[ad_1]
The Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner has found a
counsellor in breach of the Code of Health and Disability
Services Consumers’ Rights (the Code).
Dr Vanessa
Caldwell found the counsellor in breach of Right 4(1) of the
Code which requires that services are provided to consumers
with reasonable care and skill.
The counsellor failed
to provide her client with any written contract outlining
the type of service offered, the counselling models used and
administrative information. The counsellor did not
communicate at all with another provider who was also
working with the client to ascertain appropriate roles in
her care. Further, the counsellor lacked the training and
skills needed to support this client.
Dr Caldwell also
noted several other concerns, including the inappropriate
use of out-of-session communication via text message and
changes to the counsellor’s scope and focus of counselling
without consultation with the client.
Dr Caldwell
stated, “By holding herself out as a counsellor and
providing counselling services for a fee, the counsellor is
required to meet the ethical standards of a professional
counsellor. The ethical principles set out in the NZAC Code
of Ethics provide a sound reference point in establishing
the ethical standards that should apply in these
circumstances.”
Dr Caldwell did not find the
counselling service in breach of the Code. “In my view the
failings identified were matters of individual practice and
not directly the result of shortcomings in the counselling
service’s systems,” she said. “Accordingly, I find the
counselling service did not depart from the appropriate
standard of care.”
Dr Caldwell recommended a number of
actions in response to the breach:
– For the
counsellor to provide an apology to the client.
– That
the counsellor consider membership with the New Zealand
Association of Counsellors or similar, engage in regular
individual supervision and undertake communication
training.
– For the counselling service to evaluate
its complaints process and respond to complaints written by
professionals who are assisting the
complainant.
Following the complaint, the counsellor
informed the Health & Disability Commissioner that
changes have been made to the practice as a result. This
includes updating the policy and procedure booklet, devising
a new client/counsellor contract and obtaining supervision
around multiple relationships to mitigate issues that may
arise.
© Scoop Media
[ad_2]
Source link