Professional Ethics and Standards of Practice
Ethical foundations
Ethical practice rests on core principles: beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, justice, fidelity, and integrity. Candidates should be able to apply these principles to realistic scenarios, not just name them.
Core concepts
- Competence and scope of practice: work within your training and refer when outside it.
- Informed consent: voluntary, informed, ongoing, and documented; include alternatives and limits of confidentiality.
- Confidentiality and its limits: disclosure is required or permitted in specified circumstances (risk of serious harm, legal obligation, court order). Know the difference between mandatory reporting and discretionary disclosure.
- Boundaries and dual relationships: avoid conflicts of interest; manage unavoidable overlaps transparently.
- Cultural humility and non-discrimination: adapt practice without lowering standards.
- Ethical decision-making: identify the issue, gather facts, consult codes and colleagues, consider options and consequences, act, and document.
Common question traps
Questions often set up a conflict between two goods (e.g., confidentiality vs. safety) and expect the candidate to prioritise the higher duty, usually safety. Another trap is choosing to "consult later" when immediate protective action is required. Watch for options that disclose more than necessary, or that treat a code of ethics as a legal statute.
Worked example / rule of thumb
A client discloses intent to seriously harm another person. Rule of thumb: safety overrides confidentiality. The correct response is to take reasonable protective steps consistent with law and policy, disclose only the minimum necessary information, and document the decision and rationale.