Academic references on supervision

Published in 1990, "References on supervision in clinical and counseling psychology", has references to more sources on, or relevant to, supervision than you are likely to consult in a lifetime. The article is from Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. It is published by the American Psychological Association.The authors are William N Robiner  and William Schofield of the University of Minnesota Medical School. The link is to a PDF file.

Link to this resource

Philosophy of Clinical Supervision

"From this history of clinical supervision, our belief is that a large source of failure in clinical supervision stems from the lack of clarity about the supervisor's philosophy of clinical supervision."

So write Francis A Martin and William "Cris" Cannon in their article "The necessity of a philosophy of clinical supervision".  Both are practising counsellors and are involved also in counselor education.

The article has many suggestions on how to refine one's own philosophy regarding supervision both as a supervisor and supervisee.

The paper is part of a project sponsored by the American Counselling Association. This is a link to a PDF file.

Link to this resource

CFA guidelines on how to report child protection concerns

Here is a link to the Child and Family Agency's guidelines on reporting child protection concerns. The page has two links, one for professionals and the other for families and the public.

Link to this resource

IACP to insist on Garda vetting for all members from late 2014

In a statement issued through its newsletter on 18th June, the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy announced that it will introduce a mandatory scheme of Garda vetting for all members from the end of this year, 2014. Below is the IACP statement:

Pursuant to the NATIONAL VETTING BUREAU (CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE PERSONS) ACT 2012, the IACP will introduce mandatory Garda Vetting for all IACP members (all membership categories) in late 2014. (date to be confirmed).

 

All categories of membership of the IACP will be dependent on individuals obtaining Garda Vetting.

 

National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012, provides a statutory basis for the use of Garda criminal records in the vetting of persons applying for employment working with children or vulnerable adults.

 

The Act also provides for the use of “soft” information, (which is referred to as “specified information” in the Act) in regard to vetting.

 

This is information other than criminal convictions where such information leads to a bona-fide belief that a person poses a threat to children or vulnerable persons.

 

Vetting procedures are already a requirement under the Children First National Guidelines.

 

The primary purpose of the Act is to put the procedures that have been developed to vet these applications into law, to provide for the use of soft information and to ensure those working with children or vulnerable adults are properly vetted.

 

The Garda Central Vetting Unit will become the National Vetting Bureau under the provisions of this Act and will have a substantially expanded role under new legislation.

 

The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 makes it mandatory for persons working with children or vulnerable adults to be vetted, whereas at present, this is done on the basis of a voluntary code.

 

The Act will also create offences and penalties for persons who fail to comply with its provisions.

 

The schedule to the Act lists in detail the types of work or activities that require vetting.

 

These include:

 

• Childcare services

• Schools

• Hospitals and health services

• Residential services or accommodation for children or vulnerable persons

• Treatment, therapy or counselling services for children or vulnerable persons

• Provision of leisure, sporting or physical activities to children or vulnerable persons

• Promotion of religious beliefs

 

The Gardaí have also interpreted the new legislation to apply to any persons whom may have any indirect / potential or possibility of contact with children or vulnerable adults.

 

This means that any situation where there may be children or vulnerable adults, any persons whom could come into contact with them, no matter how passing, must be vetted.

 

Garda Vetting will become a requirement for IACP membership.

 

Individuals will not be given membership until after they have received Garda Vetting.

 

The IACP is currently developing criteria, policies and procedures regarding Garda Vetting and once complete all members will be notified.

 

IACP recommends that all members familiarise themselves with The National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012.

 

To view the act please click on the link below:

 

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2012/en/act/pub/0047/

The law on sexual offences in Ireland

A comprehensive and clear outline of the law on sexual offences in Ireland, including the law on underage sex, can be found here on the Citizens Information website. This website  provides an authoritative outline of rights, entitlements and laws for citizens.

David J Powell: Six steps to ethical decision-making in counselling

1. Identify the ethical issues and conflicting values and duties.
2. Identify the multiple stakeholders affected (clients, coworkers, the agency, the community, the profession). 
3. Identify possible actions, participants and alternatives.
4. Examine the reasons for and against each action, including the macro-ethical principles, micro-ethical codes of practice, legal principles, standards of practice and care, your personal values, and agency policies and procedures.
5. Consult with supervisors and colleagues about what options are preferred.
6. Make a decision, document the actions (if it is not in writing, it didn’t happen), and monitor and evaluate the results of the decision.

These steps are from David J Powell's article, Ethics in Counseling: A Complex Issue in the US magazine, Counselor. Well worth reading.

Ethics In Counseling: A Complex Issue

 

 

Identify the ethical issues and conflicting values and duties.  

Identify the multiple stakeholders affected (clients, coworkers, the agency, the community, the profession).   

Identify possible actions, participants and alternatives.  

Examine the reasons for and against each action, including the macro-ethical principles, micro-ethical codes of practice, legal principles, standards of practice and care, your personal values, and agency policies and procedures.  

Consult with supervisors and colleagues about what options are preferred.  

Make a decision, document the actions (if it is not in writing, it didn’t happen), and monitor and evaluate the results of the decision.  

- See more at: http://www.counselormagazine.com/2012/Jul-Aug/Ethics_In_Counseling/#sthash.Pnttzmib.dpufIdentify the ethical issues and conflicting values and duties.
Identify the multiple stakeholders affected (clients, coworkers, the agency, the community, the profession). 
Identify possible actions, participants and alternatives.
Examine the reasons for and against each action, including the macro-ethical principles, micro-ethical codes of practice, legal principles, standards of practice and care, your personal values, and agency policies and procedures.
Consult with supervisors and colleagues about what options are preferred.
Make a decision, document the actions (if it is not in writing, it didn’t happen), and monitor and evaluate the results of the decision.
- See more at: http://www.counselormagazine.com/2012/Jul-Aug/Ethics_In_Counseling/#sthash.Pnttzmib.dpu

Identify the ethical issues and conflicting values and duties.  

Identify the multiple stakeholders affected (clients, coworkers, the agency, the community, the profession).   

Identify possible actions, participants and alternatives.  

Examine the reasons for and against each action, including the macro-ethical principles, micro-ethical codes of practice, legal principles, standards of practice and care, your personal values, and agency policies and procedures.  

Consult with supervisors and colleagues about what options are preferred.  

Make a decision, document the actions (if it is not in writing, it didn’t happen), and monitor and evaluate the results of the decision.  

- See more at: http://www.counselormagazine.com/2012/Jul-Aug/Ethics_In_Counseling/#sthash.Pnttzmib.dpuf

Free ebook of ethical dilemmas

You have been counselling a married couple and, during separate sessions, you learn that (unknown to the wife) the husband is staying only for the sake of the children and that one of the children (unknown to the husband) has a different biological father. What should you do? This is one of the situations in the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors Counselling Dilemmas eBook. Each dilemma is followed by the views of two counsellors. Useful for supervisors (and counsellors) who want to hone their "dilemma" skills.

Link to this resource (pdf file, via counsellingconnection.com)