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.


Quick Info

  • Currently offered by Alphacrucis: Yes
  • Course code: SSC522
  • Credit points: 10
  • Subject coordinator: Catrina Henderson

Prerequisites

The following courses are prerequisites:

Awards offering Ethical and Professional Issues

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

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.