How this guidance applies to you

In this guidance the terms ‘you must’ and ‘you should’ are used in the following ways:

• ‘you must’ is used for an overriding duty or principle
• ‘you should’ is used when we are providing an explanation of how you will meet the overriding duty
• ‘you should’ is also used where the duty or principle will not apply in all situations or circumstances, or where there are factors outside your control that affect whether or how you can comply with the guidance.

The footnotes, references, endnotes and legal annex are intended only to provide information that may be helpful additional background. References to publications by other organisations are intended only as examples of available national resources.

This guidance is not, and cannot be, exhaustive. So you should use your own judgement to apply the principles it sets out to the situations you face in your own practice.

Serious or persistent failure to follow this guidance will put your registration at risk. You must, therefore, be prepared to explain and justify your actions.