Financial and commercial dealings

Psychologists must deal honestly and transparently with clients on financial matters. Professional behaviour means the psychologist: (a) does not exploit a client's vulnerability or lack of knowledge in providing or recommending services; (b) does not persuade clients to give, lend or leave money or gifts, or to take up services, that benefit the psychologist directly or indirectly, beyond fair payment for services actually given; (c) does not persuade clients to make donations or confer benefits on other people or bodies; (d) accepts from clients only token gifts of minimal monetary and no sentimental value and, on accepting one, makes a file note or tells a colleague or practitioner where possible; (e) gives gifts to clients only where the client's best interests call for it and it is part of a standard, well documented method that (i) is defensible on ethical, legal or organisational grounds and (ii) has been talked through with an experienced practitioner; (f) does not become financially involved with clients, for example through loans or investment schemes; and (g) is transparent in work-related financial and commercial dealings with employers, insurers and others, in particular (i) declaring any relevant, material financial or commercial interest they or their family hold in any aspect of the service, and (ii) declaring to clients any interest in a product or service they endorse or sell in their work setting, without making an unjustifiable profit from it.

• Gifts register with file notes for any token gift accepted
• Declarations of financial or commercial interests in products or services sold or endorsed
• Invoices and fee records matching services actually delivered
• Policy prohibiting loans, investments and bequests involving clients

• Client named as a beneficiary or lender to the psychologist
• Products sold to clients with no interest disclosed
• Gifts accepted with no file note