Ethical and Professional Issues

Note: This subject was re-named and re-coded from 'SSC520 Professional Consideration' to SSC522 Ethical and 'Professional Issues' in March 2023.

Awards offering Ethical and Professional Issues

This unit is offered as a part of the following awards:

• Graduate Certificate in Arts
• Graduate Certificate in Wellbeing Studies
• Graduate Diploma in Arts
• Graduate Diploma of Applied Social Science
• Graduate Diploma of Counselling
• Master of Arts
• Master of Counselling

Unit Content

Outcomes

1. Assess the need for ethics and legal codes and evaluate why these are important in the organisation and regulation of counselling and care practice;
2. Examine the significance of ethical and legal discourse in counselling and care contexts for both client and practitioner;
3. Critique models of ethical and legal decision making and apply these to a range of social science contexts;
4. Appraise the necessity for, and benefits of professional codes of practice, supervision, self-care and on-going professional development.

Subject Content

• Introduction to Unit
• Professional Ethics: Ethical Codes in Australia, Legal Issues and Mental Health
• Ethical Decision Making & Ethical Frameworks
• Community and Social Justice: Advocacy, System impact
• Socio-Cultural Perspectives & Diversity Issues
• Personal & Professional Matters, including needs, values and responsibilities
• Clients Rights & the Professional’s Responsibilities, including Informed consent & confidentiality
• Theory and Practice: Planning, case load, goals of counselling
• Theory and Practice: Commencement to Termination of Treatment / Support
• Ethical Issues in Counselling & Support: Legal, Mandatory Reporting, Referrals, Cooperation with other services
• Professional Issues, including Record Storage & Telehealth
• Boundaries and Dual Relationships
• Supervision
• Counselling & Care Contexts: Individual, Couple/Family, Group 
• Professional Competence, Care & Development
• Case Studies and Analysis

This course may be offered in the following formats

• Onsite (face-to-face)
• Online (e-Learning)
• Intensives

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis University College.

Assessment Methods

• Major Essay (40%)
• Case Studies (30%)
• Critical Reflection (30%)

Prescribed Text

• Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Corey, C. (2019). Issues and ethics in the helping professions (10th ed.). South Melbourne, VIC: Cengage Learning.

Please consult your instructor prior to purchasing any texts.