Success Academy Code of Ethics and Good Coaching Practice

Success Academy is dedicated to ensuring we adhere to a code of ethics and good coaching practice.

The Success Academy is devoted to upholding superior coaching standards. This Code of Ethics and Good Coaching Practice delineates the fundamental aspects of ethical and proficient coaching practice. In this document, the term ‘Client’ refers to the individual receiving coaching.

All Clients should anticipate a high standard of practice from their Coach. To meet this standard, coaches pledge to adhere to the Success Academy Code of Ethics and Good Coaching Practice for ethical, competent, and effective coaching practice.

1. Recognition of Personal and Professional Limitations:

• Personal: Coaches must maintain their own health and fitness to practice. If unable to do so, they should pause their practice until they regain good health and fitness. During such times, Clients should be provided with suitable alternative support.
• Professional: Coaches should assess whether their experience aligns with the Client’s needs. If not, Clients will be directed to other suitable services like more seasoned Coaches, Counsellors, Psychotherapists, or other specialised services. Especially, Coaches should be aware that some Clients may need more psychological support than usually provided in coaching sessions. Referrals should be made to adequate sources of care like the Client’s GP, a Counsellor or Psychotherapist, or psychological support services.

2. Transparency about Coaching Contract and Terms:

Success Academy coaches will ensure Clients are well-informed about the coaching contract and terms and conditions both prior to and during the initial session. This includes confidentiality, sessional costs, and frequency of sessions. All statements made by the Coach should be honest and uphold the good standing of the coaching profession. The coaching contracts should highlight that in cases of illegal activity or potential harm to the Client or others, complete confidentiality may not be maintained and others may need to be involved, with the Client’s permission whenever possible and appropriate. Specific agreements should be made regarding confidentiality when coaching children to ensure their wellbeing.

3. Openness about Coaching Methods and Techniques:

Coaches should be open and responsive to Client’s inquiries about the methods, techniques and the coaching process, both before contract agreement and throughout the coaching relationship.

4. Sensitivity to Diversity and Equality:

Coaches need to be sensitive to issues of culture, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, race and all other forms of equalities and diversity.

5. Respecting Client’s Right to Terminate Coaching:

Clients have the right to terminate coaching at any point during the coaching process.

6. Maintenance of Client Records:

Coaches are required to maintain appropriate records of their work with Clients, ensuring that any such records are accurate and that reasonable security precautions are taken to protect against third party disclosure. Attention must be given to the Client’s rights under any current legislation, e.g. data protection act.

7. Quality Monitoring and Feedback:

Coaches are required to monitor the quality of their work and to seek feedback wherever possible from Clients and other professionals as appropriate.

8. Consultative Support:

Coaches are expected to have regular consultative support for their work, typically in the form of an appropriately qualified and experienced coaching supervisor.

9. Continuing Professional Development (CPD):

Coaches should aim to undertake a minimum of 30 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in the theory and practice of coaching on an annual basis.

10. Adherence to Legal and Statutory Requirements:

Coaches are required to keep themselves informed of any statutory or legal requirements that may affect their work and comply fully with them.

11. Professional Liability Insurance:

Coaches are required to have current professional liability insurance that specifically includes coaching as a work activity.

12. Consideration of Dual Relationships:

Coaches are required to consider the impact of any dual relationships they may hold with regards to their clients and/or any sponsoring organisations. If such a relationship is identified, then it must be made clear to all parties involved so that agreement may be reached about whether to continue the coaching relationship.

13. Upholding the Profession’s Integrity:

Coaches must act in a manner that does not bring the profession of coaching into disrepute.

Please note this document will be revised and updated regularly in line with new insights into coaching practice.