ETHICS Ethics is the discipline dealing with what

ETHICS

Ethics is the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation. Why is it important to have a code of ethics? A code of ethics is intended to serve as a guide to decisions making and standard of practice. Most professions have a code of ethics that serves as a uniform guide for individuals in that field to conduct themselves by. Helps professionals identify relevant considerations when professional obligations conflict or ethical uncertainties arise. Provides ethical standards that the general public can hold a profession accountable to. Articulates standards that the profession itself can use to assess whether others in that profession have engaged in unethical conduct. Does not provide a set of rules that prescribe how to act in all situations. *The essence of ethics is to work to benefit others and do no harm.

What is Unethical Behavior ? Being unaware or misinformed of ethical standards Provide treatment outside the scope of their practice Insensitive towards the need of others Exploits clients by putting their own needs first Makes irresponsible mistakes due to laziness, stress, inattention Vengeful towards clients for perceived harm Burnout or or other emotional impairment

Unethical Behavior Continued Reveals mutual boundary issues Self-serving Most practitioners act ethically but occasionally will make mistakes due to oversight or distraction.

201 KAR 35: 030. Code of Ethics. Section 1. Responsibility to Clients. (1) A credential holder shall: (a) Advance and protect the welfare of the client (b) Respect the rights of a person seeking assistance; AND (c) Make reasonable efforts to ensure that services are used appropriately

Responsibility to Clients (d) In the event an alcohol and drug support peer specialist is employed by a facility or credential holder from whom the peer support specialist received services as a client, the peer support specialist’s supervisor shall clearly define the relationship and boundaries of the peer support specialist’s employment position.

Responsibility to Clients (2) A credential holder shall not: (a)Discriminate against or refuse professional services to anyone on the basis of race; gender; age; sexual preference or orientation; religion; or national origin; (b) Exploit the trust and dependency of a client or client of the facility where the counselor provides alcohol and drug services or any other service where the peer support specialist provides services;

Responsibility to Clients (c) Engage in a dual relationship with a client or or client of the facility where the counselor provides alcohol and drug services or any other service where the peer support specialist provides services, including a social, business, or personal relationship that may: (1) impair professional judgment; (2) incur a risk of exploitation of the client; (3) or otherwise violate a provision of this administrative regulation.

Responsibility to Clients If a dual relationship cannot be avoided and does not impair professional judgment, incur a risk of exploitation to the client, or otherwise violate a provision of this administrative regulation, a counselor shall take appropriate professional precautions to ensure that judgment is not impaired and exploitation of the client does not occur. A credential holder shall not engage in a romantic or sexual intimacy with a client’s immediate family member. (d)Engage in a sexual relationship with a current client or current client of the facility where the counselor provides alcohol and drug counseling or with a former client or former client of the facility where the counselor provides alcohol and drug counseling;

A Few Words About Dual Relationships. . . *A dual relationship refers to any situation where multiple roles exist between a credential holder and a client. Examples of dual relationships are when the client is also a student, friend, family member, employee or business associate. *Avoid dual relationships; when they are unavoidable, appropriate boundaries are established within the relationship with the support of the supervisor. *You are responsible for acting appropriately with clients. A client’s initiation of a dual relationship does not excuse or justify an unethical boundary crossing or relationship. *There are no circumstances where it is appropriate to engage in a romantic or sexually intimate relationship with a client or family member of a client. This includes all current and former clients of the facility where the credential provides services. Once a client, always a client.

Responsibility to Clients (e) Use the professional relationship with a client or current client of the facility where the counselor provides alcohol and drug counseling to further an institutional or personal interest; (f) Continue a therapeutic relationship unless it is reasonably clear the client is benefiting; (g) Fail to assist a client in obtaining otherapeutic services if the credential holder is unable or unwilling for an appropriate reason to provide professional help; (h) Abandon or neglect a client in treatment without making reasonable arrangements for the continuation of treatment;

Responsibility to Clients (i) Videotape, record, or allow third party observation of a session with a client without consent from the client; (j) Engage in sexual, or other harassment or exploitation of a client, student, trainee, supervisee, employee, colleague, research subject, or actual or potential witness or complainant in an investigation of ethical proceeding; (k) Diagnose, treat, or advise on problems outside the recognized boundaries of competence.

Boundaries *Due to the inherent nature of what a peer support specialist does boundary crossings will be unavoidable. *A peer support specialist must establish boundaries to set personal and professional limits, promote trust, increase safety, demonstrate respect, and provide structure to the helping relationship. *In the environment of peer support, boundaries must be flexible, contextual, case by case, and require more on-going supervisory dialogue to problem solve. *Remember that the biggest contributing factor to ethical and boundary problems is when the roles are not clearly defined and communication is not occurring.

Burnout *In any helping profession there are inherent challenges to continuously interacting with people who are experiencing significant stressors in their lives. Peer support providers, like other caregivers, need to be aware of stressors commonly associated with the work of a helping role and to take steps to maintain their own wellness in the face of frequently encountered stressors associated with their work. Common Signs of Burnout Include: *Thinking. Burnout can lead to confusion; impaired judgment and decision-making; forgetfulness; and decreased ability to identify alternatives, prioritize tasks, and evaluate one’s own performance. *Mood. Burnout can cause emotional exhaustion; loss of a sense of personal accomplishment and merit; depersonalization and alienation; depression; and easy excitability, anger, and irritability · *Somatic functioning. Burnout can lower energy level, change appetite and sleeping, and cause gastrointestinal problems, hypochondriacal complaints, and exhaustion *Behavioral functioning. Burnout can cause increased or decreased activity level; extreme fatigue; excessive isolation from coworkers, family and clients; disorganization; misplacing of items; and impaired competence on the job.

Importance of Self Care in a nutshell is about staying healthy. Healthy can mean physical and emotional health. Physical Health - Exercise and healthy diet can increase relaxation reducing chronic stress. Emotional Health - It is important to remember that your needs are important, too. Taking time for yourself is evidence that you value yourself. This can contribute to long-term feelings of wellbeing. Self Care Makes You a Better Caretaker People who neglect their own needs and forget to nurture themselves are at danger of deeper levels of unhappiness, low self-esteem and feelings of resentment. Also, sometimes people who spend their time only taking care of others can be at risk for getting burned out on all the giving, which makes it more difficult to care for others or themselves. Taking time to care for yourself regularly can make you a better caretaker for others.

Self-Care Techniques Get Enough Sleep - Sleep is very important for your emotional and physical wellbeing. Lack of sleep can negatively impact your ability to handle stress, be productive, and function properly. Maintain Proper Nutrition - Many people aren’t aware of this, but a poor diet can actually make you more vulnerable to stress! Exercise Regularly - Exercise can be great for you physically and mentally. It provides a stress release and keeps your body healthy. It also helps your body release endorphins, which increase your feelings of overall wellbeing Maintain Social Support - Social support can keep you healthier and happier, creating a buffer against stress. Friends can pick you up when you’re sad, provide insights when you’re confused, and help you have fun when you need to blow off steam. Find Hobbies - Having some “down time” is important, and hobbies can provide a nice distraction from stress and help you stay ‘in the moment’, which is also a great way to relieve tension.

Confidentiality Section 2. Confidentiality. (1) A credential holder shall respect and guard the confidence of each individual client in any setting and through any means of communication. (2) A credential holder shall not disclose a client confidence except: (a) As mandated, or permitted by law (b) To prevent a clear and immediate danger to a person; (c) During the course of a civil, criminal, or disciplinary action arising from the counseling, at which the alcohol and drug counselor is a defendant; or (e) In accordance with the terms of a written informed consent agreement.

Confidentiality (3) An alcohol and drug counselor may use client or clinical material in teaching, writing, and public presentations if: (a) Written informed consent has been obtained in accordance with section (2)(d) of this section; or (b) Appropriate steps have been taken to protect client identity and confidentiality. (4) Records are to be maintained 7 years from termination of services and must be stored and disposed of so that confidentiality is maintained. (5) A credential holder shall store or dispose of a client record so as to maintain confidentiality.

Publication Credit Section 3. Publication Credit. A credential holder shall assign credit to all who have contributed to the published material and for the work upon which publication is based. A credential holder shall: (1) Recognize joint authorship and major contribution of a professional character made by several person to a common project. The author who has made the principal contribution to a publication shall be identified as first listed; (2) Acknowledge in a footnote or introductory statement minor contributions of a professional character, extensive clerical or similar assistance; (3) Acknowledge, through specific citation, unpublished, as well as published, material that has directly influenced the research or writing.

Competence and Integrity Section 4. Professional Competence and Integrity. A credential holder shall maintain standards of professional competence and integrity and shalll be subject to disciplinary action for: (1) Having been subject to disciplinary action by another state’s regulatory agency that the board determines violates applicable Kentucky state law or administrative regulation; (2) Impairment due to mental incapacity or the abuse of alcohol or other substance which negatively impacts the practice of the credential holder’s services; (3) Refusing to comply with an order issued by the board; or

Competence and Integrity 4) Failing to cooperate with the board by not: (a) Furnish in writing a complete explanation to a complaint filed with the board; (b) Appearing before the board at the time and place designated; (c) Properly responding to a subpoena issued by the board; (5) A credential holder who is aware of conduct by another credential holder who violates this code of ethics shall report that conduct to the Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors.

Competence and Integrity (6) A credential holder shall comply with all the policies and procedure where a credential holder is employed. If there is conflict with the policies or procedures of the facility and this code of ethics, the credential holder shall report this conflict the Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors.

Responsibility to a Student/Supervisee Section 5. Responsibility to a Student or Supervisee. A credential hold shall: (1) Be aware of his influential position with respect to a student or supervisee; (2) Avoid exploiting the trust and dependency of a student or supervisee; (3) Avoid a social, business, personal, or other dual relationship that could; (a) Impair professional judgment; and (b) Increase the risk of exploitation; 4) Take appropriate precautions to ensure that judgment is not impaired and to prevent exploitation if a dual relationship cannot be avoided; (5) Not provide counseling to a student, employee, or supervisee;

Responsibility to Student/Supervisee (6) Not engage in a sexual intimacy or contact with a student or supervisee; (7) Not permit a student or supervisee to perform or represent oneself as competent perform a professional service beyond his level of training, experience or competence; (8) Not disclose the confidence of a student or supervisee unless (a) permitted by law, (b) to prevent a clear and immediate danger to a person, (c) during the course of a legal proceeding or disciplinary action arising from the supervision where the alcohol and drug counselor is a defendant;

Responsibility to Student/Supervisee (d) in an education or training setting of which there are multiple supervisors who share responsibility for the training of the supervisee; (e) In accordance with the terms of a written informed consent agreement.

Responsibility to a Research Participant Section 6. Responsibility to a Research Participant. (1) A credential holder performing research shall comply with federal and state laws and regulations and professional standards governing the conduct of research. (2) A credential holder performing research shall: (a) Be responsible for making careful examination of ethical acceptability in planning a study; (b) Seek the ethical advice of another qualified professional not directly involved in the investigation, if it is possible that services to a research participant could be compromised; and (c) Observe safeguards to protect the rights of a participant. (3) A credential holder requesting a participant’s involvement in research shall: (a) Inform the participant of all aspects of the research that might reasonably affect the participant’s willingness to participate; and (b) Be sensitive to the possibility of diminished consent if the participant; i. Is also receiving clinical services; ii. Has an impairment which limits understanding or communication; or iii. Is a child.

Responsibility to a Research Participant (4) A credential holder performing research shall respect a participant’s freedom to decline participation in or withdraw from a research study at any time. (5) A credential holder shall avoid a dual relationship with a research participant (6) Information obtained about a research participant during the course of an investigation shall be confidential unless there is an authorization previously obtained in writing. The following shall be explained to the participant before obtaining written, informed consent: a. A risk that another person, including a family member, could obtain access to the information; and b. The plan to be used to protect confidentiality.

Financial Arrangement A credential holder shall: (1) Not charge an excessive fee for service; (2) Disclose fees to a client and supervisee at the beginning of service; (3) Make financial arrangements with a client, third-party payor, or supervisee that: (a) Are reasonably understandable; and (b) Conform to accepted professional practices; (4) Not offer or accept compensation for a referral of a client; (5) Represents facts truthfully to a client, third-party payor, or supervisee regarding services rendered; and (6) Not trade services to the client in exchange for goods or services provided by or on behalf of the client.

Advertising Section 8. Advertising. (1) A credential holder shall: (a) Accurately represent education, training, and experience relevant to the practice of professional alcohol and drug counseling (b) Not use professional identification that includes a statement or claim that is false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive, including the following: (i) A business card; (ii) An office sign; (iii) Letterhead; (iv) Telephone or association directory listing; or (v) Webpage or social media (2) A statement shall be considered false, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive if it: (a) Contains a material misrepresentation of fact; (b) Is intended to or likely to create an unjustified expectation; (c) Deletes a material fact or information.

Environment Section 9. Environment. A credential holder shall provide a safe, functional environment in which to offer alcohol and drug counseling services. This shall include the following: (1) Allowance for privacy and confidentiality (2) Compliance with any health and safety requirement according to local, state, and federal agencies.

Documentation Section 10. Documentation. A credential holder shall accurately document activity with a client in a timely manner. *Keep documentation objective and client specific. *Document time, progress, referrals, and ANY point of contact with the client.

Interpersonal Relationships Section 11. Interpersonal Relationships. (1) A credential holder shall not offer professional service to a client in counseling with another professional unless efforts have been made to inform the other professional, or to establish collaborative treatment or until after the termination of the client’s relationship with the other professional. (2) A credential holder shall cooperate with a duly constituted professional ethics committee and promptly supply necessary information unless constrained by the demands of confidentiality.