Code of Ethics for Case Managers
- Duty to your client
- Practice within the law
- Respect for autonomy
- Best interests
- Prevention of harm
- Nondiscrimination
- Veracity
- Fidelity
- Nature of employment
- Professional integrity
1. Duty to your client
You owe a legal and moral duty of care to the client. This relates not only to the standard of care and supervision you provide for them but also the practical nature of how you take instruction, manage your time, balance multiple clients and tasks, and resolve any conflicts.
2. Practice within the law
You must practise within the law of the jurisdiction that applies to you and the client. If you identify a breach of the law you should report it to the authorities. If you identify any inconsistency, incompatibility, or unintended consequence of the law that needs addressing or reform, you should report it to those responsible.
3. Respect for autonomy
You must respect the client’s autonomy. This is an active duty and not merely an attitude.
4. Best interests
If the client does not have decision-making capacity (competence) over a particular matter, you must act (collaboratively if appropriate) according to what is necessary and in their best interests. You have a responsibility to act as their advocate where appropriate, or to ensure that someone suitable does so. In deciding what is in their best interests, their previous competent decisions, and their wishes and feelings now, should be taken into account.
5. Prevention of harm
You must not cause or allow harm to the client. This includes duties around the protection of children or adults at risk, but is not limited to these.
6. Nondiscrimination
You must uphold the principles of non-discrimination, cultural sensitivity and human rights in applying each component of this Code. At a minimum this means the six strands of diversity and equality (gender, age, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief), and related rights (language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status).
7. Veracity
You should endeavour to tell the client the truth known to you at all times. This includes taking positive steps to correct any misunderstandings or misperceptions they or those significant in their life may have.
8. Fidelity
You should be faithful in your professional case management practice. This includes respecting the client’s privacy, confidentiality and data protection, their physical and emotional dignity, and not abusing your position of trust in respect of the client, their family or others significant in their life.
9. Nature of employment
You should ensure that the client and others understand the nature and limits of your employment or practice status, how you handle referrals, instruction and case loads, and that these and other business and financial practices or considerations are honest, accountable and of good repute.
10. Professional integrity
You have an obligation of professional integrity. This includes an obligation to maintain any relevant registration or accreditation, professional indemnity and public liability insurance. It also includes your dealings with other professionals or in other capacities (such as expert or medicolegal work), insofar as they may relate to your case management practice. It also includes continuing education and training, dealings with the media, any withdrawal from a case for professional reasons, and having resources for addressing ethical dilemmas. Nothing in this Code requires you to fundamentally alter the nature of your business, service or practice.