clients and should do what they can to make therapy accessible
to clients whatever their fi nances, ability or language. Contract
8. T ere must be a clear and unambiguous agreement between members and client(s) regarding the work to be undertaken. T e contract should include reference to the time place and frequency of sessions.
9. Before therapy begins, members should provide an appropriate explanation of the nature of the therapy being off ered. If the work required is outside the member’s skills base the client should be referred on to an appropriate resource.
10. Members in private practice must discuss fi nancial arrangements before therapy begins. Fee arrangements must be clear and explicit.
11. Members must not accept payment from referrers, nor pay anyone a fee for referrals made. However the payment of fees for the provision of referral management and/or marketing services is permit ed.
Relationships with clients
12. Members should maintain appropriate boundaries with their clients. T is means they must take care not to exploit current or former clients in any way, whether fi nancially, emotionally or sexually.
13. Sexual intimacy with clients is always unethical and any possibility of at raction should be discussed with the appropriate superior/supervisor and alternative therapy arrangements made. Sexual intimacy with former clients is prohibited for three years following the termination of therapy.
14. Members should not use relationships with clients to further personal, religious, political or other non-professional interests.
15. T erapy should continue only so long as it is benefi cial to the client(s).
16. Financial transactions between members and clients, other than those relating to fees, are forbidden.
17. T e use of violence against a client is forbidden, though the use of restraint and/or reasonable force within the law may be justifi ed if the safety of any person present is threatened.
Qualifi cations
18. Members must disclose their qualifi cations if requested, and must not claim to possess qualifi cations which they do not have. Membership of AFT should not be presented as a qualifi cation. T e titles of Family and Systemic Psychotherapist, Systemic Psychotherapist or Family T erapist should not be used unless the practitioner has successfully completed accredited qualifying training and has registration with UKCP or another registering body which can protect the public by receiving and managing complaints regarding their psychotherapy practice.
19. Advertisements should not make false claims and should only describe training undertaken, qualifi cations held, and services off ered by the therapist.
Competence
20. Members should operate only within the limits of their competence (please see levels of training information sheet),
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and must cease to practice if that competence becomes impaired for any reason.
21. Qualifi cation as a Family and Systemic Psychotherapist, Systemic Psychotherapist or Family T erapist affi rms competence to practice independently. Family and Systemic Psychotherapists, Systemic Psychotherapists and Family T erapists are required, however, to maintain their ability to perform competently through continuing personal and professional development.
22. Members must ensure that they have made appropriate arrangements for supervision of and/or consultation to their practice. In accordance with the registration rules laid down by UKCP and AFT.
Confi dentiality
23. At the outset of therapy, members should clearly explain the confi dential nature of their work to Clients. All material and information passing between clients and therapist is confi dential.
24. Confi dential material may be disclosed to colleagues within the same agency without the client’s consent where those colleagues are bound by rules of confi dentiality. Examples would include case discussions, allocation meetings and supervision.
25. Members should inform clients that circumstances may arise when it is a mat er of public or professional duty to break confi dentiality. Situations involving self-harm or actual or potential risk of harm to family members or others would constitute such circumstances. If possible it is advisable to gain client consent before breaking confi dentiality.
Notes, records, use of video and audio tape Records need to be maintained, kept up to date and
stored safely in accordance with the policy and procedures of the employing agency and that policy explained to clients. Independent practitioner’s records should conform with this Code of Ethics. Client access to records should be discussed with clients. 26. Permission must always be obtained from clients before audio or videotape recordings are made of a therapy session. T e uses to which such recordings may be put must be fully specifi ed. Specifi c consent must be obtained from clients to use tapes in research or teaching.
27. Specifi c consent forms must be signed by each client, including children where appropriate DEI want this defi ned any suggestions, and only in exceptional circumstances should parental permission over-rule the wishes of a child. It is not suffi cient to record consent on audio or videotape.
28. Members should clarify with clients how long tapes can be held. Recordings must be erased aſt er the time agreed with clients, unless further consent is obtained.
29. Any personal data stored in any form, including electronically, must be completely safe and confi dential, in accordance with current legislation. Members should familiarise themselves with these requirements and those maintaining electronic records will need to be registered with the Information Commissioner’s Offi ce (ICO) under the Data Protection Act (1998). Records should be retained for a minimum of 7 years aſt er the termination of therapy.
Context 155, February 2018
AFT Code of Ethics and Practice
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