Coaching Code of Ethics we adhere to
1. Professional Conduct
Our coaches will:
1) Our coaches will conduct themselves to the highest level of ethics, integrity, accountability and responsibility in all interactions, including coach training, coach mentoring and coach supervisory activities.
2) Commit to take the appropriate action with the coach, trainer, or coach mentor and/or will contact the ICF to address any ethics violation or possible breach as soon as we become aware.
3) Communicate and create awareness in others, including organisations, employees, sponsors, coaches and others, who might need to be informed of the responsibilities established by this Code.
4) Refrain from unlawful discrimination in occupational activities, including age, race, gender orientation, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or disability.
5) Avoid coaching minors (people who have not yet had their 18th birthday) without the express written consent of parent, guardian or teacher as appropriate.
6) Make verbal and written statements that are true and accurate about what we offer as coaches, and appropriately represent the coaching profession.
7) Accurately identify our coaching qualifications, expertise, experience, training and certifications.
8) Recognise and honour the efforts and contributions of others and only claim ownership of our own material. We understand that violating this standard may leave us subject to legal remedy by a third party.
9) Strive at all times to recognise that any personal issues that may impair, conflict with or interfere with a coachee’s performance or any professional coaching relationships. We will promptly seek the relevant professional assistance and determine the action to be taken, including whether it is appropriate to suspend or terminate my coaching relationship(s) whenever the facts and circumstances necessitate.
10) Recognise that the Code of Ethics applies to our relationship with coaching clients, sponsors, coachees, students, mentees and supervisees.
11) Conduct and report research with competence, honesty and within recognised scientific standards and applicable subject guidelines. Our research will be carried out with the necessary consent and approval of those involved, and with an approach that will protect participants from any potential harm. All research efforts will be performed in a manner that complies with all the applicable laws of the country in which the research is conducted.
12) With respect to GDPR: Maintain, store and dispose of any records, including electronic files and communications, created during our coaching engagements in a manner that promotes confidentiality, security and privacy and complies with any applicable laws and agreements.
13) Commit to the need for continued and ongoing development of professional skills.
14) Give all clients access to this code.
2. Conflicts of Interest
As coaches we:
13) Seek to be conscious of any conflict or potential conflict of interest, openly disclose any such conflict and offer to remove the coach when a conflict arises.
14) Clarify roles for internal coaches, set boundaries and review with stakeholders conflicts of interest that may emerge between coaching and other role functions.
15) Disclose to the client and the sponsor(s) all anticipated compensation from third parties that coaches may receive for referrals of clients or pay to receive clients.
16) Honour an equitable coach/client relationship, regardless of the form of compensation.
3. Professional Conduct with Clients
As coaches, we:
17) Speak ethically. Only say what we know to be true to clients, prospective clients or sponsors about the potential value of the coaching process or of one of our coaches.
18) Carefully explain and strive to ensure that, prior to or at the initial meeting, our coaching clients and sponsor(s) understand the nature of coaching, the nature and limits of confidentiality, financial arrangements, and any other terms of the coaching agreement.
19) Have a clear coaching service agreement with clients and sponsor(s) before beginning the coaching relationship and honour this agreement. The agreement shall include the roles, responsibilities and rights of all parties involved.
20) Hold responsibility for being aware of and setting clear, appropriate and culturally sensitive boundaries that govern interactions, physical or otherwise, that coaches may have with their clients or sponsor(s).
21) Avoid any sexual or romantic relationship with current clients, sponsor(s), students, mentees or supervisees.
22) Respect the client’s right to terminate the coaching relationship at any point during the process, subject to the provisions of the agreement.
23) Encourage the client or sponsor to make a change if we believe the client or sponsor would be better served by another coach or by another resource and suggest our client seek the services of other professionals when deemed necessary or appropriate.
4. Confidentiality/Privacy
As coaches, we:
24) Maintain the strictest levels of confidentiality with all client and sponsor information unless law requires release.
25) Have a clear agreement about how coaching information will be exchanged among coach, client and sponsor.
26) Have a clear agreement when acting as a coach, coach mentor, coaching supervisor or trainer, with both client and sponsor, student, mentee, or supervisee about the conditions under which confidentiality may not be maintained (e.g., illegal activity, pursuant to a valid court order or subpoena; imminent or likely risk of danger to self or to others; etc) and make sure both client and sponsor, student, mentee, or supervisee voluntarily and knowingly agree in writing to that limit of confidentiality. Where a coach has reason to believe that because one of the above circumstances is applicable, they may need to inform appropriate authorities.
27) Require all those who work with us to support our joint clients to adhere to this Code of Ethics and Conduct.
December 2020