Supervision: A Professional Role Beyond Management - Essay Sample

Introduction

Supervision is similar to other clinical practices such as counseling or therapy in that acts not as the boss, but as a consultant. Supervision is not a managerial role but rather a professional service in which the supervisor protects the supervisee and guides him to focus on the broad context of a particular work (Mulhauser, 2019). However, in this context, the supervisee's role is monitored in the client context in that while there is more autonomy, supervision is always evaluative. For this reason, it is important to ensure that all parties involved understand their expected responsibilities, roles, as well as rights. They should also recognize the risks of abiding by the contextual standards, for example, creating a dyad or relationship that is not relevant to the profession. This understanding relates to multicultural competency particularly when there is diversity in the supervision relationship.

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Ethical Issues

In response to the first case vignette, the critical ethical issue relates to the development of a dual relationship; a relationship outside the supervisory role. Since the supervisor and the supervisee are planning to share a room at the upcoming conference on family therapy in Boston, this signifies that the supervision will take place in a less formal social setting. There is a likelihood of the supervisor and the supervisee to develop a potential relationship in this social setting, which will supersede the routine supervision (Pozgar, 2019). At the same time, there is a possibility of less formal interactions in the room at the conference room resulting in the development of a dual relationship. This will cause boundary violations hence create an ambiguous situation such as sharing personal information, developing inappropriate communication transportation, developing strong feelings about the other person, and more.

The other ethical issue relates to documentation (Pozgar, 2019). The supervisor is likely not to record or document all activities regarding the profession. Usually, documentation serves several functions that the supervisor is supposed to oversee, therefore, there is no record, it will imply that there is nothing happened and any ethical misconduct may not be documented facilitating to poor quality of services. The supervisor documents for litigious reasons and the code of ethics has standards relevant to each record. Since the supervisor will not document perhaps even flawed supervision will not be recognized.

The third ethical issue that relates to the first vignette case is a dilemma, decision making, and discretion (Pozgar, 2019). While at the conference, the supervisor and the supervisee are less likely to be acquainted with the required code of ethics. The supervisor is likely to make decisions without examining the consequences of action or integrity. At the same time, both the supervisor and the supervisee may give up on their rights and prioritize personal biases and conflicting values most probably due to the supervisor's failure to consult and document when deliberating roles; failure to justify the actions will result to negative outcomes.

Ethical Codes

The supervisor and the supervisee need to adhere to the professional competence ethical code (Falender & Shafranske, 2004). Since it had become a routine to hold supervision sessions in the local Starbucks, it should not be different at the conference in Boston. The supervisor should carry out all tasks appropriately and effectively. The habitual use of communication, knowledge, and technical skills should reflect the daily routine of practice for the supervisee being served. However, for the first vignette case, there is a likelihood to experience problems of professional competence since the supervisor and the supervisee will be sharing one room. Problems such as inadequate monitoring, drug and substance use, ethical transgressions, and more are likely to occur.

Falender and Shafranske (2004) also mentioned integrity in a relationship, a relevant ethical code to the first vignette case. With integrity, the supervisor is supposed to have morals and ethics that adhere to the profession. Even when the supervisor and the supervisee will be at the conference, it would be important for them to do the right thing dispute of the difficult situations that may arise. Putting the rights of the supervisor at the forefront will ensure that the choices for the relationship lead to the betterment of the supervision at the conference. What integrity means is putting the needs of the supervisee by respecting the boundaries and documenting all activities while at the conference. However, the supervisee is most likely to be vulnerable when they will be together in a room at the upcoming conference on family therapy in Boston.

Courses of Action to Resolve the Issue and Description of the Decision-Making Process

Creating a boundary; to avoid a dual relationship between the supervisor and the supervisee which may extend intentionally or unintentionally, there should be a boundary in that the supervisor and the supervisee should have different rooms. Problems with the boundary constitute anxiety-inducing situations, especially the boundaries, play in minimizing professional mismanagement (Ward, 2013). The boundary in this relationship will act as a limit line with inherent permeability and fluidity as well as security and safety. According to research done by Moleski and Kiselica (2005), creating a boundary will reduce the capacity of harm from the supervisor. Also, other factors ranging from personality and well-being, intentions, and perception will be curbed from negatively affecting the parties involved.

Management of ethical dilemmas; since the supervisor and the supervisee is planning to share a room at the upcoming conference on family therapy in Boston, it is important to place moral problems and decision making within the supervisory context. In case of a dilemma during decision making, the supervisor should consider the moral principles underlying the profession and ensure that the supervisee achieves a greater good. As mentioned by Moleski and Kiselica (2005), the beneficence principle should be held into consideration in that both parties get to benefit from the supervision process. The supervisor should briefly describe the problem and help minimize confusion when discussing situations with the supervisee to easily resolve any issue that may arise. Management of ethical dilemmas will help to deal with personal and professional issues despite any shock or concern that the supervisee many encounters in a situation outside the supervisory context. Avoiding these unrealistic conflicts will create a respectful relationship hence augment the process of decision making.

Moreover, the supervisor should remain faithful to the spirit of the supervisory relationship and acknowledge with the supervisee to monitor emotional behavior. Both the supervisor and the supervisee will benefit from their emotional and conceptual literacy in that they will abide by professional morals and be confident in times of ethical dilemmas. However, this requires the responsibility of both the individuals to pursue their personal and professional goals, which are of significance in managing dilemmas that may occur unintentionally. The consciousness and unconsciousness forces underpinning the supervisory role should direct the motives and actions at the conference. Nevertheless, professional codes and moral principles need to be complemented to produce required outcomes (Moleski & Kiselica, 2005). These aspects will help to find respect and confidential ways to check social situations while holding the supervisee's identity, fostering, and encouraging confidentiality as well as boundary clarity.

Assessment of Option that Best Upholds the Ethical Standards of the Profession

The best option that upholds the ethical standards of the profession is the creation of a boundary between the supervisor and the supervisee. This does not only include a selection of different rooms but maintaining ultimate boundaries in any social situation. For example, the supervisor and the supervisee should not share personal information or allow the development of a dual relationship (Ward, 2013). The supervisor should ensure that at all times, the supervisee's identity is withheld in that there is boundary clarity. This will help curb many issues such as the development of strong feelings, envy, or jealousy since in this relationship there are issues of power and control. Also, since the supervisor and the supervisee have a great deal in common, the supervisor will need to assure the supervisee that they should prioritize professionalism and indicate that there is a time they can share other information outside the professional setting. Also, since they will be staying in different rooms, the supervisor should encourage the supervisee to telephone him and share anything important even though it is not within the supervisory context. The supervisor should reassure the supervisee that he wants to spend time alone for a while to manage their contracting and contrasting boundaries in their relationship.

References

Falender, C. A., & Shafranske, E. P. (2004). Clinical supervision: A competency-based approach. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carol_Falender2/publication/228498505_Clinical_supervision_A_competency-based_approach/links/00b4951a4f5161f98c000000.pdf

Moleski, S. M., & Kiselica, M. S. (2005). Dual relationships: A continuum ranging from the destructive to the therapeutic. Journal of Counseling & Development, 83(1), 3-11. http://www.pinktherapy.com/portals/0/CourseResources/Theory/Dual_Relationships.pdf

Mulhauser, G. 2019. Counselling and Therapy Supervision. Counselling Resource. https://counsellingresource.com/therapy/aboutcouns/supervision/

Pozgar, G. D. (2019). Legal and ethical issues for health professionals. Jones & Bartlett Learning. http://samples.jblearning.com/9781284036794/9781284069761_FMxx_Cropped.pdf

Ward, T. (2013). Addressing the dual relationship problem in forensic and correctional practice. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 18(1), 92-100. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tony_Ward2/publication/287863794_Ethical_Issues_in_the_Treatment_of_Sex_Offenders_Addressing_the_Dual_Relationship_Problem/links/5735694008ae9ace8409601c.pdf