Ethical and Professional Responsibilities Flashcards
7 cards from real PSS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethical and Professional Responsibilities flashcards as text
Which of the following best illustrates the peer specialist role versus the clinician role?
Answer: Peer specialists share lived experience to build connection and model recovery
The defining feature of peer support is the use of lived experience to offer hope, connection, and practical guidance—not clinical functions.
An individual tells their peer specialist, 'I want to stop taking my medication.' The peer specialist should:
Answer: Encourage exploration of their concerns and connect them to their prescriber to discuss options
Peer specialists support informed decision-making by exploring concerns and facilitating communication with the prescriber.
Which behavior demonstrates ethical use of social media by a peer support specialist?
Answer: Maintaining separate personal and professional accounts with clear boundaries
Keeping personal and professional digital identities separate protects both confidentiality and professional boundaries.
The concept of 'trauma-informed care' in ethical peer support requires that specialists:
Answer: Recognize that trauma may underlie behavior and avoid re-traumatization in services
Trauma-informed care means understanding trauma's widespread impact and prioritizing physical and emotional safety in every interaction.
A peer specialist is offered a gift card worth $50 by a grateful service recipient. According to ethical guidelines, the specialist should:
Answer: Decline it politely and explain agency gift policies
Most agencies prohibit accepting gifts to prevent boundary violations; declining while thanking the individual is the appropriate response.
Which statement about peer specialist certification requirements is most accurate?
Answer: Continuing education is required to maintain certification in most states
Most state peer specialist certifications require ongoing continuing education to stay current and maintain credentials.
What is the most appropriate response when a service recipient asks a peer specialist to keep a secret before sharing information?
Answer: Explain that confidentiality has limits and you cannot promise to keep all information secret
Peer specialists must clarify limits of confidentiality before receiving information, not after, to ensure honest and ethical practice.