Ethics 1.0
Code of Ethics
All Members of the SFCT acknowledge the open source ethos of SF, stemming from the pioneering work of Steve de Shazer, Insoo Kim Berg and their colleagues at the Brief Family Therapy Centre.
They will always act within the law and with honesty and integrity. They will have due regard for their own health and safety and that of their colleagues and clients.
They will ensure that their conduct with clients is always appropriate. They undertake to
They will always act within the law and with honesty and integrity. They will have due regard for their own health and safety and that of their colleagues and clients.
They will ensure that their conduct with clients is always appropriate. They undertake to
- Respect their clients’ expertise: clients know what they want
- Set, communicate and observe clear, appropriate and culturally sensitive boundaries governing their own behaviour
- Make clear agreements with their clients and honour these agreements
- Respect their clients’ confidentiality
They undertake not to
- Make false claims or otherwise mislead their clients
- Exploit the relationship with their clients for their own personal, professional or financial benefit and to the clients’ detriment
- Make claims about ‘ownership’ or 'exclusive use' of the solution focus approach
They will maintain a high standard of performance. They undertake to
- Keep professional knowledge and skills up to date
- Act within the limits of their skill and knowledge and refer clients to another professional if appropriate
- Keep adequate records
- Receive regular supervision
- Limit or stop their work if their performance or judgement is affected by poor health or for any other reason
They will ensure that their conduct reflects well on the SFCT. They undertake to
- Acknowledge and credit the work of others
- Conduct and report research competently.
Complaints Procedure
If anyone has an ethical complaint against a Member of SFCT, the first course of action is to seek a satisfactory resolution directly with the Member. If all attempts to reach such resolution fail, then the complaint may be brought to the attention of the SFCT Board.
Two members of the SFCT Board will review the complaint to see if the Member has breached the SFCT Code of Ethics. Both the complainant and the Member will be invited to submit information to the Board members and both or either may be asked for additional information to help them determine the case. Both parties have the right to appeal against the decision, in which case two different members of the Board will review the submissions.
If the complaint is upheld, the Board may impose any of the following sanctions:
Two members of the SFCT Board will review the complaint to see if the Member has breached the SFCT Code of Ethics. Both the complainant and the Member will be invited to submit information to the Board members and both or either may be asked for additional information to help them determine the case. Both parties have the right to appeal against the decision, in which case two different members of the Board will review the submissions.
If the complaint is upheld, the Board may impose any of the following sanctions:
- A reprimand posted on the Members’ section of the SFCT website;
- A public reprimand posted on the SFCT website;
- The imposition of conditions (eg regular supervision) as a requirement of continued membership;
- Suspension of membership for a given period;
- Expulsion from membership.