Code of Professional Conduct

The Code

All staff, tutors, students, graduates, associates and members of The Coaching Academy agree to:

• Always conduct themselves to the highest levels of ethics, integrity, accountability and responsibility
• Treat all clients and potential clients with absolute dignity, confidentiality and respect as free and equal individuals
• Respect the commercial confidentiality of The Coaching Academy by not divulging business information to any third parties
• Maintain the good reputation of the coaching profession in general and The Coaching Academy in particular
• Comply with both the spirit and the letter of any commercial agreements made with clients, potential clients, professional colleagues and The Coaching Academy
• Make commercial agreements with clients and potential clients that are fair and will respect all parties to such agreements
• Represent true levels of status, title, competence and experience in order not to mislead, misrepresent or defraud
• Clearly state to clients and potential clients the terms of any commercial agreement including the expectations of both parties
• Make no claims or implications of outcomes that cannot be demonstrated or guaranteed
• Obtain written permission from any client or potential client before releasing their names as referees
• Respect the absolute rights of the client's confidentiality except as expressly permitted by the client or potential client in writing or as required by law
• Recommend different coaches or resources when these will be more appropriate to the client's needs
• Avoid all conflicts of interest and give notice of such potential conflicts to The Coaching Academy. Advise both The Coaching Academy and the client on the risk of conflict if a relationship moves beyond a coach/client situation (For example a personal or business relationship)
• Refrain from offering professional information or advice that you know to be confidential, misleading or where the accuracy is beyond your competence to assess
• Endeavour to enhance public understanding and acceptance of professional coaching
• Share skills and experience with fellow members and associates of The Coaching Academy to further increase the body of knowledge, skills and competencies of such parties
• Respect all copyrights, agreements, work, intellectual property and trademarks and comply with all laws covering such areas
• Use the tuition, definitions and works provided by The Coaching Academy as the basis for all coaching procedures, practices and objectives
• Avoid coaching minors (people who have not yet had their 18th birthday) without the express written consent of parent, guardian or teacher as appropriate
• Contact The Coaching Academy immediately if you find yourself in a situation which may create conflict, litigation or bad publicity
• Comply with all laws and by-laws of the UK and, if coaching clients based abroad, with the laws of the clients' country
• Ensure that all advertisements and promotional materials, whether verbal or written, are legal, decent, truthful, honest and in compliance with the requirements of the UK Advertising Standards Authority
• Make a copy of this Code freely available to clients if they request it