Speak Out October 2020 DIGITAL EDITION FINAL

Ethical principles guide supervision and mentoring partnerships The Association’s Code of Ethics offers guidance on how supervision and mentoring should be undertaken. Each of the points under section 1.2, Professional Conduct can be applied to the support we provide, especially regarding: • Keeping current and complete documentation of the supervision and mentoring offered • Respecting colleagues and the profession • Managing conflicts between an employer’s policies and professional standards or codes of conduct Section 1.3, Professional Responsibilities is even more specific in advising those who manage, employ, or supervise others to: • Treat them fairly and without discrimination • Inform them fully about the terms and conditions of supervision or mentoring Comply with professional entitlements, employment laws and work health and safety laws • Provide fair and constructive feedback • Provide them access to professional development • Ensure they have equitable access to resources Other aspects of the Code of Ethics also apply to these partnerships, including maintaining confidentiality, currency and accuracy of the information we share, skills in offering supervision and mentoring, managing conflicts of interest, and acting with integrity. In addition, the Association’s Supervision Standards offer guidance related to the ethical obligations of supervisors and supervisees. This document includes general principles related to the conduct of supervisors such as what might constitute a conflict of interest, obtaining appropriate training and experience, understanding the limits of confidentiality, and how to manage the dynamics of supervision or any misconduct of the supervisee. Importantly, the Standards also detail supervisee responsibilities such as obtaining informed consent of clients, actively participating in the supervisory process, and ensuring that the supervisor is meeting • • Involve them in decision-making

their needs. This final point can be achieved by engaging in critical reflection, identifying learning needs, and communicating these to the supervisor. Ethical reasoning is developed during supervision and mentoring Mentors and supervisors help those they support to understand and apply ethical principles to their practice. The Code of Ethics, 1.3 Professional Responsibilities states that when we accept responsibility to supervise someone, “We demonstrate and discuss ethical practice with those we supervise to facilitate their ethical reasoning skills.” In addition, a key principle in the Supervision Standards states, “Supervisors will ensure that opportunities are provided for supervisees to critically reflect on their practice, to discuss impacts of their work and to work through ethical/practice issues or dilemmas.” Supervision and mentoring can be one of the most useful contexts to discuss ethical principles and how they apply to specific situations, and to analyse and resolve ethical issues that occur in practice. These partnerships can also be key in supporting a learner’s development of ethical decision-making skills. Supervisors and mentors may access the various resources offered by Speech Pathology Australia to reflect upon and manage ethical decisions. These include: • Principles-Based Reasoning Decision Making Protocol • Casuistry Approach • The Ethics of Care Approach • The Narrative Approach • Ethical decision making: Should I use this therapy approach? • Ethical decision making. Ethics and professional support have a complex and interwoven relationship. While ethical practice requires supervision and mentoring, it also guides these partnerships, is exercised within them, and is developed by participants.

Ethics

Nathan Cornish-Raley Professional Support Advisor

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Speak Out | October 2020