| Problem-solving step | Your response | Response example |
|---|---|---|
| Identify the problem |
The supervisor is not able to support his trainees and clients |
Jack’s responsibilities have increased but no room has been made in his schedule. |
| Relevant ethical standard(s) |
4.03 and 4.04 |
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 |
Reach out to employer about support with current caseload and number of trainees |
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 |
trainee not getting the required support |
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 |
Let your trainees know that they may have to discontinue supervision contract due to not being able to sustain the larger caseload and supervision expectation |
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 | The director is responsive to Jack’s request and Jack receives relief from the extra work within about a week. |
