C7 Practise ethically and professionally
This is about working to professional and ethical standards in everything you do. It covers integrity and impartiality, managing conflicts of interest, confidentiality and data protection, working within your competence and the limits of regulated activity, inclusive practice, safety and the responsible use of digital and AI tools. In the original standards, these were left to the guidelines of each organisation or professional body. They are now set out as part of the Standards themselves.
What you need to show
- C7.1
Act with honesty, integrity and impartiality, putting the client's interests first
- C7.2
Identify, declare and manage conflicts of interest, including commercial interests, referral arrangements and the pressure of programme targets
- C7.3
Keep client information confidential and handle personal data lawfully, securely and only for agreed purposes
- C7.4
Work within the limits of your competence and role, and within the boundaries of regulated activity (for example regulated financial or legal advice)
- C7.5
Treat all clients fairly, work inclusively, and make reasonable adjustments where a client needs them
- C7.6
Recognise ethical dilemmas and matters of professional conduct, and respond to them appropriately, seeking advice where needed
- C7.7
Use digital and AI tools responsibly in your practice: protect client information, check outputs for accuracy, and be open with clients about how you use them
- C7.8
Take reasonable steps to protect your own safety and that of your clients, including when meeting in person, working alone or visiting clients' premises
- C7.9
Follow the policies, codes of conduct and contractual requirements that apply to your work, and raise concerns where they conflict with the client's interests
- C7.10
Check your practice regularly against these Standards, relevant regulations and your professional and ethical obligations
What you need to know and understand
- C7.K1
The ethical principles of business support: integrity, impartiality, objectivity, confidentiality, competence and respect
- C7.K2
What counts as a conflict of interest and how to manage one
- C7.K3
The principles of data protection and your obligations when collecting, storing, sharing and deleting client information
- C7.K4
The boundaries of regulated activity relevant to business support (for example regulated financial advice, credit broking, reserved legal activities and insolvency advice), and when to refer
- C7.K5
Equality legislation, inclusive practice and reasonable adjustments
- C7.K6
How AI and other digital tools can create risks to confidentiality, accuracy and fairness, and how to manage them
- C7.K7
Health, safety and personal safety in client work, including lone working and online meetings
- C7.K8
How to respond if you have concerns about the welfare of a client or someone connected with them
- C7.K9
Complaints and whistleblowing procedures, and how to raise concerns
- C7.K10
The professional codes and contractual requirements relevant to your work
Evolved from
The ethical and professional guidelines referred to throughout the Business Support Standards (units 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7); Business Support 11 (item h); Business and Enterprise Support (2013), the guidelines referred to in units 5, 10, 13 and 18, and unit 17 (in part).