The BACP Ethical Framework

 

The BACP Ethical Framework is the main point of reference for decisions in professional conduct hearings. It also details how to provide a safe and ethical practice to clients regarding all aspects of counselling and psychotherapy work. 

 

 

 

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

Each counsellor should understand these and build them into their practice on a daily basis. Clients put trust in our work and share confidential information with us, therefore we must ensure that clients understand our commitments towards them.

The first session is a great opportunity to inform clients about this. It can be part of the contracting and establishing the working alliance. There’s a one-page printable version of these commitments on the BACP website which can be given to the client during the first session.

There are 6 main parts:

1. Putting the client first. Counsellors should put clients first and provide appropriate service to them.

2. Working to professional standards. This means working within our competence, self-care and accurate record keeping.

3. Showing respect. Counsellors should value the client, protect his confidentiality and work collaboratively with clients.

4. Building an appropriate relationship. Counsellors should communicate openly about what they can offer, costs and boundaries. Clients’ expectations should be checked and clients’ experience should be appreciated, too. We shouldn’t exploit or abuse clients in any way. Breaks and endings should be managed appropriately.

5. Maintaining integrity. Counsellors should communicate qualifications, experience and working methods accurately.

6. Demonstrating accountability and candour.

Counsellors should discuss risks and action taken in case of risk openly. Client work should be reviewed in supervision. Client experience should also be monitored.

Apart from these the framework contains an Ethics section which has 3 parts, values, principles and personal moral qualities. The final section is the Good Practice section, which gives guidelines in 94 practical points about all aspects of work including training and supervision, e.g GPiA110 deals with boundaries within the counselling profession.

Bibliography:

https://www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions/

https://www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/good-practice-in-action/

https://www.bacp.co.uk/bacp-journals/