17 CAR § 390-401 – Relationships with employers and employees

(a) Role definition. Counselors define and describe for their employers and employees the parameters and levels of their professional roles.
(b) Agreements.
1. (1) Counselors establish working agreements with supervisors, colleagues, and subordinates regarding:
  1. (A) Counseling or clinical relationships;
  2. (B) Confidentiality;
  3. (C) Adherence to professional standards;
  4. (D) Distinction between public and private material;
  5. (E) Maintenance and dissemination of recorded information;
  6. (F) Workload; and
  7. (G) Accountability.
2. (2) Working agreements in each instance are specified and made known to those concerned.
(c) Negative conditions. Counselors alert their employers to conditions that may:
1. (1) Be potentially disruptive or damaging to the counselor’s professional responsibilities; or
2. (2) Limit their effectiveness.
(d) Evaluation. Counselors submit regularly to professional review and evaluation by their supervisor or the appropriate representative of the employer.
(e) In-service. Counselors are responsible for in-service development of self and staff.
(f) Goals. Counselors inform their staff of goals and programs.
(g) Practices.
1. (1) Counselors provide personnel and agency practices that respect and enhance rights and welfare of each employee and recipient of agency services.
2. (2) Counselors strive to maintain the highest levels of professional services.
(h) Personnel selection and assignment. Counselors select competent staff and assign responsibilities compatible with their skills and experiences.
(i) Discrimination.
1. (1) Counselors, as either employers or employees, do not engage in or condone practices that are inhumane, illegal, or unjustifiable (such as considerations based on age, color, culture, disability, ethnic group, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status) in:
  1. (A) Hiring;
  2. (B) Promotion; or
  3. (C) Training.
2. (2) See 17 CAR § 390-102(a) and 17 CAR § 390-305(a).
(j) Professional conduct. Counselors have a responsibility both to clients and the agency or institution within which services are performed to maintain high standards of professional conduct.
(k) Exploitive relationships. Counselors do not engage in exploitive relationships with individuals over whom they have supervisory, evaluative, or instructional control or authority.
(l) Employer policies.
1. (1) The acceptance of employment in an agency or institution implies that counselors are in agreement with its general policies and principles.
2. (2) Counselors strive to reach agreement with employers as to acceptable standards of conduct that allow for changes in institutional policy conducive to the growth and development of clients.