Code of Ethics

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1     The purpose of a Code of Ethics is to define general principles and to establish standards of professional conduct for therapists in their work and to inform and protect those members of the public who seek their services: children, young people, their families and, where applicable significant others. Each member organisation of the European Interdisciplinary Association for Therapy Children and Young People will include and elaborate upon the following principles in its Code of Ethics.

1.2    All therapists are expected to approach their work with the aim of alleviating suffering and promoting the well-being of the children and young people with whom they are working. Therapists should endeavour to use their abilities and skills to the best advantage for the child or young person without prejudice and with due recognition of the value and dignity of every child/young person.

1.3    All therapists whose organisations are members of the EIATSCYP are required to adhere to the Codes of Ethics and Practice of their own organizations which will be consistent with the following statements and which will have been approved by EIATSCYP Ethics Committee.

2. CODE OF ETHICS

Each Member Organisation of EIATSCYP (Including National Associations or country specific Special Interest Groups) must have published a Code of Ethics approved by the EIATSCYP appropriate for the practitioners of that particular organisation and their clients.  The Code of Ethics will include and elaborate upon the following points. ALL therapists are required to adhere to the Codes of Ethics of their own organization.

2.1    Qualifications: Therapists are required to disclose their qualifications when requested and not claim, or imply, qualifications that they do not have.

2.2    Terms, Conditions and Methods of Practice: Therapists are required to disclose on request their terms of conditions and, where appropriate, methods of practice at the outset of therapy.

2.3    Confidentiality: Therapists are required to preserve confidentiality and to disclose, if requested, the limits of confidentiality and circumstances under which it might be broken to specific third parties. Therapists working with children and young people need to be cognizant of the nature and extent of confidentiality when working within an interdisciplinary team or multi-agency setting. Therapists should seek clarity as to who holds ultimate clinical responsibility within the team. With children and young people the boundaries of confidentiality will need to be assessed in the context of the over riding safety of the child and/or young person.

2.4   Professional Relationship: Therapists should consider the child’s best interests when making appropriate contact with the child’s general practitioner, relevant psychiatric services and/or other relevant professionals.

2.5   Relationship with Clients: Therapists are required to maintain appropriate boundaries with children and young people and  must take care not to exploit them in any way, financially, sexually, or emotionally.

2.6   Research: Therapists are required to clarify with the child/young person and immediate family  or loco parentis the nature, purpose and conditions of any research in which they are to be involved and to ensure that, as far as is possible, informed and verifiable consent is given before commencement.

2.7    Publication: Therapists are required to safeguard the welfare and anonymity of clients when any form of publication of clinical material is being considered and to obtain consent whenever possible.

2.8    Practitioner Competence: Therapists are required to maintain their ability to perform competently and to take necessary steps to do so. Therapists should be aware of their own limitations.

2.9    Indemnity Insurance: Therapists are required to ensure that any  professional work in the private sector is adequately covered by appropriate indemnity insurance.

2.10 Detrimental Behaviour:

(1) Therapists are required to refrain from any behaviour that may be detrimental to the profession, to colleagues or to trainees.

(ii) Therapists are required to take appropriate action in accordance with Clause 5.7 with regard to the behaviour of a colleague which may be detrimental to the profession, to colleagues or to trainees.

3. ADVERTISING

Institute C.Y.F./member organisations of the EIATSCYP and individual therapists are required to restrict promotion of their work to a description of the type of therapy they provide. Therapists are required to distinguish carefully between self-description, as in a list, and advertising seeking enquiries.

4. CODE OF PRACTICE

Each Member Organisation of the EIATSCYP will have published a Code of Practice approved by the EIATSCYP and appropriate for the practitioners of that particular organization and their clients. The purpose of Code of Practice is to clarify and expand upon the general principles established in the Code of Ethics of the organisation and the practical application of those principles. All therapists  whose member organisations are members of the EIATSCYP  will be required to adhere to the Codes of Practice of their own organisations.

5. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

Each Member Organisation of the EIATSCYP must have published a Complaints Procedure, including information about the acceptability or otherwise of a complaint made by a third party against a practitioner; approved by the EIATSCYP and appropriate for the practitioners of that  particular organisation and their clients. The purpose of a Complaints Procedure is to ensure that practitioners and their clients have clear information about the procedure and processes involved in dealing with complaints. All therapists are required to adhere to the Complaints Procedure of their own organisation or that of the national regulatory body where such exists.

5.1    Making a complaint: A client, and/or their adult representative in the case of children, wishing to complain shall be advised to contact the Member Organisation.

5.2    Receiving a complaint:  A Member Organisation receiving a complaint against one of its therapists shall ensure that the therapist is informed immediately and that both complainant and therapist are aware of the Complaints Procedure.

5.3    Appeals: After the completion of the Complaints Procedure within an organisation, provision must be made for an appeal, stating time limits, grounds and procedures.

5.4    Reports to the EIATSCYP: Where a complaint is upheld, Intistute Dom (the member organization) will inform the EIATSCYP executive.

5.5    Complaints upheld and convictions:  Therapists are required to inform their Institute DOM if any complaint is upheld against them in another Member Organisation, if they are convicted of any criminal offence or if successful civil proceedings are brought against them in relation to their work as therapists.

5.6    Conduct of colleagues: Therapists concerned that a colleague’s conduct may be unprofessional should initiate the Complaints Procedure of the relevant Member Organisation.

5.7    The resignation of a member of an organisation shall not be allowed to impede the process of any investigation as long as the alleged offence took place during the person’s membership.

6. SANCTIONS

Therapists who are suspended by, or expelled from Institute C.Y.F. are automatically excluded from the EIATSCYP.

7. MONITORING COMPLAINTS

7.1 Institute C.Y.F. shall report to the EIATSCYP executive annually concerning the number and the nature of any complaints received and their disposition.