CESP Professional Ethics & Legal Considerations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which ethical principle requires an employment specialist to act in the best interest of the job seeker, even when it conflicts with agency goals?
- Nonmaleficence
- Fidelity
- Beneficence (Correct answer)
- Justice
Correct answer: Beneficence
Beneficence means actively promoting the well-being of individuals served, which takes precedence over organizational interests.
Question 2: Under HIPAA, individually identifiable health information shared during employment support must be:
- Shared with all team members for coordination
- Released to employers upon request
- Protected and only disclosed with proper authorization (Correct answer)
- Retained indefinitely by the agency
Correct answer: Protected and only disclosed with proper authorization
HIPAA requires that protected health information be kept confidential and only disclosed with valid authorization or under specific legal exceptions.
Question 3: A job seeker discloses they are using illegal substances during a counseling session. The CESP's ethical obligation is to:
- Report the individual to law enforcement immediately
- Ignore the disclosure to preserve rapport
- Follow agency policy and relevant mandatory reporting laws while maintaining the therapeutic relationship (Correct answer)
- Terminate services immediately
Correct answer: Follow agency policy and relevant mandatory reporting laws while maintaining the therapeutic relationship
CESPs must balance confidentiality with mandatory reporting obligations as defined by agency policy and applicable law.
Question 4: What does the principle of 'nonmaleficence' obligate an employment specialist to avoid?
- Providing services outside their competence (Correct answer)
- Advocating for systemic change
- Billing for unreceived services
- Sharing case notes with supervisors
Correct answer: Providing services outside their competence
Nonmaleficence requires professionals to avoid causing harm, including practicing beyond the boundaries of their competence.
Question 5: Which law specifically prohibits federal contractors from discriminating against individuals with disabilities in employment?
- Title I of the ADA
- Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act (Correct answer)
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- WIOA Section 188
Correct answer: Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act
Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act requires federal contractors and subcontractors to take affirmative action to employ and advance qualified individuals with disabilities.
Question 6: When a CESP faces a value conflict between their personal beliefs and a client's goals, the recommended first action is to:
- Immediately transfer the case
- Seek supervision or consultation to navigate the conflict ethically (Correct answer)
- Proceed with services without disclosing the conflict
- Ask the client to adjust their goals
Correct answer: Seek supervision or consultation to navigate the conflict ethically
Supervision and consultation help professionals manage value conflicts while ensuring the individual continues to receive ethical, quality services.
Question 7: A CESP receives a gift from a grateful job seeker's family. The most ethical action is to:
- Accept it to avoid offending the family
- Accept it and document it in the case file
- Decline politely and explain the professional boundary policy (Correct answer)
- Report the family to the agency for attempting to influence services
Correct answer: Decline politely and explain the professional boundary policy
Accepting gifts can compromise professional objectivity and boundaries; declining with a respectful explanation is the ethical standard.
CESP Professional Ethics & Legal Considerations 3
Which ethical principle requires an employment specialist to act in the best interest of the job seeker, even when it conflicts with agency goals?