| Problem-solving step | Your response | Response example |
|---|---|---|
| Identify the problem |
Jack has more than he can handle. Between the extra caseloads and the supervisees, he does not have enough time to complete all of his responsibilities adequately. |
Jack’s responsibilities have increased but no room has been made in his schedule. |
| Relevant ethical standard(s) |
2.01 Providing effective treatment, 4.03 Supervisory volume |
4.03 Supervisory Volume – Jack’s work responsibilities have increased, and now his supervision commitments have exceeded his ability to be effective. |
| Consider dimensions of the problem |
Speak to the management about hiring another BCBA and press the importance. Let them know that covering the entire caseload is diminishing the quality of service to the clients and the quality of the supervision |
Jack has responsibilities to both his clients and his trainees. His workload has exceeded his ability to be effective as a supervisor. It would be an ethics violation for Jack to abandon his clients or his trainees |
| Consider courses of action & potential consequences |
Talk the the upper management about hiring on another BCBA immediately. Possibly be ignored or fired |
Decrease client caseload – Jack could ask his employer to share the extra responsibilities with other behavior analysts, or temporarily cut his billable hours to the minimum necessary Share supervision – Jack is the only behavior analyst supervisor so this is really not an option |
| Select a course of action |
Talk the the upper management about hiring on another BCBA immediately. |
Jack might decide to present the problem as an urgent ethics issue to his director and urge that they contract with a staffing agency to fill the position with a BCBA who can take on the extra client cases while they continue the search for a permanent replacement. |
| Implement and evaluate course of action |
Having another BCBA on staff would alleviate the pressure on Jack and allow him (and the other BCBA) to spend more time with their cases and their supervisees which would improve the quality of care and service. This would satisfy both ethical requirements. I think I would handle it the same. Having assistance to take the pressure off of the clinician improves the quality of services provided. |
The director is responsive to Jack’s request and Jack receives relief from the extra work within about a week. |
