Standards.
Standards of Ethical Conduct and Behaviour (SECB) for Registrants and Members.
The Standards of Ethical Conduct and Behaviour can be downloaded here.
Introduction
The ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡ Standards of Ethical Conduct and Behaviour (SECB) inform all registrants and members of the principles of professional conduct and ethical behaviour expected of people practising in the field of Sport Rehabilitation. It is expected and required that all registrants will practise in accordance with these standards as they will form the basis of determining a registrant's Fitness to Practise.
The primary aim of the standards is the assurance of high-quality health care. The standards also represent minimum standards of behaviour that:
are considered necessary to protect members of the public, and
inspire public confidence in the profession and the regulatory process.
These principles are not all-encompassing but should be considered representative of the ethos with which registered Sport Rehabilitators should make their decisions. These standards do not supersede legal requirements.
Principle 1 - Scope of Practice: Registrants and Members shall understand, work within and accept responsibility for their scope of practice.
Registrants and Members must not misrepresent in any way, either directly or indirectly, their skills, training, professional credentials or title, identity or services.
Registrants and Members shall ensure that all of their marketing material (online and offline, including social media) complies with the advertising codes set out by the Advertising Standards Authority, and is compliant with any other relevant legislation.
Registrants and Members must provide only those services for which they are qualified and competent within the field of Sport Rehabilitation and neuro-musculoskeletal healthcare.
Registrants and Members must ensure that they are appropriately trained for the role in which they work and will take responsibility for ensuring they are adequately trained when beginning a new role.
Registrants and Members must accurately maintain, manage and safely dispose of clinical records according to ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡ record keeping guidelines and all relevant legislation.
Registrants and Members must understand the role of other healthcare professionals who may form part of a multidisciplinary team, and work effectively within the multidisciplinary team.
Registrants and Members must communicate effectively with, refer to, and accept referrals from healthcare professionals and relevant outside agencies in order to provide an effective and efficient service to service users.
Registrants and Members have a professional duty to understand the importance of maintaining their own physical and mental health and well-being in relation to fitness to practise, and must either modify their practise and/or manage their health condition in order that it does not impede upon their ability to practise safely and effectively.
Registrants and members must ensure they are insured for the professional activities they undertake.
Registrants must ensure that they meet all registration requirements and keep their records and personal details up to date with ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡.
Principle 2 – Compliance with law, regulations and guidance: Registrants and Members shall comply with the laws, regulations and evidence-based practice guidelines governing the practice of neuro-musculoskeletal healthcare and Sport Rehabilitation.
Registrants and Members must comply with all laws and regulations in the country in which they practise.
Clinical Records data must be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act and any other relevant legislation enforceable in UK law at the time of processing. Clinical Records must contain:
Date and time of the initial consultation and all following client/patient interactions.
A suitable method for attributing the record to the registrant/member to ensure accountability and responsibility for the recorded information.
Legible, factual and accurate information particular to the service user.
Evidence of clinical reasoning for decisions, interventions and advice, documenting where appropriate the agreement and involvement of the client.
Only accepted and agreed abbreviations and short-form language which should be readily understood by health and care professionals.
Amendments which are clearly noted and include a date and reason for the amendment.
Registrants and Members shall engage in ongoing critical review of available research and literature relevant to their practice and act to incorporate best practice at all times.
Registrants and Members have a professional duty to be familiar with and adhere to all ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡ professional guidance documents and guidelines, including:
Role Delineation.
Continued Professional Development.
Clinical Record Keeping.
Fitness to Practise.
Safeguarding.
Terms and Conditions of Registration and Membership.
And any other policy and guidance documents produced and distributed by ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡ for the instruction and guidance of members.
In the interests of public safety, Registrants and Members are required to report illegal practice / conduct of registrants to the police and/or ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡ without delay.
In the interests of public safety, Registrants and Members are required to report any practice or behaviour by other registrants that is in breach of these standards to ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡ and other relevant authorities without delay.
Registrants and Members shall acknowledge and act upon all concerns raised to them, by any person, and escalate them appropriately based upon institutional or governing body guidelines. Registrants are encouraged to seek support and advice from ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡ in doing so.
Registrants and Members must cooperate with all investigations and audits: This includes compliance with audits of registration records, insurance records and Continuing Professional Development or any other audit assessing your Fitness to Practise.
Registrants and members have a professional responsibility to familiarise themselves with the Equality Act 2010 and the implications of the Act for professional practice in Sport Rehabilitation and neuro-musculoskeletal healthcare. Registrants and members must at all times be compliant with their legal responsibilities under the Equality Act.
Registrants and Members are expected to understand the importance of relevant Health and Safety legislation, safe working (including following manufacturer guidelines regarding equipment) and appropriate risk management.
Registrants and Members are expected to understand their legal responsibilities and role in the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
Principle 3 – Professional duty of care: Registrants and Members shall understand and demonstrate a professional duty of care and respect the rights, welfare and dignity of all individuals.
Registrants and Members l must fulfil their duty of care and act in the best interest of service users at all times.
Registrants and Members must neither practice nor condone discrimination on the basis of race, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, disease entity, social status, financial status or religious affiliation.
Registrants and Members shall be committed to providing competent and high quality care consistent with both the requirements and Scope of Practice of the profession.
Registrants and Members must preserve the confidentiality of privileged information and shall not release such information to any party not involved in the client’s care unless the person explicitly consents to such a release or a release is permitted or required by law or for safeguarding reasons.
Registrants and Members shall understand the importance of and demonstrate the ability to obtain, maintain and document informed consent.
Registrants and Members are expected to engage in shared decision making with service users regarding their care and ensure that the person has the option to ask questions or discontinue care, without penalty, at any time.
Registrants and members are expected to be open and honest with service users about all aspects of care and treatment, including when any mistakes or harm have taken place. They must ensure that they:
Act immediately to put right the situation if somebody has suffered harm as a result of treatment or advice.
Explain fully and promptly what has happened, including the likely effects, and apologise to the person affected.
Document all of the events formally and inform the relevant parties, including ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡, as appropriate.
This is known as the professional duty of candour.
Registrants and Members are expected to provide the opportunity for, encourage and act upon feedback provided by service users and colleagues, regarding All elements of their practice in Sport Rehabilitation.
Principle 4 – Professionalism: Registrants and Members shall demonstrate professionalism and maintain and promote high standards in the practice of Sport Rehabilitation and neuro-musculoskeletal healthcare.
Registrants and Members must treat service users, colleagues, and anybody else with whom they interact, professionally, with kindness, respect and compassion.
Registrants and Members are expected to demonstrate clear and professional communication at all times, ensuring they:
Use terms that service users, colleagues and the public can understand.
Take reasonable steps to meet people’s language and communication needs.
Check people's understanding to keep misunderstanding or mistakes to a minimum.
Communicate clearly and effectively in English.
Communicate professionally and respectfully when interacting with service users, colleagues or members of the public via any form of communication, including social media.
Registrants and Members should not express personal beliefs (political, religious or moral beliefs) to people in a manner that would bring the profession into disrepute. Registrants and Members should not breach professional boundaries by discussing personal beliefs with service users, colleagues, or anyone else with whom they have professional interactions.
Registrants and Members must recognise and consider the potential impact of their position of power and trust as a registered healthcare professional. They must not abuse their position as a registered healthcare professional to pursue personal, sexual, emotional or financial relationships with service users and/or carers, or colleagues.
Registrants and Members are expected to take action to set and maintain appropriate professional boundaries (personal, sexual, emotional or financial) with service users and/or carers, and colleagues.
Registrants and Members are expected to ensure that existing personal relationships do not influence professional or clinical decisions and behaviours.
Registrants and Members are required to use appropriate methods of communication to provide care and other services related to their professional practice. Communications should be professional, formal and recordable in clinical records.
Registrants and members must use all forms of spoken, written and digital communications (including social media and networking sites) responsibly and appropriately, respecting the right to privacy of others at all times. Registrants and Members must not produce or share content in any form that may bring the profession into disrepute.
It is recommended that Registrants and Members do not breach professional boundaries by sharing details of their personal life via any professionally linked forms of written or digital communication, with service users, colleagues or the public.
Registrants and Members must make sure that any advertisements, publications or published material produced for professional services are accurate, responsible, ethical, do not mislead or exploit vulnerabilities and do accurately reflect their relevant skills, experience and qualifications. This applies to all forms of communication, including social media.
Registrants and Members are expected and required to undertake continuing education and participation in various types of educational activities that enhance their skills and knowledge.
Registrants and Members should take reasonable action to effectively manage their workload with regards to maintaining their Fitness to Practise and ability to remain compliant with these standards.
Registrants and Members shall select and modify their professional practice to reflect and best meet the needs of individuals and groups with whom they interact.
Registrants and Members are encouraged to educate those whom they supervise with regard to the ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡ standards of professional conduct and ethical behaviour and encourage their adherence to it.
Wherever possible, Registrants and Members are encouraged to participate and support others in the conduct and communication of research and educational activities that may contribute to improved client care, client or student education and the growth of evidence-based practice in Sport Rehabilitation.
When Registrants and Members are researchers or educators, they are responsible for maintaining and promoting ethical conduct in research and education.
Registrants and Members must provide a clear opportunity for service users and their carers to make complaints regarding services when appropriate. This should include providing their ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡ registration details and signposting to the ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡ complaints process
Registrants and Members have a responsibility to reasonably consider the appropriateness, evidence, quality, and cost-effectiveness of any products chosen to be sold, provided, recommended or endorsed during the course of their professional practice.
Registrants and Members shall act in such a manner as to promote public confidence in the profession at all times.
Principle 5 – Conduct and conflict of interest: Registrants and Members shall not engage in any form of conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest or that adversely reflects on the profession.
Members and Registrants are entitled to a private life and their conduct and behaviour therein is a matter for them, except where it brings the profession into disrepute, or impacts upon their Fitness to Practise and fulfilment of professional duties. Registrants and Members are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries by having a clear separation between their professional and personal life.
Registrants and Members of ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡ and others serving on the Association’s committee, or acting in any other capacity for or on behalf of ³Ô¹ÏÏÖ³¡, shall not use, directly or by implication, the Association’s name, logo, or their affiliation with the Association, in the endorsement of products or services. The exceptions to this rule are only by full executive committee agreement.
Registrants and Members must not place financial gain above the welfare of service users and must not participate in an arrangement that exploits service users.
Registrants and Members may seek remuneration for their services that is commensurate with their services and in compliance with applicable law. Registrants and Members are required to be transparent and honest about any professionally associated financial arrangements.