Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct

1. Aims and Intentions

The aims of PASSHE, the Professional Association of Specific Learning Specialists in Higher Education, are:

• Advance high standards in specialist support, assessment, coaching, and study skills provision for individuals with Specific Learning Differences (SpLDs).
• Promote professional development, including the maintenance, improvement and extension of specialist knowledge and practice.
• Foster collaboration and mutual respect among practitioners, organisations, institutions and stakeholders engaged in supporting individuals with SpLDs.
• Increase public, institutional and employer awareness and understanding of SpLDs.
• Support research, evidence-informed practice, and innovation in specialist teaching, coaching and assessment

PASSHE requires its members to follow the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct set out below. The Code is intended as a guidance document rather than a legally binding one. The Code provides guidelines, accountability and standards of conduct for all PASSHE members and adherence to this Code is a condition of PASSHE membership, accreditation and professional status. Members accept that failure to comply may result in disciplinary action.

The intention of this Code is to:

• Further the stated aims of PASSHE;
• Encourage confidence on the part of members, clients, institutions, organisations and the public in the standards of practice which PASSHE supports.
• Set out how PASSHE members are expected to act, behave and perform when working with clients and interacting with fellow practitioners, sponsors, stakeholders, and other professionals.
• Be used as a basis for any complaints or disciplinary hearings and actions within PASSHE’s complaints procedure.

2. Terminology

• Client – Any individual, student, employee, or organisation receiving support, assessment, training or consultation from a PASSHE member.
• Member – Any individual who holds active membership, accreditation, or professional status within PASSHE.
• Profession – The field of specialist learning difference support, teaching, assessment, coaching and related services.
• Professional – a person who works in a specific role with high standards of education, training and ethics.

3. Guiding Principles

The Code is organised into three core principles:

1. Competence & Quality of Practice
2. Responsibility to Clients
3. Professional Integrity & Independence

Rules of Conduct

When working professionally in any capacity with members, clients, institutions, organisations and the public, members will conduct themselves in accordance with this Code, committed to delivering the level of service that may reasonably be expected of a practising member.

For each principle, defining statements are given below:

4.1 Competence & Quality of Practice

Members will:

• Work only within the boundaries of their qualifications, training and experience.
• Maintain and update their expertise through ongoing professional development, reflective practice and awareness of legal and sector requirements.
• Ensure that resources, preparation and professional judgement are sufficient for the effective delivery of any service offered.
• Collaborate appropriately with clients, academic staff, institutional personnel, external professionals and relevant organisations.
• Promote informed understanding of SpLDs in their work with clients and professional environments.
• Provide clear and transparent information to the client, and to other relevant individuals, the terms and conditions of the service being offered. This would include an explanation of the scope and nature of the service to be provided, the allocation of responsibilities and the basis for remuneration; 

4.2 Responsibility to Clients

Members will:

• Take responsibility for a consistently high quality of practice.
• Consider the needs of the individual learner as paramount, subject to any legal constraints or ethical considerations.
• Respect individual differences including (but not limited to) disability, age, gender, ethnicity, culture, language, sexual orientation, religion, and socio-economic background.
• Respect the client’s knowledge, preferences, aims and experience.
• With the client’s agreement, refer the client to another professional or another service where that is considered in the client’s best interests, declaring any personal interest in such further work if it exists.
• Hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance for all work undertaken.

Confidentiality

Each member should have the highest regard for the confidential nature of the work undertaken.

Members will:

1. Safeguard all client information unless disclosure is required by law.
2. Establish clear agreements with clients regarding limits of confidentiality (e.g., risk of harm to self or others) unless the release of information is required by law.
3. Store, manage and dispose of all records – including digital communication – in compliance with applicable data protection laws.
4. Maintain confidentiality when handling client data across different institutions or jurisdictions.

4.3 Professional Integrity & Independence

Each member should avoid any action which might compromise their integrity and/or bring discredit on the profession.

Members will:

• Avoid conduct that compromises integrity or damages the standing of the profession.
• Accurately represent their qualifications, experience and professional status at all times, including in advertising and public materials.
• Disclose any conflicts of interest at the earliest opportunity and withdraw where objectivity may be compromised.
• Avoid actions or relationships:physical, emotional, financial or digital,that could impair professional judgement or violate professional boundaries.
• Refrain from behaviour that could be construed as harassment or discriminatory.
• Respect the legal and professional obligations of colleagues and organisations with whom they cooperate.
• Never use copyrighted or proprietary materials without permission, and correctly acknowledge all sources.
• Decline inducements, incentives or pressure intended to bias services or outcomes.

5. Use of the Code

Members will

• Inform the client of their membership of the Association and of the existence of this Code of Ethics at the start of any assignment undertaken and explain that they will be guided by its principles.
• Respond to any complaint concerning compliance with this Code and adhere to the PASSHE Complaints procedure and cooperate with the Association’s officers in the investigation of any complaint made to the Association.
• Accept that any breach of the code that is upheld in a complaints procedure may result in sanctions, including loss of accredited status and/or PASSHE membership.