1. Guidance for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy

2. Aims
To apply ethics to the contemporary challenges faced by talking therapies
Strong emphasis on good practice
How good?
How safe?
How do you know?
Validate contextually appropriate good practice

3. Changes in voice
Guidance is directed towards general principles rather than specific behaviours [with exception of prohibition on sex with clients and obligation to receive supervision] [informed consent/contracts]
Strives to be respectful of contextually appropriate good practice
Creates platform for supplementary guidelines

4. Changes in content
Definition of practitioner as inclusive of range of roles
Responsibility to clients set alongside responsibility to be adequately supported and the quality of relationship with colleagues
Explicit consideration of competence and keeping trust
Care of self as practitioner

5. Good quality of care and competent practice
Pitched to promote contextually appropriate practice
boundaries and dual relationships
record keeping
competence requires regular review and being up to date

6. Keeping trust Key features: harm to self and others
quality of listening and respect
cultural appropriateness
respect for privacy and dignity
careful attention to consent and confidentiality
harm to self and others
at risk of harm by others
young people

7. Teaching, supervising and researching
Assumes that the guidance is generic and therefore applicable to these roles
Sets out additional areas of responsibility beyond those of counsellor or psychotherapist
Creates new challenges for determining contextually appropriate relationships
Additional support planned

8. Resolving complaints: if things go wrong with own client
Prompt and appropriate response
Attempt remedy if possible
Mobilise professional support to reduce risk of repetition and increase understanding
Insurance encouraged
Second opinion for disputes over what is good practice - mediation
Notify client of relevant procedures (BACP)

9. Local resolution and BACP
BACP welcomes and encourages:
local resolution of issues as quickly as possible
appropriate use of local procedures
use of PCP where the issue remains unresolved/is inappropriate for local resolution /substantial issues requiring a professional bodies consideration is desirable
our collective aim is the protection of the public

10. New balance in professional accountability
Greater flexibility in ethical responsibility envisaged in Ethics and Guidance for Good Practice
balanced by greater emphasis on:
honouring and keeping trust
routine accountability to clients and colleagues/stakeholders
a more accessible PCP