Ethical and Clinical FAQs

What is your guidance for delivering therapy through digital platforms?

We updated our advice on this during the COVID 19 pandemic and full details are on Guidance for Working Remotely within our Therapist Resources.

I want to provide therapy to someone who lives abroad. Are there guidelines for this?

It's important that you still follow the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics whilst practising remotely. In particular, consider any risk from working with someone in a country where you don’t know how the healthcare system works or are unable to liaise effectively, e.g. with their GP if necessary.

Do you recommend a standard caseload for a full-time therapist?

Different settings, specialisms and levels of complexity can mean full-time caseloads vary significantly. For this reason, we don't set standard numbers for full or part-time practices. If you feel your caseload is too heavy, please discuss it with your supervisor and case manager - especially if you feel it affects your welfare and ability to work ethically.

What can I do if my organisation isn't following your guidelines for supervision?

If your workplace is not providing you with enough supervision to allow you to become or remain accredited, it may be helpful to show your employer our guidelines. We can't intervene in workplace disputes. So if your supervision is inadequate, or with an inappropriate supervisor, try to resolve this with your manager.

If this doesn't work, use your workplace’s protocols, possibly including Human Resources and/or your union. Peer and private supervision are other possibilities, although your work place may have guidance on whether or not it would allow this.

You can check our requirements at Supervision Guidelines.

My service is making it hard for me to meet my accreditation requirements. Can you help?

Our accreditation guidelines are voluntary, they are not mandatory regulations. Although we recognise that it can be hugely frustrating if your service isn't helping you to meet your them, we can't act as a body to enforce this. We recommend that you draw your employer’s attention to the guidelines and try to resolve the matter through your service protocols.

How long do we need to keep patient records for?

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules say that no-one should keep personal data for longer than necessary. You should be clear about how long you think you need to keep your records and why (e.g. a certain length of time to audit the data or allow clients to return while you to still have their notes). We don't set a specific timescale.

If you are working in an NHS Trust or for another organisation, your service is likely to have their own guidelines for the length of time to keep notes. If you are in private practice, your insurers may have requirements too.

Please check the ICO (Information Commissioner Office) for more guidance at www.ico.org.uk

How can I link up with other BABCP members?

All members are given membership of their regional branch and we have a range of active Special Interest Groups - SIGs. We also host CBT Café , the online forum for members.

How can I get some opportunities to present on CBT topics?

There is an internal presenter directory which we hold for those members who speak at our events. You could join this for a small fee. You will need to log in to the members area of the website to access it.

How can I take part in CPD to improve my clinical, practical and theoretical knowledge?

We run a variety of CPD events through our Branch and SIG network, including online webinars. Details are on our Events page.

Can you help me with a tricky clinical dilemma?

If you have a tricky clinical or ethical dilemma we recommend discussing it with your supervisor. You can also refer to our Standards of conduct, performance and ethics [PDF]. We’re not able to give specific advice.

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Ethical and Clinical FAQs