Is_the_Supervisor’S_Competency_an_Ethical_Concern

Is the supervisor’s competency an ethical concern' Why is it' / is it not' In the same way that a practitioner should consider their competency when working ethically with clients, the supervision process should mirror the counselling process. This is reflected in the BACP ethical framework under the heading of ‘providing a good standard of practice and care’ which states that good standards of practice and care require professional competence along with the commitment to and observance of professional ethics. ‘Given that the role of supervisors is to increase competence, they bear a high level of responsibility to ensure that their supervisees are working within their own area of competence. Similarly, supervisors have an ethical responsibility to supervise only those therapist-client relationships wherein they possess a level of competence. As the persons responsible for assisting supervisees in their professional development, supervisors must assist therapists in understanding the limitations or extent of their abilities’ (Tyler & Tyler, 1997). In order to provide this, competently delivered services are required that meet the client’s needs by practitioners who are appropriately supported and accountable. Because of the highly charged emotional nature of therapeutic treatment, providers should possess the tools to explore ethical dilemmas objectively. One area for supervisors to examine is their own preparedness and on- going professional growth to support their competency in the supervision process. In ‘maintaining competent practice’ the BACP recommend * All counsellors, psychotherapists, trainers and supervisors are required to have regular and on-going formal supervision/consultative support for their work in accordance with professional requirements. * Regularly monitoring and reviewing one's work is essential to maintaining good practice * A commitment to good practice requires practitioners to keep up to date with the latest knowledge and respond to changing circumstances. They should consider carefully their own need for continuing professional development and engage in appropriate educational activities. * Practitioners should be aware of and understand any legal requirements concerning their work consider these conscientiously and be legally accountable for their practice. However, as an addendum to this, it has been argued that, ‘Competent practitioners do not necessarily make competent supervisors.’ Remley and Herlihy (2001) How can supervisors protect themselves with regard to ethical issues' Supervisors are working in an increasingly wide range of therapeutic settings, and are having to develop increased skills and competence in working ‘with complex organisational and Inter-professional situations’. However, there is increasing uncertainty as to just how far their responsibilities lie. Are supervisors responsible for the mistakes, errors or malpractice of their supervisees' And is this responsibility a purely professional one, or does taking on the role of supervisor to another practitioner open the door to the supervisor becoming vulnerable to action in the courts by an aggrieved client or agency' The situation applying to supervision in the UK is perhaps made more complex and anxiety provoking by the awareness that some supervisors in the US are indeed legally liable for the practice of their supervisees. The concern may well be that legal trends in the US offer supervisors in the UK a prospect of an uncertain and increasingly litigious future. The supervisor clearly retains a professional and ethical duty ‘to protect clients from poor practice’. Accepting this statement as the overarching ethos for supervision, this could be said to be the starting point for ensuring ethical practice and should always be at the forefront of ethical considerations in providing supervision. Acceptance of this as ‘duty of care’ to the client is the fundamental protection for a supervisor. However, as duty of care can be a contentious issue, Supervisors can protect themselves by acquiring adequate insurance which covers for professional indemnity as well as public liability, be aware of their legal accountability, keep up to date with their knowledge and be aware of and respond to changing circumstances. They should work within their own competency and engage in regular on going professional development. They should also make themselves aware of the policies and procedures of the organisations in which their supervisees practice and be aware of their accountability in their role as a supervisor to those organizations. This will clarify expectations, preventing the supervisor from becoming vulnerable to future litigious actions.