June 2024: EN, Reference No 00885717 , Registrant ID 375713
June 2024: Emmanualle Cadji-Newby, Reference No 00885717 , Registrant ID 375713
Outcome Details
This outcome was reached by agreement.
Reasons
Emmanuelle Cadji-Newby (the Member), a BACP individual member, agrees to the following outcome of the investigation into a complaint of professional misconduct under reference PCP[…].
1. Background
1.1 The Member has been a BACP member since […].
1.2 The Member continues to work as a counsellor.
1.3 The Complainant, […], a former client of the Member, made a complaint to BACP about the Member and their professional conduct.
1.4 On 24 January Year 1, the IAC referred the Member to a Practice Review Track hearing in relation to the following allegation:
Allegation 1
1.1 The Member ended the therapeutic relationship with the Complainant in an abrupt and/or unplanned and/or unclear and/or unethical way.
1.2 The Member thereby failed to meet professional standards, including and in particular by acting in a way which was inconsistent with the following paragraph of ‘Good Practice’ in the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2018 which states:
39: We will endeavour to inform clients well in advance of approaching endings and be sensitive to our client’s expectations and concerns when we are approaching the end of our work together.
2. Admissions
2.2 The Member makes the following admissions which the BACP accepts:
2.2.1 That she could and should have been clearer in her communications with the Complainant.
2.2.2 That this was a breach of paragraph 39 of the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2018.
2.3 The Panel recognised that the Member had not accepted all possible elements of the allegation, but as the allegation was drafted with abrupt, unclear, unplanned and unethical in the alternative, the Panel concluded that the Member’s limited admission did not prohibit conclusion by consensual disposal.
3. Mitigation
3.1 The Member puts forward the following in mitigation, which has been taken into account by the IAC in deciding the appropriate outcome:
3.1.1 She was seeking to act in the best interests of the Complainant at all times;
3.1.2 The exchanges of communications with the Complainant were complex;
3.1.3 She took the matter to supervision at the time;
3.1.4 She engaged with the Complainant’s GP in the interests of the Complainant’s welfare.
4. Conclusion
4.1 The issues identified and admitted by the member amounted to breaches of the Ethical Framework, in particular paragraph 39 of the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2018:
39: We will endeavour to inform clients well in advance of approaching endings and be sensitive to our client’s expectations and concerns when we are approaching the end of our work together.
4.2 One of the aims of the Professional Conduct Procedure is to protect members of the
public. The IAC, in considering the appropriate outcome and sanction for the admitted breaches in this case, has taken into account the importance of public protection and determined that it is reasonable and proportionate to conclude this case by agreement on the terms set out below.
4.3 In relation to the findings above, the IAC considers it appropriate, in recognition of the submissions contained within the Member’s application for consensual disposal that she should:
4.3.1 within four weeks of the date of this agreement, provide BACP with:
4.3.1.1 evidence of successful completion of four hours of continuous professional development (CPD) addressing managing endings with clients.
4.3.2 within eight weeks of the date of this agreement, provide BACP with
4.3.2.1 a personal statement demonstrating learning and changes to her practice as a result of this complaint and the CPD undertaken. This should include her reflections on what went wrong (with reference to the allegation above), the importance of planning and clarity in respect of endings and the impact of her behaviour on the Complainant. It should refer to the values, principles, personal moral qualities and good practice set out in the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2018.
4.3.2.2 A letter of apology addressed to the Complainant accepting responsibility for the Member’s failings and recognising the impact of those on the Complainant.
4.4 The Member agrees that this Agreement will be published by the BACP in line with the Publication Policy and that it will be disclosed to the complainant.
4.5 The Member agrees that she will not act in any way inconsistent with this agreement such as, for example, by denying the findings in paragraph 2 above.
4.6 If the Member fails without good reason to comply with the sanction set out above or acts in a way which is inconsistent with this Agreement the matter will be referred to a sanction panel for consideration. The decision of the sanction panel may be published.
4.7 If the Member acts in a way which is inconsistent with this Agreement her membership/registration will be terminated. Such a decision will be published.
(Where ellipses [ . . . ] are displayed, they indicate an omission of text)