Code Of Ethics
APAC's Code of Ethics
APAC Members adhere to the following Code of Ethics, to promote best practice and ensure the highest standards are maintained in the coaching relationship between the coach and the client.
Purpose
The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to set out what the clients can expect from the coach in a coaching relationship, and forms a starting point for any contract subsequently agreed. APAC members irrespective of their membership type, agree to abide by this Code of Ethics, and will make their client aware of its existence.
If a prospective member at the time of their application for membership does not accept to abide by the terms of this Code of Ethics, the Membership Committee reserves the right to decline their membership application.
Terminology
The Code
The coach will acknowledge and respect the dignity of all people, and conduct himself/herself in a way that respects diversity and promotes equitable opportunities for everyone irrespective of their personal and cultural background [including and not limited to gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion, nationality and/or disability]. The coach’s primary responsibility is to provide the best possible coaching service to the client and to act in a way that is safe and respectful.
The APAC Code of Ethics covers the following aspects:
- Conduct
- Competence
- Integrity
- Professionalism
- Boundaries
The APAC coach will:
- Conduct her/himself in a manner that reflects positively upon the coaching profession;
- Not make verbal or written public statements that are untrue or misleading, and may negatively reflect on the coaching profession;
- Demonstrate respect for the variety of different approaches to coaching and will honour the efforts and contributions of other coaches and contributing professionals and not misrepresent them as their own;
- Construct and honour clear agreements with clients, within the context of professional coaching relationship;
- Ensure that the client has a full understanding of the agreement, including confidentiality, financial arrangements and other terms and conditions of the agreement.
The APAC coach will:
- Ensure that his/her level of knowledge, experience and skills are adequate to meet the needs of the client;
- Ensure that their capability to deliver coaching service is sufficient to enable them to operate according to this Code of Ethics, as well as the Code of Ethics of any other professional coaching organization he/she may be a member of (i.e. International Coach Federation, Association for Coaching UK, etc.).
- Not engage in a client relationship if their capacity is impaired due to personal or emotional difficulties, illness, disability, alcohol, drugs or for any other reasons;
- Continually develop and enhance his/her level of competence through ongoing participation in relevant trainings and other professional development activities;
- Take adequate self- and client-care through maintenance of an appropriate supervisory relationship, either with a qualified coaching professional, or through peer-supervision, to regularly assess own competence and in support of development. The supervisor, or peer-supervisors, will be bound by the requirements of confidentiality referred to in this Code.
The APAC Coach will:
- Abide by the APAC Values: Integrity/Credibility/Professionalism, Collaboration/Possibilities/Solutions, Teamwork/Fun/Enjoyment, Diversity/Inclusion and Technology/Openness, in an open and transparent manner;
- Maintain absolute confidentiality, agreed with the client at the start of the relationship, except if otherwise authorised by the client or as required by law, or in cases where the coachee has intention to harm himself/herself or others.
- Not disclose any client information unless explicitly agreed with the client. The only exception is if the coach believes that there is sufficient evidence of there being serious harm done to the client, or others, from not doing so. In this instance, she/he will consult with a suitable supervisor prior to taking action on disclosing client information.
- Not engage in any conduct with a client that may be deemed as dishonest, unlawful, unprofessional or discriminatory.
Give truthful account of his/her qualifications, experience and expertise, when joining the APAC, as well as to his/her clients and fellow coaches.
The APAC Coach will:
- Respond to the client’s learning and development needs in line with the client’s agenda brought to the relationship;
- Refrain from any exploitative conduct with the client, including and not limited to financial and sexual.
- Ensure that the duration of the coaching relationship is only as long as is necessary for meeting the client’s needs;
- Respect the client’s right to terminate the contract prior to its agreed termination date.
- Abide by the professional responsibilities beyond the termination of the coaching relationship, including the following:
- maintenance of confidentiality;
- avoidance of exploitation of the former relationship;
- safe and secure keeping of client’s records and personal data;
- provision of any agreed follow up.
The APAC coach will:
- Act within the limits of coaching boundaries and their own competence, recognising where the boundaries may be exceeded and where it may be necessary to refer the client to either a more experienced coach, or to another professional, such as business consultant, medical practitioner, counsellor or psycho-therapist;
- Be vigilant to the potential for conflict of interest, of either a commercial or emotional nature, and deal with those quickly and effectively, ensuring no harm is done to the client’s reputation or emotional state.
Breach of the Code of Ethics
It is an understanding of all APAC coaches that they will act in accordance with this Code of Ethics, and will represent the coaching profession and themselves positively. However, if a client believes that a coach member of the APAC has acted in a way that is in breach of this Code of Ethics, he/she should raise the matter and seek resolution in the first instance with the coach concerned. Either party may ask the APAC Ethics Sub-Committee member to assist in the process of achieving a win-win resolution. If a satisfying resolution is not achieved, the client can make a formal complaint to the Ethics Sub-Committee. Complaints will be dealt in accordance with the APAC’s Disciplinary.
APAC coaches will work co-operatively with the Ethics Sub-Committee in resolving any matters of complaint.
If an APAC coach becomes aware of a colleague acting in an unethical manner, it is his/her responsibility to approach the colleague and seek resolution. If the latter is not reached, it is responsibility of the same coach then to report the colleague to the Ethics Sub-Committee.
If an APAC coach breaches the Code of Ethics, and there is evidence to support this, the Ethics Sub-Committee can recommend to the Executive Committee that the coach be suspended and/or removed as a member of APAC.
At all times both the coach raising the complaint and members of the Ethics Sub-Committee and the Executive Committee must ensure that appropriate confidentiality is kept. In this way, this will help protect the outside reputation of the coach concerned.
