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West Midlands Institute of Psychotherapy
36 Harborne Road, Edgbaston Birmingham B15 3AF Tel/fax 0121 455 7888
email: admin@wmip.org
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Code of Practice
Bye Law 2
This Code of Practice provides guidelines for the implementation in practice of the principles embodied in the WMIP Code of Ethics.
I) General
- A Member is responsible for the observance and implementation of the principles of the Code of Ethics.
- A Member shall give information on his / her qualifications when requested and shall refrain from claiming, or implying, qualifications s/he does not possess.
II) Responsibilities to Patients*
- A Member is responsible for giving a clear statement to the patient (or a responsible carer) regarding fees, methods of payment, and liabilities for cancelled or broken appointments. The giving of substantial gifts or favours by either party should be avoided.
- A Member must encourage the patient to seek medical advice where it is appropriate.
- A Member will normally, with the patient's consent, notify the General Practitioner that the patient is engaged in psychotherapy. Appropriate communication with, or referrals to, other professionals may be made with the patient's consent.
- It is recognised that continuing professional consultation, whether in supervision and /or in therapy, and continuing education, are consistent with maintaining oneself responsibly as a practitioner.
- A Member shall not enter into a physical sexual relationship with any patient.
- A Member is expected to exercise great constraint and caution regarding social contact with a patient both during and after therapy, taking account of the transference.
- A Member is responsible for ensuring that records, in whatever form, are kept secure.
- A Member is responsible for ensuring that any proven legal claim made by a patient can be met, either through the employers liability cover or through the Member's own Indemnity Insurance.
- A Member is responsible for providing suitable accommodation and conditions for the patient.
- Members are responsible for ensuring that any advertisements for their services are legal, honest and not misleading, and that any information given is factual and not evaluative. Members should be transparent in referring to their membership of WMIP in any advertising; that is, they should make clear the distinction between a category of membership and any qualification and registration they possess. Membership should not be used to imply any qualification or competence.
- A member has an individual responsibility for ensuring that, in the event of death or incapacity, arrangements are in place with a professional colleague(s) to reduce detrimental effects upon patients
III) Responsibilities to Trainees
- Pre-Course Information
All prospective trainees will be fully informed of the nature and requirements of the training course including its philosophy, objectives, assessment criteria, requirements for satisfactory completion and the qualification offered.
- Teaching
- All teachers involved in training psychotherapists will be governed by Codes of Ethics and Practice appropriate to their professional work.
- Teachers will respect the diversity of trainees and not discriminate on grounds of difference.
- Teachers will not exploit their trainees sexually, financially or in any other way.
- Clinical Work Undertaken by Trainees
- In establishing clinical requirements, the best interests of both patients and trainees will be taken into account, including maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
- The requirements of the clinical work will be clearly set out and given to all trainees at the onset.
- Close supervision will be maintained on trainees' work with patients presented for training purposes.
- Personal and Financial Involvement
- All details of costs and fees will be made explicit at the onset of training including responsibility for and methods of payment and the possibility of increases in costs and fees.
- If it becomes necessary to change training requirements during a course, there will be consultation and negotiation for those affected by the change.
- All trainees will have a personal tutor and the extent to which the tutor may be involved in assessment will be specified.
- The boundaries of confidentiality will be made clear and there will be safeguards to protect the confidentiality of trainees' personal material.
- Assessment
- All assessment processes will be in accord with the UKCP Training Requirements.
- Trainees will be informed in writing at the outset of the criteria for, and the processes of, assessment.
- The processes of assessment will be as open as possible.
IV) Responsibilities to Supervisees
- A Member offering supervision or consultation work must make clear whether it is offered on behalf of a WMIP training course or in a personal capacity.
- Where supervision is taking place as part of a WMIP training course, the above Section 3 [Clinical Work Undertaken by Trainees] will also apply.
- Supervisors will not exploit the supervisee sexually, financially or in any other way.
- A supervisor will not enter into a sexual relationship with any supervisee.
- A supervisor is responsible for ensuring that a clear understanding exists between the supervisor and the supervisee which includes the following aspects:
- Frequency and duration of sessions.
- Fees and methods of payments including missed sessions.
- Boundaries of confidentiality.
- A clear understanding that the supervisee holds clinical responsibility for the patient, unless agreed otherwise.
- Clarification of the Codes of Ethics and Practice under which the supervision is being conducted.
- Procedure for review of the work.
- V) Responsibilities to the Institute
- Full or General or Student Memberships of the Institute alone do not constitute qualifications to practice and must not be represented as such.
- A Member shall inform the Executive Council of the Board of Trustees if s/he:
- is convicted of a criminal offence.
- is the subject of a successful civil legal action in relation to his / her profession.
- is subject to sanctions by the authorities of an organisation in a related or same profession as a result of disciplinary proceedings.
- foresees the possibility of an ethical issue or conflict developing in any actual or potential professional situation.
- The resignation of a Member shall not impede the process of any investigation, so long as the alleged offence took place during membership of the Institute.
* "Patient" includes "client" in its meaning in this document
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