Ethics Reading

Sellers, Alai-Rosales & MacDonald (2016)

This research article is recommended reading by the BACB and provides analysis and application examples for each of the seven supervision ethics codes.

Read the article with special focus on applications to your situation and anticipated supervision contexts. 

 

Summary of Recommendations

Below is a summary of applied examples and recommendations provided in Sellers, Alai-Rosales and MacDonald (2016).

Supervision CodeApplied DemonstrationSuggestions for Avoiding Violation
5.01 Supervisory CompetenceSupervisor never conducted an FA, steers the trainee to use a descriptive assessment, gets function wrong and problem behaviors escalate
  • A referral to a different supervisor may be made for this case activity
  • Behavior analysts can access mentorship, supervision, and experience in new areas and with new populations.

5.02 Supervisory VolumeSupervisor does well with supervision and gradually takes on more trainess/supervisees to a point where she can no longer manage and provide effective supervision
  • Organizational structures: A clear schedule that includes supervision responsibilities
  • Evaluation feedback: Implementing a system to monitor supervision effectiveness
  • Community of practice: Identifying other professional who can provide support and feedback with supervision problems

5.03 Supervisory DelegationAn RBT trained others in a program before being trained in training others
  • Make a list of both responsibilities and things the trainee/supervisee is not qualified to do

5.04 Designing Effective Supervision and TrainingA supervisor is intimidated by a trainee/supervisee's age or confidence and does not implement all training components, such as modeling and rehearsal to mastery
A supervisor allowing trainee to bill as behavior analysts
  • Procedures for supervision have professional, ethical, and legal mandates that must be followed
  • Supervision is evidence based and supervisors have a responsibility to keep up with advances in training


5.05 Communication of Supervision ConditionsAn RBT does not make progress and the supervisor refuses to sign off on the hours - the RBT is confused because he was not aware that he was being evaluated or that a signature could be withheld
  • Be familiar with research that outlines practice guidelines for structuring supervision for success
  • Clearly outline in writing and discuss the performance expectations and conditions under which the supervisor will not sign off on hours

5.06 Providing Feedback to SuperviseesFeedback is not provided immediately following the observation and at the supervision meeting it is mentioned in a minimized way so the trainee never takes it seriously
  • Careful not to over-do praise
  • Provide timely and specific performance feedback

5.07 Evaluating the Effects of SupervisionA supervisor misses that the staff are not finding the supervision training useful because she is only measuring their performance and does not ask for feedback (their performance improves because they sought help outside of supervision)
  • Use all three methods to measure effectiveness of supervision: supervisee/trainee performance, client performance, and supervisee/trainee feedback

Ethics to-do

Sellers, Alai-Rosales and MacDonald (2013) provide analysis, application examples, and strategies for avoiding violations for each of the seven supervision ethics codes.  Consider the many ways the article applies to your future practice of supervision and share an answer to the question below.

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Andrea

5.4 Designing Effective Supervision and Training

Make sure that I am organized and confident in all my paper work, so I can provide effective supervision and training.

____________________

 

5.2: Supervisory Volume

Create a community of practice

____________________

 denisse

5.2: Supervisory Volume

create a schedule

____________________

 Janine

5.4 Designing Effective Supervision and Training

Be purposeful in using Stepwise training in a BST formate to ensure thorough training

____________________

 John F.

5.4 Designing Effective Supervision and Training

Use Behavior Skills Training

____________________

 Maria

5.2: Supervisory Volume

Create a schedule/use central reach

____________________

 Cheyenne

5.2: Supervisory Volume

Create a clear schedule

____________________

 Jeryl

5.2: Supervisory Volume

Create an available schedule to all BCBA trainees.

____________________

 Elizabeth

5.4 Designing Effective Supervision and Training

Remember to treat supervision as you would an intervention.

____________________

 Allison

5.6 Providing Feedback to Supervisees/Trainees

not over doing the positive praises, aim for constructive feedback

____________________

 Michelle

5.7: Evaluating the Effects of Supervision

Using survey monkey and asking the trainee on a regular basis to evaluate my performance

____________________

 lindsey

5.2: Supervisory Volume

Make sure to never feel overloaded during supervision, I want to give 100% to each person being supervised.

____________________

 Danielle

5.1: Supervisory Competence

I intend to access mentorship from behavior analysts that have experience or more knowledge in certain areas than I do.

____________________

 Bethany

5.7: Evaluating the Effects of Supervision

I plan to regularly gain feedback on my supervision so that I can improve

____________________

 Cat

5.1: Supervisory Competence

I plan to ensure I only supervise for areas in which I have the appropriate experience and training.

____________________

 Trina

5.1: Supervisory Competence

yes

____________________

 Danielle

5.3: Supervisory Delegation

Clearly state in contract what will and will not be involved as the supervisee’s tasks and responsibilities.

____________________

 JENNIFER

5.7: Evaluating the Effects of Supervision

Put into place evaluation methods

____________________

 Cat

5.2: Supervisory Volume

Organizational structures: A clear schedule that includes supervision responsibilities
Evaluation feedback: Implementing a system to monitor supervision effectiveness
Community of practice: Identifying other professional who can provide support and feedback with supervision problems

____________________

 Lisa

5.3: Supervisory Delegation

Give tasks to others when appropriate; don’t do it all yourself.

____________________