Objective of Supervision or coaching; The purpose of coaching and coach supervision is to provide an alternative view to help develop, support and oversee an active coach or to help a client. It must be grounded in mutual trust and respect, and be directed towards assessing the clients or coach’s ethics, integrity and professional development in a supportive environment. This is usually achieved through insightful and challenging questions, distinctions and observations. Awareness combined with practices, exercises and self-reflection guide the process. It also encompasses all aspects of our competence; Cognitive, emotional, somatic, relational and Spiritual, and our ability to integrate this, such that our commitment shows up in everything we do, in all our words, actions and relationships. During the coaching or supervision programme, the way forward is the joint responsibility of both the supervisor/coach and the coach/client, the roles of the parties involved are attached, as some rough guide. Either can initiate a conversation round the way forward and how to progress. The ICF, Comensa and most organisations consider Supervision essential for all active coaches. The nature of Supervision/Coaching, legal liability, confidentiality and disclosures The supervisor/coach is not in any way responsible for any aspect of the coaches/clients actions or behaviours. The coach/client is aware that the supervision/coaching relationship is not psychological counselling or any kind of therapy and is in no way intended as such. The Supervisor/coach therefore undertakes to act within the limits of their own competence, recognise where that competence has the potential to be exceeded and where necessary refer to client to either a more experienced Supervisor/coach/mentor or support the client in seeking the help of another appropriate professional. The coach/client therefore indemnifies the supervisor/coach against any claims for damages, whether physical, emotional, direct or consequential from the reasonable exercise of the supervisors/coach’s duties. Confidentiality and disclosures The supervisor/coach undertakes to disclose information only where explicitly agreed with the coach/client (and with or to the sponsor if/where relevant and where specifically agreed). Should the coach/client disclose any threat to self or others, any illegal activities, unethical behaviour, theft, fraud, dishonest action, possible involvement in terrorism, money laundering, and/or organised crime activities, or where the coach considers there to be a reasonable chance of such actions in the future, it is the supervisors/coach’s legal and ethical responsibility to disclose this to the required authorities, which may include, but is not limited to; ICAS (the Nedbank staff support and assistance service), Human Resources, Group security, the Nedbank Group Risk Reporting Line and/or the SA police, as available or as appropriate. Non-personal information relating to the frequency, duration, general progress and other administrative matters of the supervision/coaching are submitted on a confidential basis to the ICF, Nedbank, the Centre for Coaching (University of Cape Town), New Ventures West, the ICF and/or Comensa to allow these organisations to monitor and regulate the supervision/coaching relationship. The client’s right to confidentiality remains paramount and the above disclosures serve only as administrative formalities, and no names or confidential information are disclosed unless required to do so. Disagreements, Discomforts and Conflicts The parties agree that any ethical dilemma encountered during the course of the professional relationship will be referred to a suitably experienced supervisor/coach/mentor or member of the ICF or Commensa ethics committee. The full ethics and complaints procedure can be obtained from the ICF or Commensa websites.