Ethical Practice Flashcards

A peer support specialist posts about a 'difficult client situation' on their personal social media without using names. This practice:

Answer: May still violate confidentiality if contextual details could identify the person

Even without names, contextual details can allow others to identify who is being described, which violates confidentiality.

Regular supervision for peer support specialists is important primarily because it:

Answer: Provides a structured space for ethical reflection, boundary maintenance, and professional growth

Supervision in peer support focuses on ethical reflection, boundary reinforcement, and supporting the specialist's professional development.

Which step should come FIRST in an ethical decision-making process when a peer specialist faces a dilemma?

Answer: Identify and clearly define the ethical issue at hand

Ethical decision-making begins with identifying and clearly articulating the nature of the ethical problem before exploring options.

A peer specialist 'befriends' someone they support on social media after the support relationship ends. Under CPSS ethics, this is:

Answer: Discouraged because former relationships can still carry a power dynamic and boundary risks

Power dynamics and relationship boundaries do not disappear when formal services end, making social media connections with former clients ethically risky.

The concept of 'mutuality' in peer support ethics means:

Answer: Both parties benefit from the relationship, but the focus remains on the person being supported

Mutuality acknowledges the shared humanity and reciprocal learning in peer support while keeping the focus on the person receiving support.

When a peer support specialist notices signs that a colleague may be violating ethical standards, the appropriate action is to:

Answer: Raise the concern with a supervisor following the agency's reporting procedure

Peer specialists have a professional obligation to report observed ethical violations through proper internal channels such as supervision.

A peer support specialist is asked to attend a legal proceeding and testify about what a person disclosed during support sessions. The peer specialist should first:

Answer: Consult with their supervisor and the agency's legal counsel before responding

Before responding to any legal subpoena or request for testimony, a peer specialist must consult supervision and agency legal counsel to navigate confidentiality obligations.