THE SOCIETY FOR PHILOSOPHY IN PRACTICE
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SPP Committee Code Of Practice Constitution
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| SPP Executive Committee |
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| Gerald Rochelle (Chair) |
| David Arnaud |
| Nigel Laurie |
| Tim LeBon |
| Other Committee Members |
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| Sam Brown |
| Peter Worley |
The aim of the society is the promotion of Philosophical Consultancy in all its forms including, for example, Socratic dialogue, philosophy with children and philosophical counselling.
The Society for Philosophy in Practice (hereinafter known as "SPP") has developed and established this Code of practice as the result of the wish and the need to give the profession of "Consultant Philosopher" a clearer identity. The Code represents a step towards further social recognition and establishment of a profession. The SPP will develop further quality and training criteria in the next few years. This Code is necessary because a "consultant philosopher" offers a service that creates professional obligations towards clients.
The main terms used in this document are defined as follows:
" consultant philosopher"-(hereinafter also known as "consultant")- someone who has a qualification in philosophy as recognised by the SPP, has received additional training, who is continuing his/her professional
development and who holds a practice within which he/she receives people who typically pay for his/her expertise and who thereby become the philosopher's "clients"." consultation"-
i. dialogue between the philosopher and the client during an appointment and for which the client typically pays a fee.
ii. any situation where the philosopher's advice is sought, typically in exchange for a fee. The Code covers practitioners whether or not they are charging a fee.
iii. The National Register of Consultant Philosophers (hereinafter known as "NRCP") is published by the SPP. It lists consultants who are signatories to the Code and who are practising members.
By signing this Code, as part of the application procedure to be on the NRCP, the consultant philosopher has agreed to adhere to the Code.
No member should claim (either implicitly or explicitly) to be a practitioner member without having satisfied all training and degree requirements of the Society.
The Code gives clients, potential clients and those who refer them to a consultant philosopher, access to the rules the philosopher will adhere to. If necessary, the client and those referring him/her can use the Code to remind the philosopher of those rules. The consultant must make the client version of the Code available to the client and provide the consultant's version on request. The Code is also intended to achieve a greater degree of consistent professional behaviour.
If clients, or those referring them, believe that the consultant is not adhering to the Code, they can report this to the SPP`s management committee, which will deal with the complaint under Article 8 below.
The client can be an individual, a group or the representative of an organisation or professional body. The Code deals with relationships where the client typically pays a fee for the provision of a service which is in effect a consultation.
The consultant can maintain a broad spectrum of aims but must respect the wishes of the client and use these as the basis for a consultation. The wishes of the consultant will be either put aside or must be clearly explained to the client and explicitly agreed upon.
i. The consultant can employ a broad spectrum of methods. The consultant must realise that every method represents a means of dealing with the client and so contributes towards defining the relationship. Therefore, the consultant must ensure that the methods used and the resultant definition of the relationship, is not in breach of other articles of the Code, expresses respect for the client, contributes to the dialogical form of the relationship and avoids any abuse of power or authority.
ii. The consultant will regularly evaluate the progress made during the course of his/her work together with its philosophical character and will reflect on this with colleagues, either orally or in writing.
iii. For philosophical counsellors, the volume of supervision/consultation should be in proportion to the volume of counselling work undertaken and the experience of the counsellor.
iv. The consultant will obtain business and promote his/her practice only in a manner which is ethical, dignified in presentation, accurate and not misleading in content.
i. The consultant should respect the client's right to privacy, except where disclosure is required by law or is justified in order to prevent imminent, substantial harm to the client or others.
ii. The consultant may contact other relevant parties such as specialists who referred the client or members of the client's family or household but only with the client's express permission. Thereby the client's stated wishes are always respected and subject to Clause i.
iii. The consultant should ensure the client's anonymity when discussing the client's case with colleagues.
iv. The consultant should inform the client of the pertinent limits to confidentiality upon initiating services.
The consultant will regularly re-assess his/her expertise and supplement and update it through further study and training as recognised as relevant by the SPP.
Consultant philosophers should not employ techniques for which they are not qualified.
Consultant philosophers should inform the client of his/her fees (if any)
prior to the commencement of services.i. The consultant will enter a consultancy relationship only if the client has explicitly expressed a wish to do so and if the consultant is satisfied that the client is reasonably well informed about the content and form of such a relationship.
ii. The consultant will not practice on any occasion when his/her judgement might be impaired through any cause.
iii. The consultant will be sensitive to the client's ethical and religious views, alternative "world views" and philosophical perspectives including those based upon cultural or gender distinctions among diverse client populations.
iv. The consultant will at all times be prepared to justify to the client the way in which the consultation is conducted by the consultant.
v. The consultant will make it clear where his/her limits of expertise lie and at what point referral to another relevant consultant would be considered: for example, in the teaching, mental health, social work, medical or psychology professions. The consultant is careful not to overstep these limits (see also article 5)
vi. Consultant philosophers should avoid sexual intimacy with current clients or any other form of dual role relation which might compromise the integrity of the professional relationship.
If the client feels that the consultant has breached any terms of this Code, he/she may complain to the SPP`s management committee.The committee will, within 30 days of the complaint, convene the Professional Conduct Committee to hear both parties (client and consultant).Within 30 days of convening, the PCC will make a decision on whether or not the complaint is justified. If a consultant has been found in breach of the Code, he/she should resign. If he/she does not resign, the SPP`s full management committee must decide at its next meeting on one or more of the following actions:
i. Accepting the member's resignation from the SPP.
ii. A warning.
iii. Suspension from the NRCP
iv. Suspension pending satisfactory completion of further training and /or supervision.
v. Expulsion from the NRCP, if necessary with immediate effect.
vi. Expulsion from the SPP, if necessary with immediate effect and subject to confirmation at the next AGM.
At the full management committee meeting, the consultant can present their case in person or in writing or appoint another person to do so. Non PCC members can vote. The decision will be published in the SPP's newsletter. The consultant can appeal to the SPP's Annual General Meeting (AGM); both management committee and consultant can appoint a member to prepare their case for the AGM. No action is taken pending the outcome of the appeal.
The SPP is not liable for any damages claimed by clients as the result of a consultation with an SPP member. The consultant alone is responsible for his/her work and carries full liability for any action for damages. Consultants must obtain their own indemnity insurance, in a form required by the SPP.
1. The name is "The Society for Philosophy in Practice", (SPP), hereafter called "the society".
2. The object of the society is the promotion of philosophical consultancy in all its forms; for example, Socratic Dialogue, Philosophy with Children and philosophical counselling, for the benefit of the clients and the public.
3. In furtherance of the foregoing object, but not otherwise, the society shall have the following powers; to:
i. promote and assist in the development of educational courses and materials
ii carry out or assist in the publication of written and recorded materials ( for example the publication of resource lists and bibliographies) and the organisation of public or private meetings, lectures and conferences.
iii promote research and to assist in publishing the results thereof.
iv. sponsor and conduct courses and training.
v. award prizes for work furthering the objects of the society.
vi. promote the value of the service and the standard of professional conduct provided by
practitioner members of the society and for that purpose exercise professional guidance and disciplinary power over them.
vii. establish and maintain a register of those who offer themselves as Consultant Philosophers.
viii establish branches of the society in such centres and on such terms as the society may determine.
ix. establish and support and to aid in the establishment and support of any other bodies formed for the object of the society provided they are precluded by their constitutions from distributing any of the profits or assets amongst their members
x. raise money for the purposes of the society on such terms and on such security as may be thought fit, provided that the society does not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities, shall conform to any relevant requirements of the law and acts with due regard to ethical considerations.
xi. appeal for funds and to distribute them by the making of grants or otherwise to any persons engaged in furthering the objects of the society, especially affiliated bodies.
xii apply for, collect, spend, administer and distribute funds provided by international agencies, national or local government, charitable bodies or companies.
xiii. employ such officers and other staff (not being members of the management committee) as may be required for its purposes and to pay or subscribe to funds or schemes for the provision of pensions or retirement benefits for employees and former employees of the society, their widowed spouses, children or other dependants.
xiv. take on lease any real property necessary for the promotion of its objects.
xv. appoint a Professional Conduct committee of 5 members , one of whom should be a lawyer.
xvi. do all such other lawful things as shall further the object of the society.
xvii. insure itself against activities of members who may be in breach of the Ethical Code.
xviii subject to such consents as may be required by law, invest the monies of the society not immediately required for its purposes in or upon such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit
4.i. Membership is open to all who are interested in any aspect of philosophy or its practice.
ii. The initial members of the society are those who had paid the due subscription on or before ..........................
iii The committee may elect Honorary members of the society at their discretion. The total number shall not exceed 10% of the total membership.
5.i. The society shall elect an Honorary President who need not be a member of the society.
ii. The terms of office of the first and any subsequent president shall be until the end of the third AGM of his/her presidency, when a new election for his/her post shall be held. For election of the Honorary President, nominations, duly proposed and seconded, should be sent to the Secretary of the society not later than 30 days before the AGM. The Secretary will then include a voting form for the presidency in the notice of the AGM to be sent out to every member. Voting forms may be returned by post or brought to the AGM, where they will be counted by any two members of the management committee who are not themselves nominated for the presidency.
iii. If a president is unable or unwilling to complete his/her term of office, the chair of the management committee shall exercise the role until the end of the subsequent AGM.
iv. The committee may elect not more than 3 Vice-Presidents, one of whom need not be a member of the society.
6i. The affairs of the society shall be managed by a management committee (hereinafter "the committee"), which shall be entitled to exercise all the powers of the society, except any which are required to be exercised in general meeting. All candidates for election to the committee or to any office, must be nominated and seconded by fully paid up members and must themselves have confirmed their willingness in writing to the secretary, to stand for election. Nominations may be made in advance of the meeting at which the election takes place. If the latter applies, both proposer and seconder must be present in person. If the candidate has indicated willingness to stand, in writing, the document must be presented to the meeting and the candidate need not be present in person; otherwise the candidate must also be present in person. In addition to the Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer, the committee shall comprise a maximum of 7 elected members and shall have powers to co-opt one or two persons in an advisory capacity to any of its meetings and to make an appointment to fill any vacancy arising on the committee. Other offices may be created as needed and filled by committee members. In any case, the maximum number of committee members should not exceed 10. The committee shall meet in person at least every 6 months.
ii. The quorum for a meeting of the committee shall be 3. Questions arising at a meeting of the committee shall be decided by a simple majority of members present. If a matter cannot be resolved, the chair shall have the right to call an EGM to decide the issue. The proceedings shall be recorded by the secretary and signature by the chair shall indicate that the minutes are approved by the committee.
iii Every two years, at least two of the elected committee members shall retire. They may submit themselves for re- election. The Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer, shall hold their offices for 2 years unless they resign early. They may be re-elected to the same post for a second and further term or to another office Other office holders who have served in the same post for 2 continuous terms shall not hold that post again until a period of 2 years has elapsed. Society members shall elect, out of nominations received by the secretary at least 7 days earlier, first a chair, then a secretary, then a treasurer and then up to seven others to reconstitute the committee. All elections for the offices and committee will be by simple majority. Proxy voting must be carried out using the Society's proxy form.
iv. The committee can appoint sub-committees for training and professional development, public relations and marketing, strategy and finance, professional conduct. for example.
7i. The committee may request reasonable information from an applicant before granting membership of the society. Anyone whose application is refused shall receive a statement in writing of reasons for refusal.
ii. There shall be an annual subscription for members of an amount (and payable on such dates and in such manner) as may be determined from time to time by the committee and which must be approved by a simple majority at the AGM. Subscriptions shall be valid for each year from January 1st to December 31st. Members joining on or after July 1st shall pay 50% of the current subscription.
iii. A person's membership shall cease if she/he is in arrears with her/his subscription for 6 months. The committee shall otherwise have the right to terminate a person's membership in the event of her/his acting contrary to the objects of the society but only after she/he has had a fair opportunity of being heard. Any such action shall be reported to the AGM.
iv. No member shall be entitled to vote unless all monies due from him to the society have been paid.
v. It is the member's responsibility to notify the secretary of change of addresses; otherwise they will not be entitled to receive notices of meetings, proceedings etc.
vi. Any institution, company or organisation interested in or engaged in furthering the objects of the society, may apply to the committee to become a Corporate Member or an Affiliated Centre.
vii. There shall be an annual subscription for either form of membership determined and levied in the same manner as that for individual members but the committee shall have the right to reduce or waiver such subscription. A corporate member or affiliated centre may send to any general meeting a representative who shall have speaking rights and one vote.
viii. The Bye laws or any of them may from time to time be revoked, amended or added to by an Extraordinary General Meeting of the society, provided that due notice shall have been given to the members entitled to attend such Meeting of the proposed revocation, amendment or addition and that such revocation, amendment or addition is agreed by not less than two thirds of those members present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote.
ix. Members shall be entitled to use the designation "Practitioner Member", provided they have satisfied the management committee that they have the qualifications prescribed by the society , have signed the Ethical Code of the SPP and have been included on the society's National Register of Consultant Philosophers.
x. Practitioner members may use after their names the initials MSPP.
8.i. The society shall hold an Annual General Meeting once in every calendar year at such time and place as the committee shall determine, notice of which shall be given in writing by the secretary at least 21 days in advance. With every such notice shall be sent a copy of the audited accounts for the last year and details of the business to be discussed, which shall include:
a) consideration of the society's accounts and the committee's report;
b) the appointment of auditors;
c) considering and, if thought fit, passing any special resolution as per rule 8ii;
d) election of members of the committee and then of a president.
ii. Special resolutions for consideration at the AGM shall be submitted to the secretary in writing, signed by at least 2 members, not less than 30 days before the meeting. The secretary shall send the texts of any such resolutions to every member at least 21 days in advance of the meeting.
iii. The committee may appoint either 3 or 4, Trustees of the society. The committee may from time to time by resolution fill any vacancy among the trustees or remove a trustee from office.
9.i. An extraordinary meeting of the society shall be called by the committee on a written request to the secretary from any 4 members of the society or from the trustees appointed under Clause 8 iii. The request shall set out the text of any resolution to be proposed at the meeting, which shall be called at a date not later than 42 days after the request. The secretary shall give at least 21 days` clear notice of the meeting in writing to each member, together with the text of the resolution to be proposed.
ii. At an EGM, unless a poll is demanded, a declaration by the Chair that a resolution has been carried or lost, or carried or not by a particular majority and an entry made to that effect in the minute book, it shall be conclusive evidence.
iii. The quorum for an EGM shall be a minimum of 10 members present and entitled to vote or 5% of the membership, whichever is the greatest.
iv. At any AGM or EGM, the President, (or his/her substitute), shall be the final authority on any matter of a point of order or matter relating to the conduct of the meeting.
10. Proper minutes shall be kept by the secretary of the proceedings of all general meetings of the society.
11i. The money and other assets of the society shall be applied in furthering the objects of the society and not for any other purpose but this shall not prevent payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee of the society or the repayment to members of the committee of reasonable out-of -pocket expenses.
ii. The treasurer shall keep proper records of the society's financial affairs and shall report regularly to the committee.
iii. Annual accounts shall be prepared for each AGM. The accounts shall be audited by one or more auditors appointed at the AGM.
iv. The society shall open and maintain a bank account or accounts in the name of the society with such bank or banks as the committee shall from time to time select. Every account shall be under the control of the committee. Cheques must be signed by the treasurer and at least one other member of the committee.
12.i. Any property belonging to the society may be held on behalf of the society by not fewer than 3 or more than 4 individual trustees appointed from time to time by the committee.
ii. Trustees shall deal with property held by them at all times in accordance with the instructions of the committee.
13. Alteration to this constitution shall require the assent of two thirds of the total membership voting at an Annual or an Extra-ordinary General Meeting. They may vote in person or by proxy. A resolution for the alteration of the constitution must be received by the Secretary at least 21 days before the meeting at which the resolution is to be brought forward. At least 14 days notice of such a meeting must be given by the secretary to the membership and must include notice of the alteration proposed: provided that no alteration to Clause 2, Clause 15 or this Clause shall take effect until the approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction shall have been obtained; and no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the society to cease to be eligible to be a charity in law.
14. In the execution of the trusts hereof no member of the committee shall be liable for any loss to the property of the society arising by reason of any improper investment made in good faith (so long as he/she shall have sought professional advice before making such an investment) or for the negligence or fraud of any agent employed by her/him or by any other member of the committee hereof in good faith (provided reasonable supervision should have been exercised) although the employment of such agent was strictly not necessary or by reason of any mistake or omission made in good faith by any member of the committee thereof or by reason of any other matter or thing other than wilful and individual fraud, wrongdoing or wrongful omission on the part of the member of the committee who is sought to be liable.
15. The society may be dissolved by a resolution passed by a two-thirds majority of the total membership at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting convened for the purpose of which 21 days notice shall have been given to the members. The members may vote in person or by proxy. Such resolution may give instructions for disposal of assets held by or in the name of the society, provided that if any property remains after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, such property shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the society but shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to some or all of the objects of the society as the society may determine and if and in so far as the effect cannot be given to this provision, then to some other charitable purpose.
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THE SOCIETY FOR PHILOSOPHY IN PRACTICE
page last updated
16/08/2008
contact webmaster:
Sam Brown
www.society-for-philosophy-in-practice.org
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