Law, Ethics and Supervision: The Use of Authority

Credits:

• 6 Hours of Continuing Education Units for California MFTs and LCSWs
• Meet two requirements in one course!

This course meets the 6 CEU Law & Ethics requirement mandated every 2 years by the California BBS for all licensed MFTs and LCSWs.

       AND

This course meets the BBS requirements for 6 CEU hours of Supervision training mandated every 2 years for supervisors of unlicensed MFTs and can be applied to the one time, 15 hour supervision training CE requirement for supervisors of Associate Social Workers (ASWs).

Who should take this course:

• MFTs or LCSWs who need to meet the BBS 6 CEU Law & Ethics course required every two year license renewal period
• MFTs or LCSWs who are supervising graduate students, unlicensed therapists in agency or private practice settings or those supervising agency staff
• Potential supervisors
• MFTs or LCSWs accruing the 36 CEUs required by the BBS every license renewal period
• MFTs or LCSWs who receive supervision or consultation

Fee:

$62, with unlimited retries until course has been passed. Additionally, you may save your answers at any time during the exam and return to it later by logging back in.

Course Description:

The first section of this course focuses on the foundations of supervision. This foundation will give the supervisor both the technical knowledge and the confidence to develop an authoritative supervisory voice. It describes the requirements to become a supervisor and discusses the decision to supervise. A list of required documentation is provided. Confidentiality and legal/ethical updates are reviewed. Guidelines for creating a learning contract are suggested. A plan for writing "Red Flag Guidelines" is proposed as a tool to assist supervisees in dealing with crisis situations. Recordkeeping and suggestions of additional documentation to keep on file are discussed. The first section helps to establish clear guidelines that create a strong foundation.

The second section focuses on the "how to" of supervision. With the base intact, the supervisor now can focus on her/his use of authority. The Collaborative-Directive continuum of supervision is defined. Legal and ethical issues are described with emphasis on mandated reporting and dual relationships. Case examples illustrate the use of the directive voice.

Course Outline:

1. Part I: Establishing the Foundation
   • Requirements for Supervisors
   • The Decision to Supervise
   • Required documentation list
   • Confidentiality
   • Legal/Ethical Supervision updates
   • Creating a Learning contract/agreement
   • Learning Contract Guidelines
   • Handling Emergencies-Red Flag guidelines
   • Sample Red Flag guidelines
   • Case vignette: Red Flag guidelines
   • Recordkeeping
   • Recommended Documents for each Supervisee's file
2. Part II: The Use of Authority
   • The Collaborative-Directive Continuum
   • Case vignette: Use of authority regarding legal mandates
   • The Use of Authority regarding overlapping boundaries
   • Case vignette: Use of authority regarding dual and multiple relationships
3. Conclusion

Course Objectives:

• Name legal requirements for supervisors
• List required documentation to begin supervising
• Review current legal and ethical updates
• Create a guideline for writing an intern agreement/contract
• Develop a "Red Flag" Guideline list for handling clinical emergencies
• Discuss the importance of recordkeeping and list recommended documents to be kept on file for each supervisee
• Deepen understanding of the factors affecting the use of authority in supervision
• Describe the collaborative - directive continuum of supervision
• Define dual and multiple relationships and examine their impact on therapy and supervision
• Increase skills in using the directive mode to ensure compliance with legal mandates and ethical codes
• Case Vignettes