Standards/Safety/Complaints

Last updated: 1 September 2025
My Accreditation: Association for Coaching (AC) — Accredited as Foundation Executive Coach since 2015

Working toward Professional Executive Coach accreditation in 2026

1) Scope of Practice (what coaching is / isn’t)

  • Coaching: structured conversations to clarify goals, build skills, and follow through. We co-design ways of working that suit your neurotype and context.

  • Not therapy or clinical care: I don’t diagnose, treat, or advise on medication, and I don’t provide crisis care.

  • Trauma-aware practice: I work to minimise the risk of re-traumatisation (clear consent, pacing, options to pause/stop, grounding). Coaching may touch on difficult experiences; I do not provide therapy or trauma processing. If specialised support is indicated, I’ll signpost and (with your consent) coordinate.

  • When coaching may not be appropriate: significant unmanaged risk of harm, acute crisis, or where clinical assessment is needed. In these cases I’ll pause, signpost, and resume only when safe.

  • Referrals & collaboration: with your consent, I coordinate with therapists, psychologists, HR/line managers, or Occupational Health when it supports your goals and safety.

2) Ethical standards

I work within the Association for Coaching (AC) Global Code of Ethics and Good Practice and the AC competency framework. I’m an AC Member and an Accredited Foundation Executive Coach (since 2015), working toward Professional Executive Coach accreditation in 2026.

  • Client-led work and informed consent

  • Clear boundaries, confidentiality, and safeguarding

  • Competence (training, supervision, CPD)

  • Equity, inclusion, and reasonable adjustments

  • Trauma-aware approach: psychological and epistemic safety, consent checks, collaborative contracting, safety-first practice (coaching ≠ therapy)

I don’t make medical claims or guarantee outcomes. I describe my process, not promises.

3) Training, supervision & CPD

  • Training:

  • Supervision: Monthly with an experienced supervisor; ad-hoc supervision for complex work.

  • CPD: minimum 35 hours per year (courses, reading, peer practice). Log available on request.

  • All supervision and CPD meet AC expectations for accredited coaches.

4) Insurance & data protection

  • Insurance: Professional indemnity & public liability via Hiscox, S.A., Sucursal en España — Policy No. HD IP6 3533621.

  • Data: UK/EU GDPR compliant. Minimal data collected; stored securely; retained for 2 years then deleted. You can request access, correction, or deletion (legal limits may apply).

  • Recording: Sessions are not recorded unless we both agree in writing.

5) Accessibility & adjustments

  • Flexible session length/spacing available on request; movement breaks; screenshare/whiteboard; captions/async prep; sensory-friendly pacing.

  • Content notes on request; consent checks for potentially activating topics; option to pause/stop or switch focus; grounding/micro-breaks.

  • You can request adjustments anytime; we’ll review what’s working regularly.

6) Confidentiality & safeguarding

  • Everything you share is confidential except where there’s a serious risk of harm, or where I’m legally required to disclose (e.g., court order, money-laundering).

  • In line with AC standards, I discuss aspects of my work in confidential supervision to improve quality and safety. I may present de-identified case material with identifying details removed or altered; the focus is on my coaching practice, not on clients. If a scenario could be recognisable, I will seek your consent first.

  • If trauma-related material emerges and coaching no longer feels safe or appropriate, we will slow down, stabilise, and—if needed—pause and signpost to clinical services.

7) Fees, cancellations & transparency

  • Fees are quoted in advance and reflect the cost of supervision and ongoing training built into my practice.

  • Cancellation: please give 24 hours’ notice to avoid being charged; emergencies considered case-by-case.

8) Complaints process (simple & fair)

Step 1 – Talk to me (informal):
Contact me, or raise it in session. I’ll acknowledge within 3 working days.

Step 2 – Written complaint (formal):
Use my Contact form with (a) what happened, (b) dates/times, (c) what you’d like to happen. I’ll provide a full response within 14 working days (or explain if I need longer).

Step 3 – Independent review & AC escalation:
You may request review by my independent supervisor Aaron Watson, Twilights Counselling. With your consent, they’ll review the case and recommend actions. If you remain unsatisfied, you may raise the matter with the Association for Coaching (AC) under its Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure. I’ll share the current contact route on request.

If you’re employer-funded, you may also raise concerns with your sponsor/HR. With your consent, I can share a summary of findings.
Urgent safety concerns: If someone is at immediate risk, contact emergency services in your country. UK: 999. Spain: 112.

9) How to contact me

10) Versioning & transparency

This page is version-controlled. Material changes (e.g., complaints route, supervisor, insurer) will be noted here with dates.