Ethical/Legal Flashcards
Responsibilities of MFTs
Commitment to Service, Advocacy and Public Participation
Aspirational Core Values
- Acceptance, appreciation, and inclusion of a diverse membership.
- Distinctiveness and excellence in training of marriage and family therapists and those desiring to advance their skills, knowledge and expertise in systemic and relational therapies.
- Responsiveness and excellence in service to members.
- Diversity, equity and excellence in clinical practice, research, education and administration.
- Integrity evidenced by a high threshold of ethical and honest behavior within Association governance and by members.
- Innovation and the advancement of knowledge of systemic and relational therapies.
Ethical Standards
- Responsibility to Clients
- Confidentiality
- Professional Competence and Integrity
- Responsibility to Students and Supervisees
- Research and Publication
- Technology Assisted Professional Services
- Professional Evaluations
- Financial Arrangements
- Advertising
Role of Licensing Board
The PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors protects the public from unprofessional, improper, unauthorized and unqualified practice of social work, licensed marriage and family therapy and licensed professional counseling.
The Board regulates and controls individuals who call themselves a social worker and individuals who hold themselves out as being licensed clinical social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists and licensed professional counselors.
What is PA Act 76 of 2018?
Prohibits the independent practice of clinical social work, marriage and family therapy and professional counseling without a license as a clinical social worker (LCSW), marriage and family therapist (LMFT), or professional counselor (LPC). “Independent practice” means that the individual 1) styles themselves as a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist or professional counselor; 2) regulates and is responsible for his or her own practice and treatment procedures; and 3) is not affiliated with any other practice, health care facility, government agency or government-regulated social service agency.
PA License Renewal
The license is active during the period from March 1 of an odd-numbered year to February 28 of the next odd-numbered year. It must be renewed biannually.
Requires completion of 30 clock hours of continuing education in acceptable courses and programs offered by approved providers which shall include at least 3 clock hours in ethical issues. Up to 20 clock hours may be obtained by home study. Excess clock hours may not be carried over to the next biennium.
Potential safety risks requiring assessment
Domestic violence, suicide, self harm, homicide, elder, and child abuse
5 Ethical Principles
Autonomy Non-malfeasance Beneficence Fidelity Justice
Autonomy
The right of all clients to make their own choices and decisions as long as the outcome does not infringe on the rights of others
Non-malfeasance
First, do no harm. Clients should never be placed in peril by a practitioner’s actions
Beneficence
Do good. To actively promote the clients’ wellbeing
Fidelity
Loyalty, faithfulness, and respect, to instill trust and honesty
Justice
Treating individuals as equal partners in the counseling process with equal responsibility unless the circumstances clearly call for unequal treatment such as the case with incest/child abuse
Scope of practice
describes the procedures, actions, and processes that a healthcare practitioner is permitted to undertake in keeping with the terms of their professional license.
Scope of competence
Is most likely, a subset of your scope of practice.
Competence is based on the application of knowledge, performance skills, interpersonal abilities, critical reasoning skills and ethical reasoning skills, as demonstrated in the performance of one’s professional role(s).
