Page 23 - Part B

Information, Advice or Guidance

Codes of practice will change considerably, based on the type of organisation you
work for. As mentioned earlier, they are normally set by a governing body such as the
General Medical Council (GMC) for doctors. A code of practice normally consists of a
series of standards you need to adhere to in order to be compliant with the code.

When thinking about ethical requirements, it is important to think back to the
definition of ethics: essentially, a set of rules which are not normally legally binding,
but try and show what is considered to be right and wrong. A good way of thinking
about it is to consider what you would expect from your referral or signposting if you
were the client.

A set of good ethical requirements would match quite closely with those things
considered to be good practice when referring or signposting, such as:

• Ensure excellent communication with the client at all times

Ensuring the client understands what is happening, and the decisions you
are making, will help to build trust and a strong relationship between the
advisor and client. Excellent communication also helps to ensure there are
no misunderstandings or surprises from the client or advisors.

• As mentioned previously, an individual should not be discriminated
against because of a particular characteristic or their background

Some clients may provide you with information you find difficult or that you
disagree with – such as a history of drug abuse or violence. You need to
ensure that all clients are treated the same, regardless of their past.

• Ensure that you are referring or signposting for the client’s best
interests at all times.

There are times you might become tempted to refer or signpost a tricky
client to another organisation or advisor to reduce your workload or make
your working life easier; it is important that you ensure you are acting in
your client’s best interests at all times. There may also be times where a
client informs you of something you could use for your own personal gain,
such as a job opportunity; again, it’s important to consider what would you
want to happen if you were the client, and make sure their requirements
are put first.

Key Facts

• When dealing with ethical requirements, always consider what
you would want to happen if you were the client

• Ensure you deal with the client to ensure their requirements
are put first.

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