Unblurring the Boundaries—Managing Complex Ethics and Risk Management Challenges in Supervision

Overview

During the course of their careers, social work supervisors face myriad ethical and risk management challenges that require skilled navigation. Is it appropriate to become friends—whether in-person or online—with supervisees? What are supervisors’ ethical duties when they have concerns about supervisees’ competence, impairment, or misconduct? Is it appropriate for supervisors to share personal information with supervisees? How might supervisors experience moral injury or harm? How should supervisors balance their supervisory and therapeutic instincts when supervisees share personal challenges in their lives? How should supervisors manage their employers’ expectations that clash with social work ethics standards? Are supervision agreements an effective tool to address ethical issues? Do supervisors risk being named in lawsuits associated with their role? What practical steps can supervisors take to protect supervisees and themselves when ethical issues arise?

Join Frederic Reamer in a rich discussion of these and other complex ethics and risk management issues that arise in supervision. Reamer will share compelling case examples drawn from his extensive experience as an ethics consultant and expert witness in many social work litigation and licensing board cases throughout the U.S. He will offer practical tips designed to enhance the quality of supervision and reduce risk.

CEs: 3

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify ethical challenges in social work supervision
• Navigate boundary issues in social work supervision
• Apply social work ethics standards
• Implement policies and protocols to prevent and respond to ethics challenges in supervision

Faculty Bio

Frederic G. Reamer

Frederic G. Reamer has been on the faculty of the School of Social Work, Rhode Island College since 1983. His research and teaching have addressed a wide range of human service issues, including mental health, health care, criminal justice, public welfare, and professional ethics. Dr. Reamer received his Ph.D. (social work) from the University of Chicago. He has served as a social worker in correctional and mental health settings. He has also taught at the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration, and the University of Missouri-Columbia, School of Social Work.

Dr. Reamer has served as Director of the National Juvenile Justice Assessment Center of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (1979-1981); as Senior Policy Advisor to the Governor of Rhode Island (1987-1990); and as a Commissioner of the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage Finance Corporation, the state housing finance agency (1987-1995). Dr. Reamer served on the State of Rhode Island Parole Board from 1992 to 2016. He also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Social Work Education (1990-1994). He serves as Associate Editor of the National Association of Social Workers Encyclopedia of Social Work (Oxford University Press and National Association of Social Workers). Since 2012, Dr. Reamer has served as the ethics instructor in the Providence (RI) Police Department Training Academy.

Dr. Reamer has conducted extensive research on professional ethics. He has been involved in national research projects sponsored by The Hastings Center, the Carnegie Corporation, the Haas Foundation, and the Scattergood Program for the Applied Ethics of Behavioral Healthcare at the Center for Bioethics, University of Pennsylvania. He has published 25 books and more than 185 journal articles, book chapters, and encyclopedia articles. His books include:

Dr. Reamer is also the author of chapters on professional ethics in the Encyclopedia of Social Work, Encyclopedia of Bioethics, Encyclopedia of Global Ethics, Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics, Encyclopedia of Lifespan Human Development, Encyclopedia of Higher Education, and Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion. He has been an essayist on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition (“This I Believe” series), a commentator on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered, and a guest on various radio and television broadcasts. From 2007 to 2021 Dr. Reamer served as host and producer of the National Public Radio series This I Believe—New England, broadcast weekly. He is featured in the podcast series Trapped in Treatment produced by Paris Hilton, Warner Brothers, and iHeart Media; Yahoo News national series Unfiltered;and as a commentator in the video documentaries America’s Serial Killers: Portraits in Evil and Rampage: Killing without Reason. He is also a featured expert on the PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) series This Emotional Life.

Tuition:

• $67 – SWPF Alumni (50 % discount)
• $135 -Registration Fee
• $115- Alumni Fee
• $81- Veterans Fee

FREE with Promo Code: Current AUSSW Students (Please contact egerrato@adelphi.edu for code)

Current AU Staff and Faculty: Contact egerrato@adelphi for reduced fee.

Credentialing Information

Adelphi University School of Social Work is an approved provider for continuing education credits for the following:

• Social Workers
• LMHC
• LMFT
• CASAC Renewal upon approval
• APA Psychology
• LCAT
• NYSED Psychology

Successful completion for the award of approved continuing education credits requires attendance at the entire training/workshop and submission of a completed evaluation form.

See full credentialing information and CEUs

Cancellation Policy

Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds for cancellations made seven working days or fewer before the event for any reason—or for no-shows. We can provide credit towards a future workshop up to 24 hours before the event. After that, no credit will be issued.

Accessibility Statement

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Adelphi University require that all events be accessible. To request a reasonable accommodation, please contact the event host identified on the event webpage; please allow for a reasonable time frame. The event host, when necessary, will collaborate with the Student Access Office.