Code of ethics and professional conduct of Feldenkrais Guild UK

Introduction

All members of the Feldenkrais Guild UK shall abide by the Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct. This includes all teaching and practise of the Feldenkrais Method, Awareness through Movement, Functional Integration or any other form, including lessons given without payment of any kind.

Relationship with Students

The Feldenkrais Method shall be practised with integrity and respect for the student.

Members shall establish, maintain and be responsible for the professional boundaries with their students at all times.

Members shall not exploit their current or past students or their families physically, emotionally, sexually, financially or in any other way.

Terms and Conditions

Members shall inform the student in advance the nature of the Feldenkrais Method as a learning model and that is not a medical system or therapy.

Members shall recognise the extent and limitation of the Method and of their professional abilities and refer the student to other appropriately qualified practitioners as necessary.

The terms and conditions upon which lessons are offered, including matters regarding fees, shall be made clear to the student before the outset of teaching. Subsequent revision of these terms and conditions shall be agreed in advance of any change.

A member must work within the law.

Prior consent for lessons shall be obtained from the student or their legal guardian. If the student is under 18 years old consent must be obtained from a parent or legal guardian of the student.

Members shall take out adequate professional indemnity insurance before offering lessons, and take reasonable care to protect themselves from litigation.

Members shall provide privacy for lessons. Students shall not be observed by another person during lessons without prior consent. This applies to audio/video recording.

Members shall be sensitive to and respect the wishes of the student not to work in certain body positions or be touched in particular areas of their body.

Members shall take all reasonable care to ensure the safety of the student and themselves during lessons.

Confidentiality

Members will hold in confidence all personal information about students. This confidence may only be broken after obtaining written consent from the student or their legal guardian. In very exceptional circumstances information may be given after every effort to obtain consent has failed and the member has consulted with the Chair of the Guild or Ethics committee.

Students shall be aware of any records kept of Feldenkrais Method lessons. On request, they shall be given information about access to these records and the security with which they are kept.

Qualification and Competence

Only members who are Professional members, or eligible to be so, as stated in the Constitution (October 1995) 3.1.1. may teach/practise Functional Integration and/or Awareness through Movement.

Members who are Student Teacher members, or are eligible to be so, as stated in the Constitution (October 1995) 3.1.2.2 may teach Awareness through Movement only.

Members shall maintain their professional competence. They shall update and extend their professional knowledge and skills.

Members shall not teach/practise when their professional functioning is impaired due to personal problems, illness, alcohol or drugs, or to any other cause.

Professional Relations

Members shall promote good relations with their colleagues and with members of other relevant professions.

Research

Members shall ensure that students are aware of the nature, purpose and conditions of any research in which they are involved and that written consent is obtained before commencement. The use of personal, identifiable material shall only be allowed with written consent of the person(s) concerned.

Publication

Members shall accurately represent their professional abilities and the principles of the Feldenkrais Method, as generally understood, in any publications and in all forms of advertising. Copies of papers, articles and other publications shall be sent to the Guild to be filed for reference and Guild resources.

Members shall safeguard the welfare of students in any form of publication. Anonymity shall be maintained by the effective disguise of the identity of students unless consent is obtained from the students concerned to reveal their identity.

Detrimental Behaviour

Members of the Feldenkrais Guild UK shall refrain from behaviour that may be detrimental to the Feldenkrais Method, their colleagues or members of the Guild.

Members shall not act in a manner, which is unprofessional. Unprofessional conduct includes:

If a member is aware of another member failing to uphold any part of the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, it is his/her professional duty to address the matter. The member shall talk to or otherwise communicate the matter to the member concerned. If this is not possible, or does not resolve the matter, the member must inform the Chairperson of the Guild. The matter will be dealt with as laid down in the Procedure for Complaints and Alleged Unprofessional Conduct.

All members have a right to be free from unwarranted attacks on their honour and reputation. They shall be advised of any such attack or written complaint, and they will be given every reasonable opportunity to defend themselves to the Ethics Committee.

Members are required to inform the Feldenkrais Guild UK if any complaint is upheld against them by any professional body, if they are convicted of a criminal offence, or if civil proceedings are successfully brought against them.

Resolving conflicts between Ethical Principles

Members may find themselves caught between conflicting ethical principles. In these circumstances they are urged to consider the situation carefully and to discuss the matter with the Chairperson of the Guild, members of the Ethics Committee or a person nominated by the committee.

Adopted at the AGM 1998