Speak Out October 2020 DIGITAL EDITION FINAL

Ethics, Supervision, and Mentoring

PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT PARTNERSHIPS, SUCH AS CLINICAL SUPERVISION AND MENTORING INTERACT WITH ETHICS IN NUMEROUS WAYS. THE ASSOCIATION'S PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT ADVISOR NATHAN CORNISH-RALEY EXPLORES THE VARIOUS FACETS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT AND ETHICS.

Professional Standards, 2.4 A. “We participate in professional development, supervision and/or mentoring to develop knowledge and skills relevant to our roles and to maintain currency.” B. “We engage in development opportunities, supervision and mentoring to enable responsive and reflective services that meet the preferences and needs of people from diverse cultural, language and social backgrounds. These standards apply to all members of Speech Pathology Australia. They emphasise the need for professional support throughout one’s career – not just as an Early Career member or when beginning a new area of practice. Ethical practice requires speech pathologists to understand which type of support will provide them with the best information to answer clinical and professional questions. Where it is necessary to review specific client information in detail, support must be confidential and permit a thorough discussion. Where making clinical decisions based on evidence and professional standards, support must come from a knowledgeable and accountable source. Where engaging in professional development needs, support must be skilled in identifying appropriate resources and guiding the learner through critical reflection. Some of these elements can be best achieved, or only achieved, in the context of supervision or mentoring.

Our ethical obligations create a need for professional support. That support, in turn, is guided by ethical standards. Finally, supervision and mentoring partnerships are often a space where ethical issues are managed, and principles of ethics are learned or reinforced. Ethical practice requires supervision and mentoring At many points in their career speech pathologists encounter questions or situations that are outside their personal scope of practice or experience. One of the most helpful tools for fulfilling our ethical obligations in these circumstances is by participating in clinical supervision or mentoring. This is a foundational concept of the profession that it is included in the Association’s core documents: Code of Ethics, 1.1 Professional Competence “We engage in lifelong learning to maintain and continually update and extend our professional knowledge and skills. We do this by participating in professional development and seeking the support of a supervisor…” “We seek education and professional supervision when changing our scope of practice…” Code of Ethics, 1.3 Professional Responsibilities “We take reasonable steps to ensure that we, and those we are responsible for: are supervised by an appropriate supervisor…”

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October 2020 | Speak Out