all clients
  • Working with colleagues
  • Working in teams
  • Awareness of context
  • Making and receiving referrals
  • Probity in professional practice
  • Providing clients with adequate information
  • Financial arrangements
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Care of self as a practitioner

Professional Conduct Procedure

It is the responsibility of Members Complained Against and Complainants to ensure that they fully understand the Professional Conduct Procedure and the associated protocols. This procedure forms an essential part of BACP's commitment to the protection of the public

Full details of the BACP Ethical Framework may be found at: http://www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework/
 
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