Fostering Families

Counselling Centre

EDPS 604
Task 3: Ethical Policy Making
by: Erika Hilderley, Carolyn Ferraby, Katie Humilde, Amy Donovan & Elysa Christy

Presentation Agenda:

Mission, Beliefs & Goals: Elysa

Location & Clientele: Katie
Code of Ethics: Carolyn
Hiring & Evaluation Policies: Amy
Complaints Policies: Erika

Mission Statement:
Our mission at Fostering Families Counselling
Centre is to bring effective outcome-oriented,
strength-based, client-focused counselling
services to foster families. We appreciate that
all individuals have both distinct and collective
identities, and we respect the dignity and
celebrate the diversity of our clients.

We Believe:

That healthy families offer valuable support to

children in need of a secure environment in
which to grow and flourish.

That fostering is an endeavor all family

members undertake together, and as such we
seek to support foster children, foster parents,
biological parents and other extended family
members.

Our Goals:
Through a collaborative approach to
problem solving, we enable all individuals
to develop and articulate their shared
narratives to help foster healthy and
nurturing families.

Our Goals:
We help clients to establish a long-term support
network through connecting them with a wide
variety of community support and outreach
programs, including employment services,
afterschool programs, parenting classes,
affinity and support groups.

Clientele

The services we offer cater to the needs of families by providing group

and individual services for children and their caregivers.

We provide one on one counselling and support for birth and foster
parents who are looking for practical, concrete solutions to the
challenging job of raising children in todays world.

Our office serves people from a large age demographic and a number of
cultural backgrounds.

Where are we? Who works at

Fostering Families?
Location:

We are located in an urban suburb. The office is accessible

by major transit.

Working Relationships:

Our office employs counsellors, social

workers, psychologists, psychometrists, office administration, and home
visitation report workers. We work closely with a non-profit foster care
agency by providing counselling and training for biological, foster parents,
children and siblings.

Code of Ethics
1. Our primary purpose is the serve in the best interest of our Clients.
2. We recognize that our greatest responsibility is to the most vulnerable
individual.
3. We endeavor to provide professional excellence, to ensure the needs of
all parties involved in the lives of foster children are respected and
nurtured.
4. We strive to maintain an atmosphere of caring and comfort that is safe
and non-judgmental in which our clients can feel heard and begin to
build solutions to problems.

Code of Ethics
5. We value the diverse needs of families and promote an environment of
non-discrimination and caring, while upholding the principle of respect
for the Dignity of Persons.
6. We recognize and respect the diversity of families in their cultural and
religious beliefs and strive to consult with persons relevant to these
beliefs.
7. We strive to continuously improve our services to ensure the needs of
our clients are met through ongoing professional education and training.

Code of Ethics
8. We recognize that the success of a family requires collaboration and in
the same way the success of our clinic requires the collaboration of our
professionals within the organization.
9. In our efforts to give the best care possible we must ensure that the
families are fully aware of all aspects of our services. Therefore we
follow strict consent practices in order to protect all parties involved.
10. We respect the right of privacy for each individual and ensure that
confidentiality is maintained according to our confidentiality code.

Policies for Hiring

General Statement
As an outcome-oriented, strength-based and client-focused counselling
service, Fostering Families Counselling Center believes in hiring
competent individuals committed to ethical practice and the well-being
of children and families.
Fostering Families employs Master's-level therapists, registered
psychologists, psychometrists, social workers, home visitation workers
and office staff who have the expertise to provide a high quality of
service for our families.
(CCE III.36, 37; IV.10)

Policies for Hiring

Opportunities for Employment
Employment opportunities are posted on the Provincial Psychologists'
Association of website when they become available:
www.psychologistsassociation.ab.ca/site/classifieds
Prior to commencing employment, new staff will be required to provide:
A. Police Information Check
B. Provincial Children's Services Intervention Check

Qualifications & Requirements:

Qualifications and educational requirements are specific to each position
within the agency. Posted positions will include this criteria.(CCE II.6, 25)
Note: applicants will not be assigned to a position where a relative would be
their immediate supervisor (relatives include: spouse, parent,
son/daughter, brother/sister, grandparent, parent of a spouse, brother in

Policies for Hiring

Expectations:
Employees of Fostering Families Counselling Center will be expected to:
1. Provide a high level of professional performance.(CCE II.1,2, 9, 13, 22; IV.4, 9)
2. Engage in collaboration with other employees of Fostering Families
Counselling Center for the purpose of providing consistent service. (CCE II.22; IV.8,
9)
3. Attend a monthly case conference in order to review their current caseload with
colleagues. (CCE II.22; IV.8, 9)
4. Use the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists (3rd ed.) to guide their daily
conduct, thinking, planning & resolution of ethical dilemmas. (CCE II.3, 22, 37;
III.37; IV.6, 8, 9, 10)

Policies for Hiring

5. Adhere to the professional guidelines established by the provincial
Psychologist's Association. (CCE III.36, 37; IV.10)
6. Maintain competence to ensure professional services conform to current
professional standards by engaging in ongoing professional development and
keeping up to date with current research. (CCE II.6, 8, 9; III.4, 36, 37)
7. Be in good standing with the provincial College of Psychologists.(CCE
IV.10)

Probationary Period
A probationary period will apply for all new employees for the period of 6
months to ensure suitability. (CCE II.22; IV.8, 9)

Fostering Families Counselling Center believes in providing both formal

and informal feedback to employees, both positive feedback and that
of a constructive nature. It is believed that this practice supports our
commitment to professional excellence and maintains the quality of
service we offer to our families.(CCE II.22; IV.8, 9)
1. An 'evaluation' is defined as the formal process of gathering and recording
information or evidence over a period of time regarding professional
performance.
2. The director of Fostering Families Counselling Center is responsible for
the formal evaluation of employees.(CCE I.47, II.50, III.40, IV.31)
3. It is the responsibility of all employees to engage in constant reflection
regarding their professional practice and to seek on-going improvement.
(CCE II.1, II.21, II.22, IV.3, IV.9)

Employee Evaluation
4. A formal evaluation may be conducted by the director of Fostering Family
Counselling Center for the following reasons:
a) The employee has completed the probationary period of employment with
the agency (6 months).(CE II.22; IV.8,9)
b) The employee requests an evaluation.
c) There is reason to believe that the employee is not practicing in a manner
that is consistent with the mission of the agency.(CCE II.6, 8, 25)
d) There is reason to believe that the employee is not abiding by the
Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists (3rd ed.) and /or the
professional standards set out by the Provincial Psychologist's Association.
(CCE I.47; II.7, 50; III.40; IV.31)

Employee Evaluation
5. The evaluative process involves (CCE I.47; II.25, 50; III 40; IV 9, 31):
a) Open communication/conversations with the employee being evaluated.
b) Collection of data related to practice (i.e. reports), review of caseload
c) Any relevant client feedback
6. Results of the formal evaluation will be provided to the employee both
verbally and in writing (CCE II.25; .
7. The results of a formal evaluation can result in disciplinary action.(CCE
II.3, 22, 37; III.37; IV. 6, 8, 9)

Policies for Addressing Complaints

Fostering Families Counselling Center believes in following the Canadian
Psychological Associations Code of Ethics when addressing potential
complaints within the organization or against any of its members.
The following codes outline this:
III.36 Familiarize themselves with their disciplines rules and
regulations, and abide by them, unless abiding by them would be
seriously detrimental to the rights or welfare of others as demonstrated
in the Principles of Respect for the Dignity of Persons or Responsible
Caring.
III.37 Familiarize themselves with and demonstrate a commitment to
maintaining the standards of their discipline.
III.38 Seek consultation from colleagues and/or appropriate groups and
committees, give due regard to their advice in arriving at a responsible
decision, if faced with difficult situations.

Considerations to Make
Prior to making any decisions the Fostering Families Counselling Center will
consult with the Four Ethical Principles with their Respective Values and
Standards in the Companion Manual to the Canadian Code of Ethics for
Psychologists (2001).
Other considerations will include:
1. Confirm the Issue
- take a non-bias stance and take note of your motives
- determine your expertise and confidence

2. Consult
- discuss the complaint with peers
- truly determine whether the complaint is justified

3. Confidentiality
- ALWAYS ensure that the clients information has been protected
- Gain consent to discuss the case with others

4. Discuss with Colleagues

- If complaint is against a peer, ensure that it is discussed
- Take measures to address concerns face-to-face

In Conclusion...
Fostering Families Counselling Center

References
Canadian Psychological Association. (2000) Canadian code of ethics for psychologists (3rd ed.).
Ottawa: Author.

College of alberta Psychologists. (2013). Standards of Practice. Edmonton: Publisher.

Sinclair, C., & Pettifor, J. (Eds.) (2001). Companion manual to the Canadian Code of Ethics for
Psychologists (3rd ed.). Ottawa, ON: Canadian Psychological Association.

Truscott, D., & Cook, K. H. (2004). Ethics for the practice of psychology in Canada. Edmonton,
AB: University of Alberta Press

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