Ethics in coaching supervision look beyond the rules, codes and regulations. These codes and rules are necessary as a minimum basis for a clear form of work or professional practice (See Codes of Practice) but only as a basis that lies on the border between law and how people (humanly) deal with each other in the present.

Codes of Practice

Most, if not all, codes and guidelines for coaching and supervision-related bodies aim to support excellent beneficial practice and behaviour. Some are more explicit than others about the underpinning values or principles and how they relate to required behaviours.

Global Code of Ethics

The Global Code of Ethics for Coaches, Mentors and Supervisors was created jointly by the AC and EMCC (with contribution from ICF).

ANSE Code of Ethics

The ANSE Code of Ethics (Association of National Organisations for Supervision in Europe).

APECS Ethical Guidelines

Ethical Guidelines from the Association for Professional Executive Coaching and Supervision

BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions

The BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions is designed for counsellors, with content relevant for coaching and supervision.

The British Psychological Society Code of Ethics applies to coaching psychologists and supervisors. More detailed conduct guidance is in a BPS Practice Guidelines document

BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct

The British Psychological Society’s Code of Ethics and Conduct (2018) is designed to guide all members of the British Psychological Society in their day-to-day professional conduct.

IAC Ethical Principles.

International Association of Coaching (IAC) Ethical Principles.

ICF Code of Ethics

International Coaching Federation. ICF Code of Ethics See also ICF’s various papers on ethics in Resources.

International Society for Coaching Psychology

International Society for Coaching Psychology offers guidance on Ethics.

WABC

Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC)

Examples of codes of conduct from adjacent professional areas can be interesting to review. In the main, these are codes that are more process-descriptive than full rules and standards, that draw sharp boundaries around normal behaviour, including standards being less humane than our profession assumes.

BSA

British Sociological Association (BSA) Statement of Ethical Practice, 2017

CIPD Code of Professional Conduct

CIPD Code of Professional Conduct. See also the CIPD’s Ethics Factsheet for HR professionals and organisations in Resources.

European Association for Transactional Analysis (EATA)

European Association for Transactional Analysis (EATA) has an Ethics Advisor.

International Union of Psychological Science

International Union of Psychological Science; The Universal Declaration of Ethical Principles for Psychologists.

Everything that happens in life and our work, or doesn't happen, is based on choices and decisions we humans make to do something or not. Often, we make these choices and decisions on a form of autopilot, unaware of the fact that any of those choices and decisions always have an ethical ground.

In supervision there is the opportunity to reflect on practice as well as to explore and extend capability (knowledge, skills, abilities) and capacity (what we can encompass as we develop). And supervisory practice involves holding a space for ethics to emerge, beyond situations that have unequivocal rules such as the rule of law. In the dialogic journey, supervisor and coach/supervisee discover how they should be together.

Using open conversations, trusting each other, being open to the emerging truth, staying in the here and now, letting go of prejudices and assumptions, trusting in the relationship and trusting each other, listening intensively and learning the new dance of their unique supervision relationship, they forge their ethical pathway together. In this way the process itself builds ethical capacity.

In the section on supervision in their Ethical Framework, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP, 2018, para. 62) point out that, ‘Supervision requires additional skills and knowledge to those used for providing services directly to clients.’ It goes on to underline that supervisors need a level of expertise gained through training and/or experience to undertake the role and access to support and supervision for their work as supervisors.

A Statement of Shared Professional Values led to the development of the Global Code of Ethics for Coaches, Mentors and Supervisors

Professional coaching organisations have produced quite similar codes of practice for their members to adhere to. A survey of these bodies’ codes by Brennan and Wildflower [2014: 431-432] found by comparing these codes some consistency in the ethical principles underpinning a professional’s practice emerged, including:

• Do no harm to yourself or others
• Adopt a duty of care that promotes the welfare of others
• Practise within the scope of your competence by knowing your limits
• Respect your client’s interests
• Respect the relevant law of the countries in which you operate

Different coaching associations place a different emphasis on certain aspects of ethical behaviour, so it is important to review and understand what your own association or lead body is advocating.

Complaints procedures

Each association has developed procedures to handle any complains emerging from coach/client work. You are advised to be familiar with the complaints procedure of your primary professional association.