Practising Agreement

Members in practice agree to the following rules of conduct:

1. Professional Indemnity Insurance.

This is a prerequisite for any Hypnotherapist to practice and adequate cover must be maintained by the practitioner.

2. Relationship with the NCH

Hypnotherapists shall keep the NCH informed of:

• changes to personal details, e.g. name, address, phone number, practise name etc.
• changes to qualifications, including lapses of time limited certification and ongoing training / development.
• any civil or criminal judgements (i.e. crimes against society, the person and property, excluding motor offences except those including alcohol, personal safety and failure to have the correct documentation)
• business associations with any other body from which conflict with their membership of the NCH may arise.

3. Supervision / Peer Support

Trainee members may work with friends and relatives (subject to usual restrictions due to boundary issues) on a voluntary basis with the supervision of their course tutor, or a suitably qualified supervisor if preferred by either the student or the trainer. Any students who wish to charge for their services may do so only under the supervision of a suitably qualified supervisor. Again express permission must be received from the course tutor before a student may charge.

(a) The Hypnotherapists of licentiate and the first two years of registered level of membership shall at all times be supervised by a practitioner suitably qualified in supervision.

(b) All other members shall at all times:

• be supervised AND/OR
• be an active member of a peer support group.

Details of supervision arrangements shall be registered with the NCH, as a condition of membership, and updated promptly as any change occurs.

4. Provision of a Contract

All therapy is undertaken as a result of a contract between the client and the therapist. It is preferable that this should be a written contract rather than a verbal contract.

Such a contract should include:

• a statement of cost per session or whole course of therapy,
• a statement of confidentiality,
• the client's right of access to the complaints procedure of the NCH
• the fact that the re can be no guarantee of a 'cure'.

5. Maintenance of Records/Notes and Recording of Sessions.

It is recommended that case notes must be maintained to include

• personal details,
• history,
• definition of the presenting issue,
• a copy of the contract,
• session/progress notes.
• These should be maintained as hard copy and any use of computer records should be with the client's agreement and within the terms of the Data Protection Act.
• Recording of sessions is acceptable, with client consent.

6. Workplace/Consulting Rooms

Facilities provided shall be of a professional standard and conform to current Health and Safety Regulations, when operating from permanent premises. These shall include any consulting room, used for the purposes of consulting with or conducting therapy, with any client, along with any reception or waiting areas associated with such rooms.

7. Display of Credentials

Only valid qualifications and certificates issued in respect of relevant courses or training events or certificates of registration/accreditation as issued by professional governing bodies may be displayed. THIS EXCLUDES TESTIMONIALS OF ANY FORM.

8. Public Protection procedures

All Hypnotherapists are subject to and must cooperate with the Public Protection procedures of the Council.