CODE OF PRACTICE

As a member of the Association of Reflexologists, Jane Wright, of Feeling Wright Reflexology is bound by a set of principles and ethics designed to promote the highest level of professional conduct.

This Code of Practice and Ethics is designed to encourage integrity and responsibility as a complementary therapy practitioner and is fully supported by Feeling Wright Reflexology.

For full details of the Association of Reflexologists and what they do, please click here.

General Principles

The expectations set for members of the AoR can be defined as:

1. I will aim to act in the best interests of my client and treat them with respect.

2. I will maintain client confidentiality.

3. Take responsibility for my own actions

4. Practice only within the limits of my competence, maintaining and developing my knowledge and skills.

5. Protect my own and my profession’s reputation

6. Respect and maintain good relationships with other practitioners and health professionals.

7. Practice within the law, both personally and professionally.

1. Acting in the best interests of my clients

I will always act in the best interests of your client; the safety, comfort, confidentiality and welfare of the client must take priority at all times (some suggestions may be found in Guideline 10).

I will be aware of the client relationship and develop listening skills and a caring attitude.

I will never allow my views about a client’s sex, age, colour, race, disability, sexuality, social or economic status, lifestyle, culture or religious beliefs to affect how I treat, or the advice I give. As far as practical I will ensure that any advice given will match the economic status, lifestyle, culture, and religious beliefs of a client.

I will not abuse the trust of existing or potential clients, nor exploit their lack of knowledge.

My professional practice is fully covered by professional indemnity insurance against public liability and malpractice at all times and - on request - I shall provide the AoR with their insurance details (see Guideline 1).

As a practitioner working in my own environment, I will:

Ensure a private treatment area with easy access to bathroom facilities is provided
Ensure that I comply with the terms of the disability discrimination legislation and ensure disabled access for your clients, where practicable
Ensure that premises and equipment are clean and hygienic
Ensure that my own health and hygiene are not such as to put the client at risk
Ensure that local constraints are adhered to (see Guideline 2)

When treating a client, I will not share with them any unnecessary personal information about myself, and will not encourage, or allow, them to offer me their support in relation to my own personal circumstances.

I will recognise the responsibility I have towards my client at all times.

Before an initial consultation with a client, an accurate description of reflexology in layman’s terms should be available (see Guideline 3)

A statement of fees should be made before commencement of treatment

I will obtain a signed consent form before commencing the initial treatment (see Guideline 4 on obtaining informed consent and the obligations towards minors and adults at risk). Some clients because of age, illness, or mental capacity may not be able to give consent to treatment. In these circumstances I must obtain clear consent from somebody that I am satisfied is authorised to give consent on behalf of the client. This may in some circumstances be a team of health professionals or care providers. This consent must be gained in writing

I will obtain a full medical history before commencing the initial treatment

When working with children, young people, and adults at risk, I may require either a basic or an enhanced DBS check (see Guideline 4, the section on child safeguarding)

Full and accurate contemporaneous (ie at the time of consultation) records of treatments given should be kept

Relationships with Clients

As an AoR member, I must act ethically in all relationships with clients. Specifically:

Personal Relationships

I will deal with clients in a professional manner which is not open to misunderstanding or misinterpretation. Non-physical behaviour, gesture, unnecessary physical contact, verbal suggestion or innuendo may be construed as abusive or harassing. When treating a relative or a friend, clear boundaries must be maintained between social and professional relationships.

Inappropriate Relationships

An inappropriate personal relationship means either a sexual relationship or any inappropriate emotional involvement with a client.

I will not use my professional position to pursue any inappropriate personal relationship with a client, or with anyone having a close relationship with a client.

2. Maintain client confidentiality

The therapist/client relationship is one of trust. I will treat all information about my clients as confidential, and only use such information for the purposes for which it was given.

I will not disclose, or allow to be disclosed, to third parties any information gained (whether about a client or about any other person), except where such disclosure is authorised by the client and/or other person concerned, or is required by legal or regulatory process, or where such information is already in the public domain. Similarly, confidential information acquired as a result of professional and business relationships should not be used to the personal advantage of me or third parties.

The client has responsibility for their own health. However, if I have concerns about their symptoms, I will suggest that the client consults their Medical Practitioner or Practice Nurse.

I will also comply with any relevant data protection legislation and follow best practice for handling confidential information relating to individuals at all times. Best practice is likely to change over time and I must stay up to date. I will be particularly careful not to reveal, deliberately or accidentally, confidential information that is stored on computers.

All records will be kept secure. Paper records will be kept under lock and key and computer records will be password protected.

I am registered with the Information Commissioners office to enable me to keep records of clients.

3. Take responsibility for my own actions

I am personally accountable for my actions and must be able to explain and justify my decisions.

4. Limits of competence & refusal to treat

As an AoR member, I will carry out treatments and give advice only within the limits of my professional training and competence - ie having received the proper training and be duly qualified to perform the treatment. No unqualified advice should be given.

I will inform my clients and seek their consent before introducing new treatments into their existing treatment programme.

A consultation will be undertaken before each treatment to ensure that the most appropriate treatment is being given to the client and that no new contraindications have occurred between treatment sessions.

I have the right to refuse to treat a client, providing the refusal is carried out in a professional manner.

I will not:

i. Diagnose a medical condition

ii. Prescribe

iii. Claim to cure or treat specific conditions

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

The mark of a professional is that they are willing to continually update and expand their knowledge and skills to give the best to their clients.

It is compulsory for all Full, Fellow, and Honorary members to undertake CPD in accordance with the AoR Continuing Professional Development policy. Each year, the AoR run random checks on members to ensure compliance with the CPD policy, so members should be prepared at all times to present their CPD records and files upon request

5. Protect my own, and my profession’s reputation

I will conduct myself with honesty, integrity and dignity, and act in a way which maintains the reputation of my profession, maintaining high standards of personal and professional conduct. I will avoid any behaviour or activity that is likely to damage my profession’s reputation or undermine public confidence in my profession.

6. Relationships with other practitioners and health professionals

I will not claim to ‘cure’ or ‘heal’ medical ailments or to diagnose medical conditions.

I will endevour to foster good relations with those working in orthodox medicine.

I will not contradict medical treatment instructions given by a doctor or medical professional. It is possible to complete a treatment:

i. Where there is no reason to believe that reflexology would cause harm AND

ii. Where the client choice overrides medical opinion of the efficacy of a treatment AND

iii. Where I am confident treating.

I will always ascertain at the consultation stage whether the client has any medical conditions or is undergoing medical treatment likely to be affected by reflexology.

In the event of a current or recent contraindication, I should not carry out any treatment until I have the consent of the client’s doctor or other medical professional. The client can obtain such consent either verbally or in writing from the doctor.

Once I have verbal consent, the client must then sign his or her client record that such consent has been given. The client’s written consent must be attached to the client record.

The AoR Code of Practice and Ethics forms a basis for standards of a practitioner’s professional behaviour. In a multi-disciplinary environment, additional standards and Codes may also apply. For example:

i. Local clinical governance

ii. Communications with other healthcare professionals

iii. Local licensing

7. Practise within the law

I will comply with all relevant laws and regulations and shall avoid any action that may discredit the profession.