National Standards and Codes of Ethical Conduct Flashcards
What are the broad standards that apply to psychologists?
National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce
The Mental Health Act
What are the discipline specific documents that may apply to psychologists
Code of Ethics
Ethical and Practice Guidelines and Procedures
Outline the national practice standard (1) of Rights and responsibilities, safety and privacy
- privacy, dignity and confidentiality are maintained, and safety is actively promoted (caveat - if they are putting themselves or others in harm)
- implementing all the right procedures, legislations and codes relevant to their role in a way that supports people affected by mental health problems and/or mental illness
Outline standard 2: Working with people, families and carers in recovery-focused way
- support people to become decision makers in their own care, implementing the principles of recovery-oriented mental health practice
Outline standard 3: meeting diverse needs
- social, cultural, linguistic, spiritual and gender diversity of people, families and carers are actively and respectfully responded to by mentla health practitioners
standard 4: working with aboriginal and torres strait islander people, families and communities
- actively and respectfully reducing barriers to access
- provide culturally secure systems of care
- improve social and emotional wellbeing
standard 5: access
facilitating timely access to services and provide a high standard of evidence based assessment that meets the needs of people and their families or carers
- but often therapy has waiting lists?
standard 6: individual planning
meet the needs, goals and aspirations of people and their families and carers, mental health practitioners facilitate access to and plan quality, evidence based, values based health and social care interventions
standard 7: treatment and support
meet the needs, goals and aspirations of people and their families and carers
deliver quality evidence informed health and social interventions
Standard 8 - Transitions in care
On exit from a service or transfer of care, people are actively supported by mental health practitioners through a timely, relevant and structured handover, to maximise optimal outcomes and promote wellness
Standard 9: integration and partnership
people, families and carers are recognised by mental health practitioners, as being part of a wider community, and mental health services are viewed as one element in a wider service network
practitioners support provision of coordinated and integrated care across programs, sites and services
Standard 10 : Quality Improvement
in collaboration with people with lived experience, families and team members, mental health practitioners take active steps to improve services and mental health practies using quality improvement frameworks (i.e. you need to have a plan on how to get better)
Standard 11: Communication and informed management
- connection and rapport with people with lived experience and colleagues is established by practitioners
- maintaining high standard of documentation and use information systems and evaluation to ensure data collection meets needs
Standard 12: Health promotion and prevention
Mental heath promotion is an integral part of all mental health work
- primary prevention principles
- seek to build resilience in communities
- reduce the impact of mental illness
Trying to break down stigma
Standard 13: Ethical practice and professional responsibilities
- provision of treatment and care is within the boundaries prescribed by codes of conduct
- practitioners recognise rights, acknowledging and minimizing poewr differentials
- take responsibility for maintaining and extending their professional knowledge and skills
What is the APS code of ethics
Adopted September 2007 - it is now adopted by psychology board of Australia.
Used in conjunction with APS ethical guidelines document
Belonging to APS or becoming a registered psychologist commits and binds that person to the code (inside and outside of work)
Definition of ‘client’
- a party / parties to a psychological service
- could be for teaching, supervision, research, professional practice
- may be individuals, couples, dyads, families, groups of people, organisations, communities, facilitators , sponsors
define conduct
means any at or omission by psychologists
- that others may consider to be a psychological service
- outside their practice which casts doubt on their competence and ability to practice
- outside their practice which harms public trust in the discipline
- in their capacity as members of the society
Multiple relationships
occurs when a psychologist, rendering a psychological service to a client, also is or has been
a) in a non-professional relationship with the same client
b) in a different professional relationship with the same client
c) in a non-professional relationship with an associated party
d) a recipient of a service provided by the same client
psychological service
any service provided by a psychologist to a client
including professoinal activities, psych activities, professiional practice, teaching, supervision, research practice, professional services, psychological procedures
APS: General Principle A: Respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples
- regard people as intrinsically valuable and respect their right to autonomy and justice
- conduct which promotes equity and the protection of people’s human, legal and moral rights
- respect the dignity of all people
What does general principle A (Respect for the rights and dignity of people and peoples) include?
A1 - Justice
A2 - Respect
A3 - Informed consent
A4 - Privacy
A5 - Confidentiality
A6 - release of information to clients
A7 - Collection of client information from associated parties
A1 (Justice) and A2 (Respect)
Justice: psychologists should not engage in any form of discrimination
Respect: no coercive or demeaning behaviours, respecting legal and moral rights
- also towards colleagues
A3 (Informed Consent) A4 (privacy) and A5 (confidentiality)
Informed consent: fully inform clients the services they intend to provide, using plain / appropriate language
Privacy: no undue invasion of privacy, collect only relevant information
Confidentiality: take into account legal and organisational requirements
- disclosure: with consent of client, when legally obliged, immediate if they are at risk of harm that can only be averted by disclosure