Code of Conduct
CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT HCA HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACHES
Introduction
This Code is intended for use by all students and graduates of the Health Coaches Academy (HCA) and is a guide to excellence in professional conduct and practice. It represents the standards against which HCA Health Coaches will be measured in the event of a complaint being made to the HCA. It also sets out for the general public the quality of care they should expect to receive from professional Health Coaches who are students and graduates of the HCA.
By definition, a professional Health Coach is fundamentally concerned with the welfare of his/her clients. All HCA Health Coaches are personally accountable for their actions and must be able to explain and justify their decisions.
It is a condition of certification with the HCA that all Health Coaches must adhere to the standards set out within this Code, which includes complying with all related regulation and legislation.
Health Coaches who fail to adhere to this Code will be subject to the HCA Professional Conduct Procedure. By representing the HCA, either as a student or a graduate, Health Coaches are voluntarily agreeing to abide by the content of this Code and any amendments or additions that may be made in the future. When the Code is updated, the HCA will advise its students and graduates accordingly, however it is ultimately the Health Coaches’ responsibility to ensure they are referring and adhering to the latest edition of the Code, which is available at www.healthcoachesacademy.com.
This Code seeks to set out the following standards and explain how these standards should be applied. It is not exhaustive, but all decisions should be made in light of the following:
HCA Health Coaches must, at all times:
• Act in the best interests of their clients;
• Respect their clients;
• Take responsibility for their own actions;
• Practise only within the limits of their competence and scope;
• Ensure their behaviour does not damage the reputation of the profession;
• Observe confidentiality;
• Practise within the law; and
• Maintain and develop their knowledge and skills.
1. Professional Conduct
HCA Health Coaches must conduct their professional practice in a way that is a credit to the profession.
1.1 HCA Health Coaches have a responsibility to immediately inform the HCA and other relevant professional bodies if they have any information about their own, or another coach’s, conduct or competence that may bring the profession into disrepute.
1.1.1 Health Coaches must inform the HCA immediately if they are aware of any of the following in relation to their own practice, or that of another HCA Health Coach:
• disciplinary action by a professional association involved in the complementary health or wellness industry, or any organisation responsible for regulating or licensing a healthcare professional; or
• suspension or a practice restriction order by an employer or organisation because of concerns about conduct or competence; or
• police arrest or conviction of a criminal offence, other than for a minor motoring offence or receipt of a police caution.
1.2 HCA Health Coaches must limit or suspend practice if their performance is affected by personal circumstances.
1.2.1 Health Coaches have a duty to take action if their own health or personal circumstances could be affecting their ability to provide safe or effective treatment.
1.3 HCA Health Coaches will act within applicable law and not in any way encourage, assist or collude with conduct which is dishonest, unlawful, unprofessional or discriminatory.
2. Relationship with other professionals
HCA Health Coaches must act with respect for other practitioners and healthcare professionals at all times.
2.1 Health Coaches must work in a spirit of cooperation and foster good relations with other therapists and healthcare professionals.
2.2 Health Coaches must never countermand instructions given by the client’s doctor or other healthcare professional responsible for the client’s care.
2.3 Health Coaches must never discourage clients from continuing with orthodox medical treatment or care, or suggest the treatments they provide are an alternative to orthodox medical treatment.
2.4 Clients must be advised to tell their doctor or other healthcare professional what complementary treatments they are having as an adjunct to their orthodox medical care.
2.5 Any commercial competition between an HCA Health Coach and other therapist/healthcare professional must be conducted in a fair and open manner.
2.6 Health Coaches must not solicit the clients of another therapist, healthcare professional or previous employer (soliciting can be defined as directly or indirectly requesting, persuading or encouraging clients to transfer their business). When entering a joint working arrangement with another – be this on an employed or self- employed basis – it must be agreed from the start, and put into a written contract, what will happen when the joint working arrangement comes to a close.
2.7 HCA Health Coaches must not criticise other therapists or healthcare professionals to clients or other third parties. Where a member has due cause for concern about the professional conduct of another member or healthcare professional, the HCA or other appropriate professional bodies must be informed.
3. Confidentiality
3.1 When working with clients, HCA Health Coaches will maintain the strictest level of confidentiality with all client and sponsor information unless release of information is required by law.
3.2 Health Coaches will have a clear agreement with clients about the conditions under which confidentiality will not be maintained (e.g. illegal activity, danger to self or others) and gain agreement to that limit of confidentiality where possible unless the release of information is required by law.
3.3 Health Coaches will keep, store and dispose of appropriate and accurate records of their work with clients, including electronic files and communications, in a manner that ensures confidentiality, security and privacy, and complies with all relevant laws and agreements that exist in their country regarding data protection and privacy.
4. Appropriate interactions
4.1 HCA Health Coaches are responsible for setting and maintaining clear, appropriate and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern all physical and virtual interactions with clients or sponsors.
4.2 Health Coaches must promote equality in line with relevant equality, human rights and anti- discrimination legislation.
4.3 Health Coaches must not refuse a service to clients, or provide a lower standard of service, on discriminatory grounds.
4.4 Health Coaches must never allow their personal views about gender, age, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, social or economic status, lifestyle, cultural or religious beliefs to affect how they interact or support a client.
4.5 Health Coaches will avoid any romantic or sexual relationship with current clients. Further, members will be alert to the possibility of any potential sexual intimacy, and take appropriate action to avoid the intimacy or cancel the engagement in order to provide a safe environment.
5. Scope of practice
5.1 HCA Health Coaches must recognise and work within their limits of knowledge, skills and competence.
5.2 Health Coaches will accurately and honestly represent their relevant professional qualifications, professional body to which they belong, experience, training, certifications and accreditations to clients, sponsors and colleagues.
5.3 In communication with any party, Health Coaches will accurately and honestly represent the value they provide as a coach.
5.4 Health Coaches will ensure that no false or misleading claims are made, or implied, about their professional competence, qualifications or accreditation in any published, promotional material or otherwise.
6. Conflict of interest
6.1 HCA Health Coaches will not exploit a client or seek to gain any inappropriate financial or non-financial advantage from the relationship.
6.2 To avoid any conflict of interest, Health Coaches will distinguish a professional relationship with a client from other forms of relationships.
6.3 Health Coaches will be aware of the potential for conflicts of interest of either a commercial or personal nature arising through the working relationship and address them quickly and effectively in order to ensure that there is no detriment to the client.
6.4 Health Coaches will consider the impact of any client relationships on other client relationships and discuss any potential conflict of interest with those who might be affected.
6.5 Health Coaches will disclose any conflict openly with the client and agree to withdraw from the relationship if a conflict arises which cannot be managed effectively.
7. Terminating Relationships
7.1 HCA Health Coaches will respect a client's right to terminate a relationship at any point in the process, subject to the provisions of the coaching service agreement.
7.2 Health Coaches will encourage the client or sponsor to terminate the coaching engagement if it is believed that the client would be better served by another practising member or a different form of professional help.
7.3 Health Coaches understand that their professional responsibilities continue beyond the termination of the professional relationship. These include:
• Maintenance of agreed confidentiality of all information relating to clients.
• Safe and secure maintenance of all related records and data that complies with all relevant laws and agreements that exist in their country regarding data protection and privacy.
• Avoidance of any exploitation of the former relationship, which could otherwise call into question the professionalism or integrity of the member or the professional community.
• Provision of any follow-up that has been agreed to.
7.4 Health Coaches are required to have a provision for transfer of current clients and dissemination of records in the event of the member’s incapacitation, or termination of practice.
8. Legal and statutory obligations and duties
8.1 HCA Health Coaches are obliged to stay up to date and comply with all relevant statutory requirements in the countries in which their professional work takes place and work within any organisational policies and procedures in the context in which they are working.
8.2 Health Coaches will have the appropriate professional indemnity insurance to cover their coaching work for the countries in which they operate.
9. Continuing professional development
9.1 HCA Health Coaches will develop their level of coaching and/or mentoring competence by participating in relevant and appropriate training and/or continuing professional development (CPD).
9.2 Health Coaches are expected to make a contribution to the professional community that is appropriate to their level of expertise. Forms which this may take include informal peer support to fellow practising members, contributing to advancing the profession, research and writing, and any other relevant contributions.
9.3 Health Coaches will systematically evaluate the quality of their work through feedback from clients, their supervisor, and other relevant parties.