Over on LinkedIn, I reported that there are two questions I’m reliably asked in the field: what about ethics for peers and what about supervision of peers? These questions are often barbed with stigma, the subtext being that peers (“those addicts“) don’t have ethics and need to be policed in their work. One highly regarded clinical professional told me quite openly that “those peers are only waiting for an excuse to use.”
Not true.
Peers are as ethical as any other professional and their practice does not need to be policed. The field is, however, crying out for talented and trained supervisors who effectively combine both responsibilities of the supervisory role: to manage effective delivery of services and to mentor professional practice, including active support for continuing education and professional development.
As demonstrated by the number of ethical complaints received by the New York Certification Board (certifies peer professionals as competent and ethical), peers are no more likely to commit ethical infractions than any other profession. When I published this assertion on LinkedIn, Barbara Callaghan, long-time service provider and self-described “fierce advocate for families,” confirmed that: “Absolutely agree that in terms of ethics, infractions are no more likely with credentialed staff than licensed staff.”
In common with other credible professions, certified peer professionals attest to their profession’s Code of Ethical Conduct; in this instance, the code published by the reputable New York Certification Board (est. 2012 by respected executive, John Coppola). The Code is binding on NYCB certificants, and NYCB may revoke certification in response to serious ethical violations. This power is at the core of any credentialing authority’s primary mission to safeguard the public from incompetent and/or unethical or dangerous practice.
The NYCB Code offers support to certified peer professionals as follows:
1.Rules: Describe prohibited actions
2.Guidelines: Suggest perspectives and issues to be taken into consideration when contemplating action
3.General Principles: Serve as a reminder to stay within the boundaries of good practice
Rules: The classic example is, of course, #6.2: “A certified professional shall, under no circumstances, engage in sexual activities or sexual contact with clients, whether such contact is consensual or forced.” (Emphasis added – no discussion, no exceptions, no excuses.)
Guidelines: My favorite example is #4.5: “A certified professional shall neither ask for, nor accept, favors/free/services/gifts of substantial monetary value or gifts that impair the integrity or efficacy of the therapeutic relationship.” (Emphasis added – my “substantial” may be your “petty cash.”) (Now, I would argue that “therapeutic relationships” are for clinicians, not for non-clinical professionals, but we get the point!)
General Principles: A typical example is supplied by #5.4: “A certified professional shall not engage in conduct that does not meet generally accepted standards of practice.” (Emphasis added – OK, then!)
It will be clear from these examples that formal Ethical Codes recognize that much ethical conduct is on a case-by-case basis and always at the discretion of the professional. We engage certified professionals precisely because their credentials confirm that they are competent and ethical in this work, per the boundaries of their certified role, and are answerable to their credentialing authority.
Meanwhile, the NYCB Peer Supervision Professional (PSP) certification/training is gold standard for supervisors. We may hope (advocate) that the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports adopts this qualification as a standard requirement in the field.
