Ensuring the probity of practice is important both to those who are directly affected but also to the standing of the profession as a whole.
Probity in Practice
Providing clients with adequate information
Practitioners are responsible for clarifying the terms on which their services are being offered in advance of the person legally responsible for the client incurring any financial obligation or other reasonably foreseeable costs or liabilities.
All information about services should be honest, accurate, avoid unjustifiable claims, and be consistent with maintaining the good standing of the profession.
Particular care should be taken over the integrity of presenting qualifications, accreditation and professional standing.
Financial arrangements
Practitioners are required to be honest, straightforward and accountable in all financial matters concerning their clients and other professional relationships.
Conflicts of interest
Conflicts of interest are best avoided, provided they can be reasonably foreseen in the first instance and prevented from arising. In deciding how to respond to conflicts of interest, the protection of the client’s interests and maintaining trust in the practitioner should be paramount.
Care of self as a practitioner
Attending to the practitioner’s well-being is essential to sustaining good practice.
Practitioners have a responsibility to themselves to ensure that their work does not become detrimental to their health or well-being by ensuring that the way that they undertake their work is as safe as possible and that they seek appropriate professional support and services as the need arises.
Practitioners are entitled to be treated with proper consideration and respect that is consistent with this Guidance.