Speak Out October 2020 DIGITAL EDITION FINAL

Ethics and early career speech pathologists

Early Career Reference Group members, Danielle McGettigan and Dylan Mraz, interviewed a group of Early Career speech pathologists to discuss the role of ethics for those entering the profession. Early Career speech pathologists are presented with unique ethical considerations that differ from their experienced and veteran colleagues. The majority of the speech pathologists who spoke with Danielle and Dylan reported feeling supported with ethical matters during supervision and through interactions with colleagues. Whether selecting evidence-based treatment approaches, managing complex family issues, or completing administration tasks, they felt they had received adequate guidance based on the values, principals, and standards of practice in the Code of Ethics. However, some of these clinicians also identified ethical situations that they felt were difficult to navigate at this stage of their career. A few of the speech pathologists

CPSP status. Early Career members who have questions can find information about this at the Speech Pathology Australia website, on the Early Career Facebook page , or by contacting the Professional Self-Regulation Advisor at psr@ speechpathologyaustralia.org.au. These Early Career speech pathologists also remarked that recording learning modules and other Continuing Professional Development on the Professional Self-Regulation (PSR) log, (available as a downloadable form or online from members’ account page), made them reflect on how much they had learnt during their first year in the workplace. As a group they were pleasantly surprised at the diverse ways they had attained knowledge, including through social media, participation in workshops, and reading journal articles. Most had used the online log to keep a rolling account of their activities. A few, who had to compile their activities on paper before the renewal deadline, regretted not updating their activities regularly. Participation in regular clinical supervision helps speech pathologists work within their professional scope of practice and find support in managing ethical issues. The Early Career members who were interviewed stated that they had access to many more hours of supervision than the minimum 12 hours required to move from Provisional to Full CPSP status. Most of these clinicians received the recommended one hour of supervision per week. Whilst participants reported that elements of the Code of Ethics may not have been explicitly discussed in their supervisory meetings, they found these meetings were absolutely essential in the development of their clinical skills and were in turn guided by best practice and the Code of Ethics. Participants remarked that the 12 hour requirement seemed achievable, and even low when compared to the impact supervision had in their development as a speech pathologist. Early Career members are reminded that time spent in Supervision and other professional support counts toward their PSR points. You can learn more about the Supervision Standards and even use the online register to find external supervision on SPA’s website. Dylan Mraz and Danielle McGettigan Early Career Reference Group Members

Ethics

interviewed found it difficult to advocate for themselves when it challenged their employer’s business operation model. This might include needing to see a client for a longer session in order to implement a treatment approach with fidelity or working with a reduced caseload to ensure adequate preparation and administrative time. Similarly, work with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has seen some Early Career professionals feeling pressured to serve clients whose needs are outside of their personal scope of practice. Participants also spoke about the requirements to transition from a Provisional to Full Certified Practising

Speech Pathologist (CPSP). These Early Career members agreed that the case studies in the Ethics Module encouraged reflection on how ethics can be applied to their practice, even where case studies did not directly apply to their current workplace. Each of the clinicians interviewed completed the ethics modules individually and did not reflect on information or case studies with their colleagues, which can be a helpful exercise. A few of the participants reported some difficulty understanding the requirements to move to Full

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Speak Out | October 2020