Ethical Standards Related to Staff Training

PSYCHOLOGISTS:  
(From American Psychological Association (2002, 2017). Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct . Washington D.C. )

Preamble:
. . . The development of a dynamic set of ethical standards for psychologists’ work-related conduct requires a personal commitment and lifelong effort to act ethically; to encourage ethical behavior by students, supervisees, employees, and colleagues; and to consult with others concerning ethical problems

2.05 Delegation of Work to Others
Psychologists who delegate work to employees . . . take reasonable steps to (1) avoid delegating such work to persons who have a multiple relationship with those being served that would likely lead to exploitation or loss of objectivity; (2) authorize only those responsibilities that such persons can be expected to perform competently on the basis of their education, training, or experience, either independently or with the level of supervision being provided; and (3) see that such persons perform these services competently.

9.07 Assessment by Unqualified Persons
Psychologists do not promote the use of psychological assessment techniques by unqualified persons, except when such use is conducted for training purposes with appropriate supervision. (See also Standard 2.05, Delegation of Work to Others.)

COUNSELORS :
(From: American Counseling Association (2014) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Alexandria, Virginia.)

B.3. Information Shared With Others
B.3.a. Subordinates: Counselors make every effort to ensure that privacy and confidentiality of clients are maintained by subordinates, including employees, supervisees, students, clerical assistants, and volunteers. [ Also see F.1.c. ]

B.3.c. Confidential Settings: Counselors discuss confidential information only in settings in which they can reasonably ensure client privacy.

D.1. Relationships With Colleagues, Employers, and Employees
D.1.f. Personnel Selection and Assignment: Counselors select competent staff and assign responsibilities compatible with their skills and experiences.

D.1.i. Protection From Punitive Action: Counselors take care not to harass or dismiss an employee who has acted in a responsible and ethical manner to expose inappropriate employer policies or practices .

F.1 Counselor Supervision and Client Welfare
F.1.c Informed Consent and Client Rights: Supervisors make supervisees aware of client rights including the protection of client privacy and confidentiality in the counseling relationship. Supervisees provide clients with professional disclosure information and inform them of how the supervision process influences the limits of confidentiality. Supervisees make clients aware of who will have access to records of the counseling relationship, and how these records will be used.

SOCIAL WORKERS:
(From: National Association of Social Workers (2017). Code of Ethics . Washington, D.C.)

3.07 Administration
. . . (c) Social workers who are administrators should take reasonable steps to ensure that adequate agency or organizational resources are available to provide appropriate staff supervision.

(d) Social work administrators should take reasonable steps to ensure that the working environment for which they are responsible is consistent with and encourages compliance with the NASW Code of Ethics. Social work administrators should take reasonable steps to eliminate any conditions in their organizations that violate, interfere with, or discourage compliance with the Code.

3.08 Continuing Education and Staff Development
Social work administrators and supervisors should take reasonable steps to provide or arrange for continuing education and staff development for all staff for whom they are responsible. Continuing education and staff development should address current knowledge and emerging developments related to social work practice and ethics